He is Scorned and Mocked

Another prophecy of the Old Testament concerning the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross reveals that the Messiah was scorned and mocked by the people. It was during the crucifixion, His enemies mocked Him saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God” (Luke 23:35), “If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself” (v. 37), “If thou be Christ, save thyself and us” (v.39). Nevertheless the mockeries that Jesus heard while He was hung on the cross did not cause Him to hate or think about revenge. His love toward them never changed.

The pain, suffering and mockery borne by Jesus caused some to have sympathy toward Him. Luke records that a great company of people including women that followed Christ on His way to Calvary, bewailed and lamented Jesus (Luke 23:27). But Jesus knew that it was not necessary for them to lament for Him but rather for themselves and their children (Luke 23:28). The Lord Jesus was prepared by the Father to bear all pains, mockeries and insults in order to fulfill the prophecies given in the scriptures.

The book of Psalm records the prophecy of what happened to the Messiah while He was hung on the cross. “All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him” (Ps. 22:7-8). The fulfillment of this prophecy could be seen in the life of Jesus as recorded in the four gospels. Hundreds of years before Christ came to this world, the Lord had recorded the things that He would do and undergo during His short life in this world.

He is Pierced through Hands and Feet (Ps. 22:16; ref. John 20:27)

The hatred of the enemies of Christ was so terrible and cruel. Their own Messiah sent by God to bring victory of salvation in their midst and they put him to death on the cross. They reckoned Him as one of the malefactors who deserve to be crucified. Nonetheless, the love of God toward His chosen people did not diminish. Despite their wickedness and rejection of their Master and King, God still has a special plan for the nation of Israel. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, in His last words, asked His Father to forgive them for their wrong doings toward Him (Luke 34:34). His love never changed. He knew His mission was to fulfill what was written in the scriptures.

The prophecy given by God to the Psalmist must be fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. His hands and feet must be pierced as the Psalmist had said, “For dogs have compassed me; the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet” (Ps. 22:16). All these were done when the unbelieving Jews crucified Jesus Christ. They nailed His hands and feet to the cross and He died there with all the wounds, pain and suffering. Jesus endured all these things because of the love he had for sinners.

However it is important to take note that the death of Jesus is not an eternal death. Three days after His death, He was resurrected as often taught to His disciples concerning His resurrection. The power of death could not overcome Him. He defeated death with victory. He resurrected and revealed Himself to the people and His disciples.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is real and not fictitious. Thomas, who did not believe in His resurrection, was convinced after the Lord Jesus Christ showed Himself to him. Jesus said, “Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing” (John 20:27). The scars on His hands and feet were proof of His suffering and death but He had resurrected from the dead.

He is Crucified with Malefactors (Is. 53:12; ref. Mark 15:27-28)

Another event prophesied in the Old Testament is the crucifixion of the Messiah together with the two malefactors. The prophet Isaiah saw once again the full suffering of Christ on the cross when he wrote in Isaiah 53:12 saying, “Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” The Messiah, despite His holiness, living without sins and doing no wrong, was nailed on the cross. The Jews considered the punishment which Christ received to be of the same magnitude as those malefactors. Lockyer rightly opines, "The word Isaiah used for transgressors among whom Christ was numbered does not refer to the usual run of sinners, but to criminals, or those who were open transgressors of the law of God and man. Voluntarily He permitted Himself to be reckoned with male factors, and to all appearances as far as the mob was concerned, Jesus was a felon like His companions in death - perhaps considered a shade worse than the other two, as He was given the middle place."

How terrible His suffering was! He was so holy, living in this world, helping the weak and showing mercy to those who were distressed and oppressed. He taught the multitude to live according to the truth and the Law, but His enemies nailed Him on the cross. Nevertheless, it was done perfectly according to the prophecies given concerning Him in the Old Testament. Whatever the Lord had said concerning Him must be fulfilled. As Mark recorded, “And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors” (Mark 15:27-28).

