The name of the Messiah is Yeshua, short for Yehoshua (יהושע), which means ‘Yah is salvation?’ The forms Yahshua and Yahoshua are the names of the Messiah in Aramaic.
Messiah’s death is foretold throughout the Scriptures. The author focuses mainly, on how Psalm 22 foretells Yeshua’s Death with stunning precision.
That Messiah –Son of the Eternal (יהוה) – would suffer and die was a revolting shock to even some of the Nazarene’s disciples. When Yeshua began to explain to His apostles that he would have to go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the Jewish hierarchy and then be put to death, it actually raised a rebuke from Peter. The fisherman said, <That will not happen. Do not think so harshly of yourself. That surely will not happen> – Peter’s rebuke of Yeshua before the disciples only resulted in a more serious rebuke from Messiah Himself: “Get behind me, Satan, for your thinking is not of יהוה, but fleshly in origin.” [Matthew 16:21-23]
It was a hard thing to accept by the Jewish disciples. To this day, many Jews reject Yeshua the Nazarene as the Messiah for the very reason that He did suffer and die. They believe that when the true Messiah comes there will be universal peace. However, it may come as a surprise to many Jews and non-Jews that the Scriptures predicted the suffering death of the Messiah.
THE FORETOLD “BRUISING”
Immediately following the rebellion in heaven and earth of some of the Eternal’s own children the first Biblical prophecy, presented in a cryptic verse recorded in Hebrew, was given as part of the judgment of the Eternal against these rebels. It is found in Genesis and reads according to a literal rendering of the original language:
Genesis 3:15
15 “And enmity I will set between you the Woman and between your seed and her seed. He will bruise you (to) the head and you shall bruise him [of] the heel.”
Psalm 22:1-2, 22; 8-31:
O יהוה[My El], my יהוה[My El], pay attention to me!
Why have You forsaken me?
Why do You remain far away from saving me,
And the words of my loud lamentation?
My יהוה, I keep crying!
During the day and night - without rest-- and there is no answer!
But You are Holy, inhabiting the praises of Israel.
In You our fore-fathers trusted. They trusted and You delivered them.
To You they cried out and they escaped. In You they trusted, and were never put to shame.
I am but a worm* and not a human being [*see ‘The Crimson Worm' ]
A reproach to humans and despised by the people [of Israel].
Everyone who looks upon me laughs.
They open their mouths wide - they shake their heads -
“He should trust in יהוה,
Let [יהוה] deliver him!
Since he took such delight in [יהוה], let [יהוה] rescue Him!”
You are the One who separated me from the womb.
You caused me to trust upon my mother’s breasts.
Into Your hands I burst forth from the moment of my birth.
From my mother’s womb You have been my Elohim.
Do not remain so distant [now] as distress is so near,
And there is no human help.
This Suffering Son now begins to describe His circumstances as well as His inner physical and emotional feelings as He continues in His agony:
Many young ‘bulls’ have surrounded me,
Strong ‘oxen’ from Bashan encircle me.
They have opened their mouths wide,
A ‘lion’ roaring and tearing [flesh].
Like water I am poured out,
All my bones are dislocated.
My heart melts like wax,
It has grown faint deep within.
My strength is as dried out as potsherd,
And my tongue is glued in my throat.
In the dust of death You will lay me down.
For ‘dogs’ have surrounded me,
The Synagogue of Evil Men encircle me.
They have pierced my hands and feet.
They can count all my bones.
They behold me and gawk.
They separate my garments among themselves,
And they cast lots for my clothing.
From such an absolutely hopeless circumstance, having begun with the cry of “Why?”, his agony turns to complete trust and hope in יהוה his Elohim {‘God’}:
[This site only uses the word ‘God’ for explanatory purposes or for comparison between different versions of Scripture. The form ‘the Eternal’ is used to refer to the Creator]
But, You, O יהוה, do not remain so distant!
O my Help, come to my aid in a hurry!
Rescue my soul from the sword,
From the power of the ‘dog’ [rescue] this only-begotten one!
Save me from the lion’s mouth,
From the horns of wild bulls you will answer me.
