Theologians estimate that Jesus fulfilled over 300 Old Testament prophecies. That’s a lot! We are currently covering a series on a handful of interesting messianic prophecies. Last week, we discovered 3 prophecies that Jesus fulfilled on the last week of His ministry. Today, let’s go over 3 specific prophecies that Jesus fulfilled during the crucifixion.
1.) Jesus’ thirst will be quenched with vinegar and gall
Old Testament Prophecy:
“They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst” (Psalm 69:21).
First, what is gall? Gall is a substance made from myrrh. So “vinegar and gall” was a type of drink common to Roman soldiers. It was a light and sour wine combined with gall (myrrh). The Hebrew word for gall and myrrh throughout the Bible typically reflects its main attribute: bitterness. Further, most verses connect this illustration into spiritual bitterness, or suffering. Job refers to the “gall of an asp,” (Job 20:14) and Hosea associates gall with hemlock (Hosea 10:4)—both deadly substances.
This reminds me of the three gifts brought to a young Jesus by the Magi (Wise Men): “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:11).
Theologians believe that gold symbolizes Jesus’ role as King, frankincense (a type of incense) symbolizes Jesus’ role as God, and myrrh (used for embalming), foretells his death. Perhaps, given the prophecy in Psalm 69, and the drink that we will read about next, the gift of myrrh also foretold this specific act during the crucifixion.
New Testament Fulfillment:
“There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it” (Matthew 27:34).
I was always a little confused about intent. Did they want to help him by offering a drink? Or was it an act of cruelty or mockery—just another way to torture him? Who offered it? Reading the full chapter, its sounds like either the Roman soldiers or Jewish authorities (the chief priests, teachers of the law, and elders) offered the concoction. As these were the main perpetrators who instigated the crucifixion, I can’t say that I trust their intentions or compassion.
Historic writings state that prisoners suffering capital punishment, such as crucifixion, often consumed the drink as an anodyne (painkiller/medicine). While it didn’t necessarily work like a pain killer, it could make them insensible to the pain. However, the wording of a verse in Luke gives more information. “The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine,” (23:36). Perhaps they knew that this drink would be distasteful to Him, whether due to the characteristics of the drink, or its narcotic nature.
Being thirsty and in pain, why did he refuse to drink it? Well, Jesus was on a mission. He had to take on the sin of the world and fulfill His role as the Ultimate Sacrifice. So, realizing what the substance was, He likely refused to drink it so that He actually experienced the fullness of the crucifixion. Instead of passing the suffering in the easiest way, Jesus chose to feel every moment of anguish and shame.
2.) They would cast lots for Jesus’ clothing
Old Testament Prophecy:
“They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment” (Psalm 22:18).
New Testament Fulfillment:
“When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. ‘Let’s not tear it,’ they said to one another. ‘Let’s decide by lot who will get it.’ “This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said, ‘They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.’ “So this is what the soldiers did” (John 19:23–24).
And He fulfilled it. Interestingly, all four gospels record the action of the soldiers dividing Jesus’ garments. I’ve always wondered, did they divide the clothes because clothing was valuable back then, or because Jesus was famous? We may never know; however, the seamless garment was certainly valuable. Someone created the tunic with care and likely gifted to Jesus. Many believe that it represents the garment of the high priest, as the high priest was not to tear his clothes (Leviticus 21:10).
Even more interestingly, notice how the soldiers decided to not tear this particular piece but instead cast lots. This of course fulfills the second of 3 prophecies Jesus fulfilled during the crucifixion. But it also provides a fascinating comparison to the veil that was torn immediately after Jesus’ death. The phrase “woven in one piece from top to bottom,” calls attention to the later verses where the curtain in the temple, separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, tears in two “from the top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51). As the High Priest, Jesus brings about the New Covenant. This ultimate sacrifice by Jesus redeems the sin of humanity, and the separation between Man and God no longer exists.
3.) They would pierce Jesus’ hands and feet
Old Testament Prophecy:
“Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet” (Psalm 22:16).
This sounds straightforward. However, this prophecy has a bit of controversy surrounding the translation of a key Hebrew word in Psalm 22. Some translate the verse as “like a lion, they are at my hands and feet.” The Hebrew word for “pierce” and “lion” are quite similar—the only difference being the length of an upright vowel stroke. As texts were handwritten for many years, one could imagine that this type of confusion could occur. However, there are several reasons why many translators believe that “pierce,” is the correct word:
First, the oldest versions of the text use the word “pierce.” The Dead Sea Scrolls, which predate most Hebrew texts by over 1000 years (!!) use the word “pierce.” Additionally, the oldest versions of texts translated to other languages (Arabic, Ethiopic, Syriac, Vulgate) and the Septuagint (Greek) all also use the word “pierce,” instead of “lion.” For example, the Septuagint was completed 200 years before the birth of Jesus—so there was no reason that they would yet have a preference for the word “pierce” over “lion.”
In fact, the manuscripts with the word “lion” first arose between the 3rd and 4th centuries, long after Jesus’ life on earth. This gives them a motive for corrupting the translation in order to erase a prophecy that Jesus fulfilled. Finally, only considering simple context, the word “lion,” does not make sense. It would be written as a singular lion, and the lines before and after are talking about a group (plural) of people. So “pierce” is the only explanation that makes sense and has the archaeological record to back it up.
New Testament Fulfillment:
And Jesus bravely fulfilled this Old Testament prophecy. This Roman style of crucifixion involved carrying a large wooden cross to a place called Golgotha (place of the skull). Soldiers nailed his hands and feet to the cross, along with those of two other criminals sentenced to die that day (Matthew 27:31-50). While many Roman crucifixions involved simply tying the victim to the cross, many historical writings and now a couple of archaeological sites reveal crucifixions utilizing nails. An archeological dig uncovered the most recent evidence at a Roman burial site in northern Italy in 2018. This 2000-year-old skeleton displayed lesions that prove physical evidence of this cruel form of Roman capital punishment.
“These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: ‘Not one of his bones will be broken,’ and, as another scripture says, ‘They will look on the one they have pierced’” (John 19:36–37).
So, He fulfilled it. You may notice that this verse from John also refers to a prophecy that states that his bones would not be broken. As the Jewish leaders didn’t want bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have their legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers broke the legs of the other two men who were crucified with Jesus, but found that Jesus had already passed. So, they pierced his side for evidence, and did not break his legs. So, Jesus fulfilled another Old Testament prophecy! This verse is found in Psalms 34: “He protects all his bones; not one of them will be broken” (34:20). Jesus fulfilled so many more than just 3 prophecies during the crucifixion.
There is another beautiful takeaway from the prophecy in Psalm 22. Because they nailed Jesus’ hands and feet to the cross, scars appeared in those areas. After His resurrection, Jesus chose to keep the scars. He could have risen with a completely healed body, but He found value in these scars. This was especially helpful to Thomas who, overcome with doubt, declared that he wouldn’t believe unless he saw “the nail marks in his hands and I put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side” (John 20:25). Jesus appeared to him a week later, and told Thomas to do just that, and then following proof, to stop doubting and believe (John 20:27).
I hope you enjoyed learning about 3 Old Testament prophecies Jesus fulfilled during the crucifixion. Keep reading over the next 3 weeks as I start a new series about less common rituals from Biblical times. First, I will be covering the topic of fasting. What does the Bible say about fasting? Should I be doing this regularly? Find out next week.
