Bible Prophecy Twenty Six
The Messiah would be betrayed by a friend.
"Even my own familiar friend [will betray me] in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me" (Psalms 41:9).
This prophecy states that a close friend, one who was in covenant relationship with Him, would betray the Messiah.
This actually happened in the life of Jesus. Judas Iscariot was one of Jesus ' disciples. He was the Jesus ' treasurer. His betrayal led to the crucifixion of Jesus.
Jesus said, "I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me. ' Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He" (John 13:18,19).
"When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me '" (John 13:21).
The disciples asked Jesus who would
betray Him. "Jesus answered, 'It is he to whom I shall give a piece
of bread when I have dipped it. ' And having dipped the bread, He
gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon" (John 13:26).
"Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him [Judas], 'What you do, do quickly '" (John 13:27).
"When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples.
Then
Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the
chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and
weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon
Him, went forward and said to them, "Whom are you seeking?" 
They answered Him,
'Jesus of Nazareth. ' Jesus said to them, 'I am He. ' And Judas, who
betrayed Him, also stood with them. Now when He said to them, 'I am
He, ' they drew back and fell to the ground" (John 18:1-6).
Bible Prophecy Twenty Seven
The Messiah would be sold for 30 pieces of silver.
"Then I said to them, 'If it is agreeable to you, give me my wages; and if not, refrain. ' So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver" (Zechariah 11:12).
"Then one of the twelve, called Judas
Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, 'What are you willing
to give me if I deliver Him to you? ' And they counted out to him
thirty pieces of silver" (Matthew 26:14,15).
When Judas betrayed Jesus, he did it for the payment of 30 pieces of silver, the price of a slave. Later, Judas hung himself. He never sought forgiveness.
Bible Prophecy Twenty Eight
The 30 pieces of silver would be returned for a Potter 's Field
"And the LORD said to me, 'Throw it to the potter ' --that princely price they set on me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD for the potter" (Zechariah 11:13).
"Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He
had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces
of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, 'I have sinned by
betraying innocent blood. ' And they said, 'What is that to us? You
see to it! ' Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple
and departed, and went and hanged himself" (Matthew 27:3-5).
"But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, 'It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood. ' And they consulted together and bought with them the potter 's field, to bury strangers in" (Matthew 27:6,7).
"Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, 'And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, and gave them for the potter 's field, as the LORD directed me '" (Matthew 27:8-1
Bible Prophecy Twenty Nine
False witnesses would accuse the Messiah.
"Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence" (Psalms 27:12).
ìHe is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Himî (Isaiah 53:3.)
ìYet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You 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 handî (Isaiah 53:10).
"But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward and declared, 'This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days. ' '" (Matthew 26:60,61).
Jesus had never sinned, or done anything wrong. He never broke a law. The only way his enemies could convict Him of a crime was to bring false witnesses against Him to lie.
The religious people of Jesus ' day were the ones who hated Him. They were the ones who Satan used to crucify Him. That is still true today. Many so called "religious" people do not know Jesus, nor do they believe in Him.
Bible Prophecy Thirty
The Messiah would be silent before His accusers.
"He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth" (Isaiah 53:7).
"And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. Then Pilate said to Him, 'Do You not hear how many things they testify against You? ' But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly" (Matthew 27:12-14).
If Jesus had opened His mouth, He would have been delivered. His words are so powerful that they would have broken the power of His accusers and killers. But Jesus knew He had to die for the sins of the world.
Bible Prophecy Thirty One
The Messiah would suffer on behalf of others.
"Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:4,5).
Isaiah the prophet said this several hundred years before the Messiah was crucified. He could have only known this by the Spirit of God.
"When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 'He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases '" (Matthew 8:16,17
The Messiah would be beaten and spit upon.
"I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting" (Isaiah 50:6).
Jesus suffered extreme torture even before He was nailed to the Cross. The flesh on His back was opened down to the bones by a whip that had steel and bone tied to the ends. His beard was pulled out. Most people actually fell dead during this kind of torture. But Jesus was strong!
"Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, 'Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you? '" (Matthew 26:67,68).
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Bible Prophecy Thirty Three
The Messiah would be mocked and insulted.
"But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: 'He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him '" (Psalms 22:6-8).
It is worthy to be noted, that Psalm 22 speaks about and describes the act of crucifixion, and this thousands of years before the Romans ever implemented this horrible act of torture. One can follow the verses in the Psalm and even detect how Jesus actually quoted this while He was being crucified. His last words were "It is finished," the same as some of the original translations read in the last verse of Psalm 22.
"Then the governor 's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers round him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. 'Hail, king of the Jews! ' they said. They spat on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him" (Matthew 27:27-31).