We hear this Suffering One’s complete trust in the only One who can come to His aid. At the moment of His death, he promises what He will yet do, as well as what will yet occur in the future. He declares that future generations will remember and recount this miraculous rescue:
I will declare your Name to my brothers!
In the middle of the Congregation I will sing hymns to You.
… All the end of the earth will remember and return to יהוה.
Yes, all the families of the nations will prostrate themselves before You.
For to יהוה belongs the Kingdom,
[He is] Sovereign of all nations.
The ‘Great Ones’ of earth will be satisfied and bow down.
All those who turn to dust will kneel before Him,
Every soul unable to preserve themselves alive.
[New] offspring will serve Him.
It will be remembered of יהוה to a future generation,
That His justice may be declared to a people yet unborn,
That He was able to do this successfully.
Thus David — in a most heightened state of inspiration – 2 Samuel 23:2 – foretold in precise detail in a brilliant palette of emotions, a suffering Jew surrounded by an Evil Synagogue of his own people who have pierced his hands and feet. His death is slow and agonising, marked by dislocated bones, great thirst, and an ever-weakening heart. And another marked feature is most unusual. For some reason left unexplained his clothing – inferring the Suffering One was nude or near-naked – was divided among some gamblers.
Because the description of this Suffering One is so intense, and the details so overwhelming, it may pass without notice that these events – the suffering and death of this person – was going to be “recounted” or remembered in future generations. Something like a memorial by a generation of yet unborn.
Now had this marvellous verse been written years after the actual event it would still be considered something inspired. For many see here a man recounting His own experience while suffering an execution. What is unusual is that the Hebrews executed by stoning and not impalement. So some unusual circumstances will bear upon the actual fulfilment of David’s prophecy.
Those familiar with this startling prediction of Messiah’s suffering, over a thousand years before it happened, know that many of the features fit the actual execution of the Nazarene. These may be examined by the testimony of several eyewitnesses or researchers into the actual events.
Before we examine these, it must be noted that about five centuries later another prophet also foretells this “piercing.” It is Zechariah the prophet:
Zechariah 12:10
10 “They will gaze upon the One whom they have pierced. .. And there will be bitter lamentation in grief as over a firstborn son.”
This verse would also be referenced in the context of the gospel accounts of these matters.
We briefly note these as recorded by the early Christian researchers. While reading portions of these accounts note the many parallels with Psalm 22: the onlookers, an evil synagogue of Jewish men, the garments, the piercing of his body, the thirst, and a mother’s presence.
- Mark 15:1 – And immediately, in the morning, the chief priests had a council meeting with the elders and scribes and all the council [THE JEWISH SYNAGOGUE OF EVIL MEN AS BULLS AND LIONS] Having bound יהושע, they led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate.
- Mark 15:19 – And they kept beating Him on the head with a reed and were spitting on Him. And bending the knee, they were bowing down to Him
- Mark 15:20 – And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, and put His own garments on Him, and led Him out to impale Him.
- Mark 15:23 – And they were giving Him wine mixed with *myrrh to drink, but He did not take it.
[*myrrh a pain-killing drug]
PIERCING OF HANDS AND FEET
- Mark 15:24 – And when they impaled Him, they divided His garments, casting lots for them, what each one should take.
THE LOTS CAST FOR HIS GARMENTS
- John 19:23 – Then the soldiers, when they had impaled יהושע, took His outer garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and the inner garment. But the inner garment was without seam, woven from the top in one piece.
John 19:24 – So they said to one another, “Do not let us tear it. Let us draw lots for it.” This happened that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says, “They shared my garments among them, and drew lots for my clothing.” - Mark 15:25 – And it was the third hour, and they impaled Him.
- Mark 15:26 – And the inscription of His accusation was written above: THE SOVEREIGN OF THE YEHUḎIM{Jews}
THE JEERING AND MOCKING CROWDS
Mark 15:29 -And those passing by were blaspheming Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Ah! You who destroy the Dwelling Place and build it in three days
30 – save Yourself, and come down from the stake!”
31 – And likewise the chief priests and the scribes, mocking to one another said, “He saved others, He is unable to save Himself.