Jesus was Vicarious Sacrifice (Is. 53:5; ref. Rom. 5:6,8)

The prophet Isaiah, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, devoted the whole chapter of Isaiah 53 to the prophecy concerning the sufferings and afflictions of the Messiah when He came in His first coming. Every verse of this chapter provides excellent descriptions of the Messiah’s sufferings. The gospel writers reveal in their writings that the story of the life of the Messiah reflects what Isaiah had recorded in his book. Isaiah saw that all these things would happen in the Christ.

Isaiah 53:5 in particular is talking about the vicarious sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is to say that the Messiah would be offered to be put to death as a substitute for sinners. As Isaiah said, “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.” How terrible the afflictions that Christ had borne on our behalf! He was God, willing to take a human form, came to this world to be wounded, bruised and chastised in order to bring salvation and save sinners. Thus Calvin rightly commented, "Here the Prophet draws a contrast between us and Christ; for in us nothing can be found but destruction and death; in Christ alone is life and salvation, he alone brought medicine to us, and even procures health by his weakness, and life by his death; for he alone hath pacified the Father, he alone hath reconciled us to him."

The death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross is medicine for sinners, because without His death, man could not be reconciled to God. Man would not have any hope of having salvation and eternal life. Nevertheless God knew the wretchedness of man. He showed His love toward men through the sending of His Only Begotten Son to die on the cross as our substitute. This has to be done by the Messiah, for man by his own strength cannot save himself but the Lord gives hope through His Son, Jesus Christ, as the apostle Paul said, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. But God commendeth his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:6, 8). Thus the vicarious sacrifice of Jesus was well documented in the Old Testament time so that every true believer in the Lord can prepare himself for the coming of the Messiah.

Jesus is hated without reason (Ps. 35:19; ref. John 15:24-25)

Another prophecy concerning the sufferings of the Lord Jesus can be seen in Psalm 35:19 which shows evidence that Christ was hated without reason. The Psalmist said, “Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause” (Ps. 35:19). It is a sad thing when a person is hated without reason. The Messiah in His goodness and grace towards men, was willing to come to this world taking the form of a servant and yet being a servant and God, He was hated.

The context of this passage tells us Psalm 35:19 was actually David’s prayer to the Lord concerning his situation. David’s enemies were actually exulting “in the hope of seeing his overthrow and destruction.” Thus he prayed that “God would not suffer them to realize a desire so wicked.” This was the cruelty of David’s enemies toward him. Nonetheless the cruelty David faced was the picture of the cruelty that would be borne by Jesus Christ when He came in His first coming. For this reason, John the apostle saw that whatever happened to Christ was according to the plan of God. In fact the prophecy of Psalm 35:19 was declared to be fulfilled when John recorded the words of Jesus in John 15:24-25 saying, “If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, they hated me without a cause.” Truly our God is a True and Living God, the Omnipotent, and Omnipresent God, who knows all things even before He created the world. The suffering, death and crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ were all ordained beforehand.

Looking at the ministry of Jesus Christ no one could find any fault in Him in order to prove that He was guilty. When the Jews arrested Him and brought Him before the council, nobody could testify that Jesus was guilty, except those false witnesses. Pilate after his interrogation of Jesus, concluded that he found nothing that caused Him to be guilty. Nevertheless, the Jews, despite their pure conscious spoke the truth, claimed that Jesus must be put to the death. They were ready to take all the blame if only they could nail Jesus on the cross.

When Pilate knew that Jesus was not guilty, he actually desired to release Jesus from the hand of the Jews. Pilate offered them a choice: to choose Jesus to be nailed on the cross or to release Barabbas, a murderer. Nevertheless because of the hatred that the Jews had, they preferred Barabbas to be released from the cross, and allowed him to do whatever he liked rather than see Jesus teaching their people. Whatever reason the Jews might have, they were still accountable for what they have done to Christ. The terrible hatred of the Jews toward Jesus Christ was inexcusable.

