Prophecies about Jesus' betrayal, death and resurrection

Do you remember Anakin Skywalker on Star Wars? Episode III was the darkest episode as it showed how Anakin became Darth Vader. We observed how hurt and shocked Obi-Wan Kenobi was when Anakin Skywalker became his enemy. In a sense, God was even more hurt when the descendants of Adam, who was His Creation and friend, rebelled against Him. One of the worst things on God’s behalf was when He sent His only Son to Earth to connect with those he created, but they rejected Him. And yet He wasn’t surprised. In fact, He used the crucifixion to ultimately make Salvation from sin possible for all men.

This blog intends to show the fulfillment of prophesy in the Bible, God’s Holy Word. It shows verses from two parts of the Bible, separated by hundreds of years. The first one or two verses are from the Old Testament. Predictions are made by writers who have no idea who Jesus is. The Bible says that its’ writers were men who were moved by a Spirit. The Holy Spirit of God.

2Pe 1:21 “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

Each prophecy is followed up with a quote from the New Testament, written after Jesus Christ has come. It shows the accomplishment of the previous prophecies. The specific incidences are too exact to be coincidence. There are too many examples to be chance.

A good story in Science Fiction like Star Wars has a villain, evil opposition and so on. It makes the story interesting. In the Bible there is all that, but it isn’t Science Fiction. It is all true. And the result whether we believe it or not has eternal consequences. Eternity in heavenly bliss, or eternity in hell and suffering.

Jesus Betrayal

Prophecy: Psalm 41:9 "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.-"

Prophecy: Zechariah 11:12-13a " 12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. 13 And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord."

Fulfillment: Matthew 26:14-15 " 14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver."

Prophecy: Zechariah 11:12-13c " 12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. 13 And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prized at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord."

Fulfillment: Matthew 27:3-5 " 3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself."

Prophecy: Psalm 109:8a "Let his days be few; and let another take his office."

Fulfillment: " 16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. 17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. 18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out."

Prophecy: Psalm 109:8b "Let his days be few; and let another take his office."

Fulfillment: Acts 1:20-26 " 20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and, His bishoprick let another take. ... 24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, 25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. 26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles."

Isn’t this interesting? God tells us not only that Jesus would be betrayed, but also the price He was betrayed for AND how the money would go to the person it would go to. The price Jesus was betrayed for (30 pieces of silver, not 29, not 31), the metal the money would be made out of (Silver, not Gold or Platinum), who it would go to (The potter, not, say, the baker), and how it would get to that person (thrown, not handed to in a deal). How often is it we throw money at a person that we’re trying to buy something from? Also, it’s pretty rare that someone would betray someone else for such a small amount of money. The Scriptures also show that the betrayer would be replaced and have a short life.

His trial

Prophecy: Isaiah 53:7b "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth."

Fulfillment : Matthew 27:12-14 " 12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? 14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly."

When you or I are charged with a crime, our natural tendency is to open our mouth to defend our case. We would fight back, defend our case, get a lawyer, whatever we could to get out of trouble. Not so with Jesus, the Lamb of God. If you’ve read the story of His death, you will read that, when He stood before Pilate, when asked if He was guilty, He didn’t answer. Before the Sanhedrin, He said, “It is as you say,” This is contrary to human nature.

His death

Prophecy: Genesis 22:14 "And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen."

Fulfillment: Luke 23:33 "And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left."

Prophecy: Psalm 22:16c "... they pierced my hands and my feet."

Fulfillment: Matthew 27:38 "And they crucified him ..."

Prophecy: Psalm 109:4 "For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer."

Prophecy: Psalm 31:5 “ Into Thy hand I commit my spirit; Thou hast ransomed me, O LORD, God of truth.”

Fulfillment: Luke 23:34 "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots."

How likely is it that David, centuries before Jesus, knew EXACTLY Jesus’ last words before He died? I find it very unlikely. Yet the first half of this verse tells Jesus’ words to the letter.

Prophecy: Psalm 22:14b "... and all my bones are out of joint ..."

Fulfillment: Matthew 27:35 "And they crucified him ..."

Prophecy: Psalm 22:17a "I may tell all my bones ..."

Fulfillment: John 19:32-33 " 32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:"

The fact that all of these are so consistent with what really happened is incredible unless one is able to predict the future 100% of the time.

The reason He suffered all of this torment is so you can spend all of eternity with Him. He identified with our sins so He could take them away. In fact, He died the most painful death imaginable for YOU. Even if you were the only person who needed salvation, He still would have come to take your sins upon Himself.

Isaiah 53: 5-6 “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Now, we approach the final category which is perhaps the most difficult to believe for many people.

His Resurrection

Prophecy: Psalm 16:8-10a " 8 I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 10 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope."

Fulfillment: Matthew 28:6 "He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay."

What is this verse saying? It’s saying God won’t abandon David’s soul to Hell (A real place, by the way). However, all people who die undergo decay. However, this verse says one would die who would not undergo decay? Who is the only one in history whose body never decayed? Several have claimed to have died, but only one can substantiate that claim by showing Himself to multitudes after His death. And, since they would be able to tell an unharmed resurrected person from a badly wounded person, it would be essential for him to have had the wounds to His body healed. Given enough time, many injuries can be healed. However, Jesus had only the 3 days He was in the tomb to heal without any of the necessary food or water. Yet, He appeared only a few days afterwards to His disciples unharmed!

Prophecy: Isaiah 53:10c "Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand."

Fulfillment: Revelation 1:17-18" 17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."

The prophecy is saying He will live forever. Even today, men don’t live much longer than a century, even if that person’s very lucky. 120 is the world’s record, unless we count people living before the Flood of Noah (a real event, by the way). If we count such people, than Methuselah would get that honor by living 969 years (yes, people really lived that long).

Prophecy: Isaiah 55:3 "Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David."

Fulfillment: Acts 13:34 "And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David."

Prophecy: Isaiah 26:19 "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead."

Fulfillment: Matthew 27:52-53 " 52And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many."

Thus, we must come to either one of three conclusions.

1. He was lying about being the Messiah, thus earning His crucifixion.
2. He was mistaken about being the Messiah, thus earning a mental hospital.
3. He was correct about it, thus earning our worship.

There were numerous prophecies He couldn’t have influenced or made happen, such as His birth place. Other prophecies He could not have orchestrated would be the resurrection to life after death, being betrayed, and His means of execution.

Therefore, we can readily conclude that He wasn’t a liar. He could not have been a lunatic because of the probability of fulfilling all of those prophecies.

If you read the Bible, you will see a much longer line of prophecies pointing to the Messiah than what I’ve mentioned. Because Jesus fulfilled all of the prophecies referring to the Messiah, we can readily conclude that He was the Messiah, as He claimed. Since this is true, He is worthy of our worship.

If you are convinced that Jesus is the Messiah, please pray this prayer:

Jesus,

I am guilty of breaking your Law. I have not always lived in righteousness. You are my Judge, and I am worthy to be condemned. Please forgive me. I give my life over to You.

Amen.
All prophecies are taken from www.messiahrevealed.org/