32 – “The Messiah? The Sovereign of Yisra’el? Come down now from the stake, so that we see and believe.” And those who were impaled with Him were reproaching Him.
33 – And when the sixth hour came, darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour.
THE MOTHER
John 19:25 -27
25 Now standing close to the cross of Yeshua were His mother and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.
26 So Yeshua, seeing His mother, and seeing the disciple whom He loved standing near, said to His mother, “Behold, your son!”
27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that time the disciple received her into his own home.
THE GREAT THIRST
28 – After this, Yeshua, knowing that everything was now brought to an end, said–that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “I am thirsty.”
29 There was a jar of wine standing there. With this wine they filled a sponge, put it on the end of a stalk of hyssop, and lifted it to His mouth.
THE DESPERATE CALL
Mark 15:34 – But at three o’clock Yeshua cried out with a loud voice, “Elohi, Elohi, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My El, My El, why have You forsaken Me?”
35 Some of the bystanders, hearing Him, said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah!”
36 Then a man ran to fill a sponge with sour wine, and he put it on the end of a cane and placed it to His lips.
ANOTHER PIERCING
- Matthew 27:48 – Another man took a spear and pierced his side, and blood and water came out.
- Luke 23:46 – and Yeshua cried out in a loud voice, and said, “Father, to Thy hands I entrust my spirit.” And after uttering these words He yielded up His spirit.
MESSIAH TO SUFFER AND “POUR OUT HIS SOUL UNTO DEATH”
From this alone it seems not only clear but also miraculous that such a thousand-year-old Davidic prophecy foretold the suffering and death of Messiah. But, this does not prove to be the only specific prophecy of Messiah’s suffering and death. About 400 years after David composed Psalm 22, the great Hebrew prophet Isaiah provided an equally inspired prediction. It is recorded in Isaiah 52:13-53:12 [Nazarene Saints Paraphrase] We provide the prophecy with their fulfilments in cross-references. Read it now with the background of Psalm 22 in mind.
First, the Eternal speaks of His Suffering Servant :
Behold, my Servant will comprehend.
He will be exalted and tremendously glorified. [Philippians 2:7-11]
The more so because so many were amazed at you. [Mark 1:22; 6:2; 7:37]
So marred was your appearance beyond humankind. [Philippians 2:7]
And [your] form beyond the sons of mankind.
The more so will [my Servant] startle many nations.
Before Him kings will cover their mouths.
to them who heard no such report concerning [my servant] -
they will see.
And they who have not heard will carefully consider. [Romans 15:21]
Now the voice changes to that of the collective-Jew who speaks at some future moment – after the “disfigurement” of the Servant of the Eternal:
Who will believe what we have heard?
To whom has the arm of יהוה been revealed? [Romans 10:16]
[The Servant of יהוה] grew up like a sapling before Him,
AS A Sprout out of a dry land. [Luke 2:52]
He possessed neither beauty or nobility.
When we [Jews] beheld him there was no particular comeliness
So that we would desire Him.
He was despised and rejected by humanity [John 1:10, 11]
A man meant for suffering and familiar with sickness. [Matthew 8:17]
Yes, [he was] like someone from whom people turn away -
Despised -- and we [Jews] esteemed Him not.
Despite this general rejection by the Jews – and their poor appraisal of him – the Jewish “voice” now speaks of the reason for his suffering
And yet really He carried the burden of our sicknesses,
And because of our pains He bore the burden. [1 Peter 2:24]
But we [Jews] accounted him as cursed,
Rejected by Elohim and humiliated.
Yet He was being pierced for our transgressions,
He was being crushed for our iniquities.
The just chastisement meant for us [Jews] was upon Him,
And by His stripes and bruises there is healing for us [1 Peter 2:25]
All we [Jews] are like lost sheep gone astray,
Each person to their own way.
יהוה has caused all of our guilt to fall upon Him.
Now the Jewish voice moves to that moment of the Suffering Servant’s judgement before his own people:
Though He was hard pressed He humbled Himself. [Philippians 2:7, 8]
As a lamb led to the slaughter He did not open His mouth, [Matthew 26:63]
As a sheep before His shearers, He was silent, not opening His mouth.