Jesus was spat upon and Smitten (Is. 50:6; ref. Matt. 26:67)

When Jesus was found guilty before the council, it showed the cruelty of the Jews toward Him. However, when Isaiah describes further the sufferings that He bore on our behalf, it shows the great love God has for sinners. As the Scriptures describe the details of His sufferings, one should ponder in his heart that Christ died for him. Though Christ was God, He was submissive to the commandments of the Lord: what He had required of Him must be done justly and perfectly.

When making a careful study on the life of Jesus in the gospel, one is compelled to conclude that Christ had faced much suffering. The climax of His sufferings stretched from His arrest to the time He was nailed on the cross. It was during this time that all the prophecies about the sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ given in the Old Testament were fulfilled for the glory of God.

The prophet Isaiah gave the prophecy of Jews despising and rejecting the Messiah. Isaiah 50:6 says, “I gave my back to the smitters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid no my face from shame and spitting.” This is to say that when the Messiah comes in His first coming, despite His position as a Prophet, Priest and King, He will be despised by His own people. He will be spat upon and smitten. What sorrow Jesus experienced when He received these insults from those whom He loved. Jesus had done nothing wrong to the Jews and yet He was rejected in this manner.

Matthew wrote further about this incident that happened to Jesus in His first coming in Matthew 26:67 “Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands.” All these must be borne by Jesus Christ in order to fulfill the Scriptures. As Lockyer rightly said, "The prophets were inspired by the Holy Spirit to testify beforehand minute details of the indignities the coming One was to endure. How else can we explain the most accurate descriptions of the humiliation of Christ, who did not appear until some 700 years after these were prophesied? Note how prediction and performance exactly agree. ‘Jesus was smitten with a rod upon His cheek.’"

During the suffering of Jesus Christ, despite all the trials that He had to face, He was obedient even unto death (Phil. 2:8). Though He was spat upon and smitten by His enemies, He was submissive to what His Father required of Him. What a sad commentary written by Matthew of how the religious leaders of the nation of Israel stooped to such disgraceful acts as spitting at the Messiah’s face, “buffeting Him, and slapping Him.” Nevertheless, despite all these things, the Lord Jesus Christ endured to the end in order to be faithful to His Father’s commandments.

Old Testament books such as the book of Isaiah provide the most wonderful stories of the suffering of the Messiah. Isaiah saw and understood the sorrow and sufferings that would happen to the Holy Prophet of God. Through his prophetic vision, Isaiah “saw God’s suffering Servant battered and bleeding, with a holy face covered with man’s spittle.” He was afflicted, suffered, abused because of the sins of this world. Thus with true faith in the Old Testament one could see from the story of the life of Jesus Christ what the Messiah would have to do to save sinners and fulfill what had been written in the Scriptures.

Jesus was Silent to Accusations (Is. 53:7; ref. Mark 15:4-5)

After those false witnesses had testified against the teachings of the Lord Jesus before the members of the council, Jesus remained silent. Jesus saw no reason to defend His situation for He knew that He had done nothing wrong concerning His teachings and works. In fact members of the council had heard the teachings of Jesus Christ because He was teaching in open places and the temple. Jesus knew that the council was just trying to find ways of putting Him to death.

After having heard all the testimonies of those witnesses, Pilate and the high priest expected to hear Jesus’ defense, but He was silent concerning all the accusations. On the other hand, the Jews knew that they needed to make definite charges against the Lord Jesus Christ, so the high priest asked Jesus for His response concerning those accusations (Mark 14:60). And again Pilate asked the same thing in Mark 15:4-5, but Jesus remained silent. Lockyer commented, “When falsely accused, He did not try to defend Himself, but endured the contradictions of sinners.” The only question that Christ answered during His trial was the question whether He was the Christ, the Son of the Blessed. Then Jesus answered that He is (Mark 14:62).

The false accusations against Jesus Christ are recorded in the gospels in order to reveal the sufferings that He bore to save sinners. In other words both the Old and New Testament people were able to see the sufferings of Jesus Christ on the cross. As prophet Isaiah said, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth” (Is. 53:7). Jesus was silent during all the trials that He underwent as fulfillment of the prophecy given in the Old Testament.