Jesus was crucified at a place near the city called Golgotha. "They pierced my hands and my feet" (Ps 22:16). Isaiah prophesied that he would be "numbered with the transgressors" (Isa 53:12). Jesus himself said, "'I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me, 'And He was numbered with transgressors'; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment'" (Lk 22:37). "They crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left" (Mk 15:27). Psalm 22 predicted the situation. "For dogs have surrounded me; a band of evildoers has encompassed me" (Ps 22:16). Isaiah foresaw that "many were astonished at you" (Isa 52:14); and he would "become a reproach to them" (Ps 109:25). "The people stood by, looking on" (Lk 23:35). Psalm 22 prophesied that "all who see me sneer at me" (Ps 22:7); and "when they see me, they wag their head" (Ps 109:25). "They open wide their mouth at me, as a ravening and a roaring lion" (Ps 22:13). "They separate with the lip, they wag the head" (:7-8). "Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads" (Mt 27:39). "Even the rulers were sneering at Him" (Lk 23:35). Some commented, "'If You are the son of God, come down from the cross'" (Mt 27:40) and others said, "'He saved others; He cannot save Himself'" (:42). After all, in Psalm 22 there is a request to "deliver . . . my only life from the power of the dog" (Ps 22:20) in accordance with "let Him rescue him, because He delights in him" (:8). However, Isaiah prophesied that he "interceded for the transgressors" (Isa 53:12) and "Jesus was saying, 'Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing'" (Lk 23:34).
Isaiah clarifies God's purpose. "He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities" (Isa 53:5). "He poured out Himself to death . . . [and] bore the sin of many" (:12). The suffering is described as the agony of dried up strength and the tongue cleaving to the jaw (Ps 22:15). It is stated prophetically that, "They also gave me gall for food and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink" (Ps 69:21). Jesus said, "'I am thirsty'" (Jn 19:28). "They gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall" (Mt 27:34). They offered him "sour wine upon a branch of hyssop" (Jn 19:29). It was said, "They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots" (Ps 22:18). The soldiers divided Jesus' garments among themselves (Jn 19:23). They "cast lots for it [the tunic] . . . to fulfill the Scriptures" (:24). Psalm 31 states, "Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have ransomed me" (:5). Jesus cried out loudly, "'Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit'" (Lk 23:46). Isaiah prophesied, "The chastening of our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed" (Isa 53:5). Peter says, "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righeousness; for by His wounds you were healed" (1Pe 2:24). He uses a common verb meaning to heal. "Is anyone among you sick?" (Ja 5:14). Here it is the same verb Peter uses regarding bodily healing. We are to "call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him" (:14) and to "confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed" (:16). We should appropriate what Jesus accomplished, otherwise he died in vain.