The prophecies in the Old Testament concerning the first coming of the Messiah not only related the lineage, birth, life and ministry of the Messiah, but also provided clear descriptions of the death and crucifixion of Christ. This implies that the life which Christ led in this world was not accidental but was well planned by God the Father. Even the Old Testament believers were able to see what Christ would do and undergo when He came to this world.
Psalm 41:9 is one of the passages in the Old Testament that gives an account of who would betray the Messiah. The Psalmist wrote, “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.” In other words, it was not only those who were in His own household who would reject Him but also the person who was with him, having meal and drink with Him at His table who would betray Him. And the Psalmist emphasized the idea in this verse that the person who would lift up his heel against Him would be the one whom he called His close friend and who lived with Him.
Although David was speaking of himself in this Psalm, nonetheless, he presented the person of Christ. What was begun in David would be fully accomplished in Christ. The prophecy given to those chosen of God in the Old Testament would be fully fulfilled in the appointed time of the Lord.
Who was the betrayer mentioned in Psalm 41:9? The Old Testament believers absolutely did not know the name of the person, but it was known that he was one of the Messiah’s close friends. The New Testament books record that the person who was prophesied to betray the Lord Jesus Christ was Judas Iscariot. He was truly a very close friend of Jesus for he was His own disciple, one who heard all the teachings and saw all the miracles of Christ. He was chosen to play the role of the betrayer as a fulfillment of scripture. John the apostle recorded in his gospel, “I know whom I have chosen; but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me, hath lift up his heel against me” (John 13:18).
Although Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve Disciples of Christ and was always with Him and even served together with other apostles, he never believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. His heart was hardened and he was used as an instrument of the Devil to betray the Lord Jesus Christ. Lockyer rightly said, “Although chosen as an apostle, Judas could never have had a deep love in his heart for Jesus; otherwise he would never have heartlessly betrayed Him as he did. No wonder that, after he realized the enormity of his foul deed, he committed suicide.” With the help of Judas Iscariot, the Jews nailed the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. But Jesus Christ knew all these things happened to fulfill what was recorded in the Scripture.
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