During His humiliation justice was removed from Him. [Acts 8:32, 33]
Who will consider His generation -
That He was cut off from the land of the living?
Because of the transgressions of my [Jewish] people
He was led off to death.
SOME OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIS DEATH ARE FORETOLD:
Though He had done no violence
-- nor had spoken deceptively --
His grave was appointed with lawless persons, [Matthew 27:38]
And among the rich His tomb. [Matthew 27:60]
And yet Yahweh purposed to bruise Him. [Genesis 3:15]
He laid upon Him a sickness. [Luke 22:44]
Now it is here the original speaker, the Eternal (יהוה), makes promises based on the suffering and death of His Servant:
If His soul becomes a sin-offering
He will experience offspring - [Hebrews 2:10-14]
He will prolong His days.
And in His hand the purpose of יהוה will succeed.
He will experience the travail of His soul.
But because of His travail יהוה will reveal [His] Light.
Because of my Righteous Servant’s knowledge
A righteous standing will be given many people.
He shall bear their sins.
Therefore, He will inherit a greater portion, [Psalm 2:8]
And among those strong He will share the inheritance.
Because He poured out His soul to the very death,
And among lawless persons He let Himself be numbered. [Luke 22:37]
Yes, He bore the sin of many,
And for transgressors He interposed.
Though there were several quotes and allusions to this portion of Isaiah’s prophecy with inspired applications to Yeshua the Nazarene, there is one particular example found in Acts 8:26-36. There, Phillip the missionary witnesses under angel direction to an Ethiopian Jewish proselyte who had been to Jerusalem to worship. Their discussion centres on the identity of the One about whom Isaiah speaks.
“MESSIAH WILL BE CUT OFF AFTER THREE AND A HALF YEARS”
Isaiah 53:8 had predicted the Servant of the Eternal (יהוה), or Messiah would be <cut off>. There is another prophet writing almost two centuries later who also foretells the cutting off of the Messiah. It is the great prophet Daniel who writes from exile in Babylon. The key difference is that the approximate date of Messiah’s death is the subject. Though many will disagree with some of these conclusions, we present one startling view of this prophecy.
Daniel 9:24-27 predicts a period of 490 years – called 70 Weeks of Years — from the word to restore Jerusalem by Cyrus the Great in 455 {before Yeshua} until the appearance of Messiah in the year 29 {after Yeshua’s} birth. Doctor Luke records this moment according to the Roman count of years to be the 14th year of Tiberius Caesar, considered by some to be 29 {after Yeshua}. [Luke 3:1 ff] This would mean the 70th week of 7 years would begin in the year 29.
However, Daniel writes that Messiah will be <cut off> in the middle of this week of 7 years. Thus, about the year 33 AD Messiah would die.
Seventy weeks of years have been determined upon your people and upon the Holy City -to seal up transgressions -- to blot out sin -- to make atonement for transgressions - to usher in everlasting righteousness - to put a seal on vision and prophet - and to anoint the holiest [person]. … And for one week of seven years He will establish His covenant with many. [And during this period Messiah will be cut off without any justice.][Daniel 9:24-27 ]
MESSIANIC PROPHECIES INSTIL FAITH
Those who refuse to believe in prophecy will no doubt find their reasons to reject any kind of inspired predictions. However, for many reasonable minds throughout the ages, there has been enough truth found in these prophecies to instil a solid faith and trust in יהוה and His dynamic purpose. Particularly at this time of year, when the thoughts of many millions of Believers will turn to thoughts regarding the death and resurrection of Yeshua the Nazarene. These prophecies are a most appropriate subject for spiritual meditations as the Wheat “keep proclaiming the death of the Master until he arrives.” 1 Corinthians 11:26
By Mark Herber Miller – Nazarene Commentary 2000©. Used by permission.
In the original: The Eternal (יהוה) appears as ‘God’; Yeshua appears as ‘Jesus’; Messiah appears as ‘Christ’ and Scripture appears as the Bible.
Unless stated otherwise, Scripture was taken from The Scriptures
Copyright by Institute for Scripture Research
Used by permission