How does the Old Testament foreshadow the crucifixion of Jesus?

The Old Testament, rich in its tapestry of prophecy and symbolism, provides numerous foreshadowings of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. These prophecies, woven throughout the text by various prophets, create a compelling picture that points towards the suffering, death, and ultimate sacrifice of the Messiah. Understanding these foreshadowings not only deepens our appreciation of the Old Testament but also enriches our comprehension of the New Testament fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

One of the most striking and detailed prophecies concerning the crucifixion is found in Isaiah 53. Often referred to as the "Suffering Servant" passage, Isaiah 53 vividly describes a figure who bears the sins of many, is despised and rejected by men, and is ultimately led like a lamb to the slaughter. Isaiah 53:5-6 (ESV) states:

"But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."

This passage is remarkable in its specificity. The imagery of being "pierced" and "crushed" prefigures the physical suffering Jesus endured on the cross. The notion that the Servant bears the iniquities of others aligns perfectly with the New Testament understanding of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice. The entire chapter of Isaiah 53 paints a picture of a suffering Messiah who takes upon Himself the punishment deserved by others, a clear foreshadowing of the crucifixion.

Another significant prophecy is found in Psalm 22, a psalm of David that is often referred to as the "Psalm of the Cross." Written centuries before the crucifixion, Psalm 22 opens with the words, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Psalm 22:1, ESV), which Jesus Himself quotes while on the cross (Matthew 27:46, ESV). The psalm continues with descriptions that eerily parallel the events of the crucifixion:

"I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—I can count all my bones—they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots." (Psalm 22:14-18, ESV)

The vivid imagery of being "poured out like water," bones being "out of joint," and the piercing of hands and feet are direct allusions to the physical realities of crucifixion. The mention of casting lots for clothing is a detail fulfilled in the New Testament account of Jesus’ death (John 19:23-24, ESV), showcasing the prophetic nature of this psalm.

The prophet Zechariah also provides a poignant prophecy concerning the crucifixion. Zechariah 12:10 (ESV) states:

"And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn."

This prophecy not only speaks of the piercing of the Messiah but also of the profound mourning and recognition of the significance of this act. The piercing mentioned here correlates with the piercing of Jesus’ side by a Roman soldier (John 19:34, ESV), further solidifying the connection between Old Testament prophecy and New Testament fulfillment.

The sacrificial system instituted in the Old Testament also serves as a foreshadowing of the crucifixion. The Passover lamb, described in Exodus 12, is a powerful symbol of Jesus’ sacrificial death. The lamb was to be without blemish (Exodus 12:5, ESV), symbolizing the sinlessness of Christ. Its blood, applied to the doorposts, protected the Israelites from the judgment of God, just as the blood of Christ protects believers from the wrath of God. Paul explicitly makes this connection in 1 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV): "For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed."

Additionally, the Day of Atonement rituals described in Leviticus 16 provide a vivid picture of the atoning work of Christ. The high priest would lay his hands on the head of a goat, symbolically transferring the sins of the people onto the animal, which was then sent into the wilderness, carrying away their sins. This act prefigures Jesus as the ultimate scapegoat, bearing the sins of humanity and removing them as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12, ESV).

The bronze serpent in Numbers 21:4-9 is another Old Testament event that foreshadows the crucifixion. When the Israelites were bitten by venomous snakes, God instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and lift it on a pole. Those who looked upon it were healed. Jesus references this event in John 3:14-15 (ESV), saying:

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."

The lifting up of the bronze serpent is a type of Christ being lifted up on the cross, offering healing and salvation to all who believe.

The Old Testament also contains numerous types and shadows pointing to the crucifixion. Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac in Genesis 22 is a profound foreshadowing. Isaac, carrying the wood for his own sacrifice up Mount Moriah, mirrors Jesus carrying His cross to Golgotha. God’s provision of a ram as a substitute for Isaac prefigures the substitutionary atonement of Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29, ESV).

The prophetic writings of Daniel also contribute to the foreshadowing of the crucifixion. Daniel 9:24-26 (ESV) speaks of an "Anointed One" who will be "cut off" and have nothing:

"Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing."

The phrase "cut off" is understood by many scholars as a reference to the Messiah’s death, and the context of atonement for iniquity aligns with the purpose of Jesus’ crucifixion.

In summary, the Old Testament is replete with foreshadowings of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Through prophecies, types, and shadows, the Scriptures point towards the suffering and sacrificial death of the Messiah. Isaiah’s Suffering Servant, David’s Psalm of the Cross, Zechariah’s pierced one, the Passover lamb, the Day of Atonement, the bronze serpent, Abraham and Isaac, and Daniel’s Anointed One all contribute to a rich tapestry that finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. These foreshadowings not only validate the divine inspiration and coherence of the Bible but also deepen our understanding of the profound significance of Jesus’ death on the cross.