Scriptural Prophecies of the Messiah's Passion and Death

The concept of a suffering Messiah is rooted in various Old Testament passages that foretell the Messiah's passion and death. Isaiah 53:8 and Daniel 9:26 are key prophecies that speak of the Messiah's suffering and death ^[2]. The idea of a Messiah who suffers is not limited to these passages, as other scriptures, such as Psalm 22 and Zechariah 13:7, also contribute to this understanding.

The New Testament writers frequently referenced these Old Testament prophecies to demonstrate that Jesus' passion and death were part of God's plan. For instance, Acts 2:23 and 4:28 highlight that Jesus' death was according to God's predetermined plan ^[3]. The apostle Philip's explanation to the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:32-33, where he interprets Isaiah 53:7-8 as referring to Jesus, illustrates how early Christian interpreters connected these Old Testament prophecies to Jesus' passion ^[5].

The suffering servant passages in Isaiah, particularly Isaiah 52:13–53:12, are crucial in understanding the Messiah's passion. These passages describe a servant who suffers vicariously for the sins of others, is exalted afterward, and justifies many through his knowledge ^{[6, 7]}. The New Testament writers saw Jesus as the fulfillment of these prophecies, with his death being a necessary step for the redemption of humanity ^[10].

The mode of the Messiah's death was also foretold in scripture. The New Testament writers noted that Jesus' death by crucifixion was predicted in the Old Testament, with Psalm 22 being a key passage that describes the suffering of the righteous one ^[1]. The ignominy and accursedness of Jesus' death on the cross were also anticipated, with Galatians 3:13 referencing Deuteronomy 21:23 to explain that Jesus became a curse for humanity.

The necessity of the Messiah's suffering and death is a recurring theme in the New Testament. Jesus himself taught that he must suffer and die as part of God's plan, and that this was necessary for the fulfillment of scripture ^{[10, 11]}. The early Christian community understood Jesus' death as being in accordance with God's eternal counsels and purposes ^[3].

The interpretation of the Messiah's passion in the context of Jewish scripture and tradition is also reflected in the Dead Sea Scrolls. The "Pierced Messiah" fragment (4Q285) is a notable example, although its interpretation is subject to ongoing scholarly debate ^[4].

The understanding of Jesus as the suffering Messiah has been a cornerstone of Christian theology across various traditions. Reformed interpreters, such as Calvin, have seen the prophecies of Isaiah as being fulfilled in Jesus, emphasizing the vicarious nature of his suffering ^{[8, 9]}. Similarly, other Christian traditions have understood Jesus' passion and death as being foretold in the Old Testament and as being central to God's plan of redemption.

The connection between the Old Testament prophecies and Jesus' passion underscores the continuity between the two testaments and highlights the significance of Jesus' death in Christian theology. As the New Testament writers and early Christian interpreters demonstrated, Jesus' passion and death were not unexpected events but were instead part of a larger narrative that was foretold in scripture.