While in Jerusalem in 2006, we saw where this act in Matthew 27 actually took place. It was an act carried out by Roman soldiers as they played the "King's Game." This is actually similar to a board game, but this one was inscribed on the floor. They would move the prisoner from place to place accusing him of "playing king," an act punishable by death. As we viewed the inscription on the floor, we could sense in our hearts the cruelty that Jesus endured, and that together with not opening His mouth to save Himself.
"Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, 'You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God! '" (Matthew 27:39,40).
Bible Prophecy Thirty Four
The Messiah would fall carrying His cross.
"My knees give way from fasting; my body is thin and gaunt. I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads" (Psalms 109:24,25).
"Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha)" (John 19:17).
"As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus" (Luke 23:26).
Jesus was almost dead as He was carrying His cross to the hill to be crucified. He had been beaten and tortured for several days. He fell under the weight of the cross, at which time Simon from Cyrene carried it the rest of the way.
Bible Prophecy Thirty Five
The hands and feet of the Messiah would be pierced.
"Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet" (Psalms 22:16).
"Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord! ' But he said to them, 'Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it. ' A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you! ' Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe. ' Thomas said to him, 'My Lord and my God! '" (John 20:24-28).
Bible Prophecy Thirty Six
The Messiah would be crucified with thieves.
"Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors [thieves]. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors" (Isaiah 53:12).
"Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left" (Matthew 27:38).
Bible Prophecy Thirty Seven
The Messiah would pray for the people that killed Him.
"Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors" (Isaiah 53:12).
"Then Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. ' And they divided His garments and cast lots" (Luke 23:34).
If Jesus forgave the people that tortured
and crucified Him, He certainly will forgive you, no matter how bad
you have been.
There is no sin too deep; there is no person too bad to forgive. There is no problem too big for Jesus to solve.
He is alive, and He can be alive in your circumstances now!
Bible Prophecy Thirty Eight
His own people would reject the Messiah.
"He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him" (Isaiah 53:3).
"Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, 'Behold your King! ' But they cried out, 'Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him! ' Pilate said to them, 'Shall I crucify your King? ' The chief priests answered, 'We have no king but Caesar! '" (John 19:14,15).
"He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him" (John 1:10-11).
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Bible Prophecy Thirty Nine
The Messiah would be hated without a cause.
"Those who hate me without a cause Are more than the hairs of my head; They are mighty who would destroy me, Being my enemies wrongfully; Though I have stolen nothing, I still must restore it" (Psalms 69:4).
"But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, `They hated Me without a cause '" (John 15:25).
People today still hate Jesus without a cause. He is the only one who can make their life whole. He wants to take them to Heaven and give them eternal life. He offers escape from Hell, both now on earth and for eternity. Yet people still hate Him without a cause.
Bible Prophecy Forty
The Messiah 's friends would forsake Him.
"My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague, And my relatives stand afar off" (Psalms 38:11).
"Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest 's house. But Peter followed at a distance" (Luke 22:54).
"But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things" (Luke 23:49).
Peter, one of the Messiah 's disciples and close followers, denied Him, but was later forgiven and became one of the twelve apostles. Many people who claim to be the Messiah 's followers today are still ashamed of Him. They still do not want to be identified with Him for fear of being criticized.
"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father 's, and of the holy angels" (Luke 9:26).
Bible Prophecy Forty One
People would wag their heads at the Messiah on the Cross.
"All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying" (Psalms 22:7).
"I also have become a reproach to them; When they look at me, they shake their heads" (Psalms 109:25).
"And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads" (Matthew 27:39).
Bible Prophecy Forty Two
Soldiers would cast lots for the Messiah 's clothes.
"They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots" (Psalms 22:18).
"Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. They said therefore among themselves, 'Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be, ' that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says: 'They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots. ' Therefore the soldiers did these things" (John 19:23,24).
Bible Prophecy Forty Three
Gall and vinegar would be offered to the Messiah on the Cross.
"They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink." (Psalms 69:21).
"They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink" (Matthew 27:34).
Gall and vinegar was a mixture commonly used to reduce the pain of someone being crucified. Jesus would not accept it.
Bible Prophecy Forty Four
The Messiah would cry out that God had forsaken Him.
"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?" (Psalms 22:1).
"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? ' that is, 'My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? '" (Matthew 27:46).
Jesus had been in constant fellowship with Father God while on earth. However Jesus needed to pay the price for us being cut off from God, and the only way to do that was for Father God to forsake Him. Forsake means to totally abandon. Now we can be connected to God.
His promise to us is, "ÖFor He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you. '" (Hebrews 13:5).
