Christian reading

Issue N22


answers for a jew, valeriy sterkh

Answers for a Jew

Does Jesus fulfill the prophecies about Messiah? (ending)

Messiah is given sour wine (vinegar) mingled with myrrh (gall): «And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh» (Mk 15:23; compare Mt 27:34; Lk 23:36) and «After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they [soldiers] filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost» (Jn 19:28-30). The underlying prophecy: «They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink» (Ps 69:21).

Messiah will die: «Then said Jesus unto him [Peter], Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?» (Mt 26:52-54; compare Lk 24:25-27; Jn 18:11). The underlying prophecy: «Messiah be cut off [killed]» (Dan 9:26).

Messiah will be dead for three days: «But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas [Jonah]: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth» (Mt 12:39-40; compare Mt 16:4; Mk 8:12; Lk 11:29; Jn 2:19-21). The underlying prophecy: «Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights» (Jonah 1:17; compare Hos 6:2).

Messiah will be risen from the dead: «For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead» (Jn 20:9; compare Lk 24:44-47). The underlying prophecy: «For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption» (Ps 16:10; compare Is 53:10-12; Dan 9:26; Act 2:25-28).

(to be continued)