Sources

Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Resurrection of Christ, The — Foretold by the prophets -- Ps 16:10; Ac 13:34,35; Isa 26:19. Foretold by Himself -- Mt 20:19; Mr 9:9; 14:28; Joh 2:19-22. Was necessary to The fulfilment of Scripture. -- Lu 24:45,46. Forgiveness of sins. -- 1Co 15:17. Justification. -- Ro 4:25; 8:34. Hope. -- 1Co 15:19. The efficacy of preaching. -- 1Co 15:14. The efficacy of faith. -- 1Co 15:14,17. A proof of his being the Son of God -- Ps 2:7; Ac 13:33; Ro 1:4. Effected by The power of God. -- Ac 2:24; 3:15; Ro 8:11; Eph 1:20; Col 2:12. His own power. -- Joh 2:19; 10:18. The power of”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Death of Christ, The — Foretold -- Isa 53:8; Da 9:26; Zec 13:7. Appointed by God -- Isa 53:6,10; Ac 2:23. Necessary for the redemption of man -- Lu 24:46; Ac 17:3. Acceptable, as a sacrifice to God -- Mt 20:28; Eph 5:2; 1Th 5:10. Was voluntary -- Isa 53:12; Mt 26:53; Joh 10:17,18. Was undeserved -- Isa 53:9. Mode of Foretold by Christ. -- Mt 20:18,19; Joh 12:32,33. Prefigured. -- Nu 21:8; Joh 3:14. Ignominious. -- Heb 12:2. Accursed. -- Ga 3:13. Exhibited His humility. -- Php 2:8. A stumbling block to Jews. -- 1Co 1:23. Foolishness to Gentiles. -- 1Co 1:18,23. Demand”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Counsels and Purposes of God, The — Are great -- Jer 32:19. Are wonderful -- Isa 28:29. Are immutable -- Ps 33:11; Pr 19:21; Jer 4:28; Ro 9:11; Heb 6:17. Are sovereign -- Isa 40:13,14; Da 4:35. Are eternal -- Eph 3:11. Are faithfulness and truth -- Isa 25:1. None can disannul -- Isa 14:27. Shall be performed -- Isa 14:24; 46:11. The sufferings and death of Christ were according to -- Ac 2:23; 4:28. Saints called and save according to -- Ro 8:28; 2Ti 1:9. The union of all saints in Christ, is according to -- Eph 1:9,10. The works of God according to -- Eph 1:11. Shoul”
Dead Sea Scrolls “Pesharim and Other Notable Texts (2nd-1st century BCE), section 4: describes Jesus as a heavenly high priest ministering in the "true" tabernacle in heaven (Hebrews 8:1-5, 9:11-14), and for the heavenly liturgy described in Revelation 4-5. WAR RULE VARIANTS (4Q285, 11Q14) Introduction Several fragmentary texts from Caves 4 and 11 preserve material related to but distinct from the main War Scroll (1QM). The most discussed of these is 4Q285, sometimes called the "Pierced Messiah" fragment or the Sefer ha-Milhamah (Book of War). The "Pierced/Piercing Messiah" Fragment (4Q285, fragment 5) This sma”
Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 8:32: 8:32-33 The passage of Scripture was Isa 53:7-8, one of the Servant Songs of Isaiah, a passage that speaks of the suffering servant of the Lord.”
Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 53:11: Jehovah is still speaking. see of the travail--He shall see such blessed fruits resulting from His sufferings as amply to repay Him for them (Isa 49:4-5; Isa 50:5, Isa 50:9). The "satisfaction," in seeing the full fruit of His travail of soul in the conversion of Israel and the world, is to be realized in the last days (Isa 2:2-4). his knowledge--rather, the knowledge (experimentally) of Him (Joh 17:3; Phi 3:10). my . . . servant--Messiah (Isa 42:1; Isa 52:13). righteous--the ground on which He justifies others, His own righteousness (Jo1 2:1)”
Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 52:13: 52:13–53:12 This is the fourth of four passages that speak about the promised servant (see study note on 42:1-4). The Hebrew poem is carefully constructed in five three-line stanzas. It begins with the servant’s exaltation (52:13), proceeds to his humiliation (52:14–53:9), and ends with his exaltation (53:10-12). The faithful servant’s suffering would bring reconciliation between God and humans. The Lord Jesus perfectly fulfilled this prophecy (see ch 40; Matt 8:17; Acts 8:30-35; Rom 10:15-17; 15:21; 1 Pet 2:24-25). 52:13 prosper . . . be highly exalted: The serv”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 2, section 53.2: 64:7 66:24 Jeremiah 4:31 5:8 5:28 7:4 7:4 9:1 10:23 10:24 10:24 11:21 17:1 17:5 18:16 19:6 19:8 22:24 22:28 25:9 25:13 25:18 28:10 28:11 30:11 31:15 43:2 48:2 50:11 Lamentations 1:7 2:5 2:8 3:29 Ezekiel 15:3 16:26 20:11 20:24 20:25 26:2 26:14 37:1 43:15 43:15 47:11 Daniel 5:28 5:30 5:31 7:10 7:17 8:20 Hosea 1:7 6:4 8:14 9:6 13:3 Joel 1:13 2:13 2:23 2:28 Amos 1:3 3:6 4:1 4:1 5:10 5:19 8:11 Micah 1:3 1:11 2:11 7:9 7:16 Nahum 3:8 Habakkuk 2:1 2:1 2:1 2:2 3:2 3:2 3:13 Zechariah 9:14 13:4 14:3 Malachi 1:4 1:11 4:2 Matthew 2:14 3:12 3:12 3:12 3:12 ”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 1, section 23.1: Index of Scripture References Genesis 1:26 1:30 3:5 3:22 10:14 11:31 12:3 12:17 13:15 13:16 17:7 17:8 18:20 18:21 19:5 19:23 19:24 19:37 20:3 20:16 20:17 22:17 22:17 25:25-26 31:19 31:30 32:28 34:7 36:1 36:8 36:9 41:50-52 48:16 Exodus 1:12 1:14 3:6 4:22 8:15 9:34 10:21 10:23 12:23 12:51 12:51 12:51 13:21 13:21-22 14:21 14:27-28 14:29 15:1 19:6 19:20 20:5 20:5 21:8 21:8 21:8 22:22-24 22:23 23:8 23:8 23:19 23:32 25:21-22 29:42 32:32 33:9 34:6 34:7 34:26 Leviticus 1:11 10:1 19:18 23:40 26 26:18 26:18 26:21 26:21 26:24 26:26 26:28 26:31 26:36 26:”
Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 24:25: 24:25-26 the prophets wrote . . . that the Messiah would have to suffer: The crucifixion did not negate Jesus’ identity as the Messiah but confirmed it, because the death of the Messiah was predicted in Scripture. Jesus rebuked the two for not recognizing from Scripture that the Messiah had to suffer (see Isa 50:4-9; 52:13–53:12; Pss 2, 16, 22, 118; cp. Luke 18:32; 20:17; 23:37; Acts 2:25-28; 4:25-26).”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 16:21: 16:21-28 Jesus, now officially recognized by his disciples as the Messiah, begins to reveal a startling aspect of his mission: He must suffer before entering his glory (16:21-23), and those who follow him will meet a similar fate (16:24-28). 16:21 This is the first of three predictions of Jesus’ passion—his suffering through betrayal, crucifixion, and death (see also 17:22-23; 20:18-19). Each prediction gives a lesson on the cost of discipleship (16:24-27; 20:20-28). • That he would suffer was God’s sovereign and necessary purpose for the Messiah (see 17:12).”

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