How Does Old Testament Foretell Christ's Passion and Crucifixion?

On this Good Friday, let’s explore parts of the Old Testament that foretell what is to come, namely Christ’s Passion and Crucifixion. After the fall of Adam and Eve, God shows His infinite mercy by promising a Redeemer. As He tells the serpent, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.” (Genesis 3:15)

The “offspring” mentioned refers to Jesus who will ultimately gain victory over evil and smite Satan’s power. This is only the beginning. Throughout the Old Testament, we see how the prophets foretold Jesus’ suffering and death–as well as His Resurrection. Also certain events give us a glimpse of what is to come.

For example in Isaiah 53:4-5, we see the image of the one who bears the sins of all humankind. Isaiah also hints at the painful death this servant would endure, and it is his sacrifice that brings healing to all. “Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, while we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we are healed.”

Even Judas Iscariot’s betrayal is foretold in the Old Testament. In short, he sells out to the chief priests for 30 silver pieces. The prophet Zechariah, likewise, hints at the event in the Allegory of the Shepherds, “And I said to them, ‘If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, let it go.’ And they counted out my wages, thirty pieces of silver” (11:12). 

In this scenario, Zechariah tells his audience about the good shepherd who is to come and how little value will be placed upon his care and guidance.

In a similar way, some events in the Old Testament signaled those that would occur later. As an illustration, we see in the Book of Exodus how the Israelites were spared from the Passover of the Lord by applying the blood of an unblemished, male lamb over the doorposts and lintels of their homes (Exodus 12:1-13). Not only were the Israelites saved from death that night; they were also freed from the bonds of slavery. 

Give or take a century and a half later, the Perfect Lamb gave up His life to save us from death and to free us from our sins.

Long before the Passover, Abraham was tested when God asked him to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. In this scenario, we see a few similarities. Isaac carried the wood on his shoulders to where the altar of sacrifice was to be built. Jesus carried the heavy, wooden cross up to Calvary. We also know that when Isaac inquired about the whereabouts of the sheep for the holocaust offering, Abraham told him that “God, Himself,” would provide the sacrifice (Genesis 22:8). On Calvary, God offered His Only Begotten Son so that we “might not perish” (John 3:16).

So as we reflect on the events that took place on Good Friday, may we dive deeper into Scripture to learn more about God’s mercy, about His promise of a Savior, and of course, the sacrifice that Jesus made that shattered death’s final sentence and gave everyone a chance at Heaven–if we just take up our own crosses and follow Him.