Old Testament Prophecies of the Messiah’s Sacrificial Death for Sin
By Dr. Maxwell Shimba, Shimba Theological Institute
A common question posed in interfaith dialogues, particularly from an Islamic perspective, is: “Is there any prophet in the Old Testament who said that Jesus is coming to die for people’s sins?” This question strikes at the core of Christian theology and the prophetic continuity of Scripture. The claim that the Old Testament contains no reference to the sacrificial death of the Messiah is historically and theologically untenable. From Genesis to Daniel, multiple prophetic texts unmistakably anticipate a coming Anointed One (Messiah) whose purpose is the forgiveness of sins through vicarious suffering and atoning death.
1. The Protoevangelium in Genesis 3:15
The earliest biblical prophecy of redemption occurs immediately after the Fall of Adam and Eve:
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
This verse, traditionally called the protoevangelium (the “first gospel”), foreshadows a coming Redeemer. The “seed of the woman” is understood to be Christ (cf. Galatians 3:16). His “heel” being bruised signifies suffering and apparent defeat, while the ultimate crushing of the serpent’s head signifies triumph over sin and death. Theologically, this is a first divine hint of substitutionary atonement: Jesus will suffer death on behalf of humanity to secure eternal victory.
2. Isaiah’s Suffering Servant (Isaiah 52:13–53:12)
The clearest and most detailed prophecy concerning the Messiah’s atoning death is found in Isaiah:
“He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
“The LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).
The “Servant” in Isaiah 53 is an individual, not Israel collectively. He suffers vicariously—bearing the sins of others—and through His death, brings righteousness and peace. This is a prophetic description of substitutionary atonement, a central Christian doctrine. The New Testament explicitly identifies Jesus as the fulfillment of this prophecy (Matthew 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24; Acts 8:32–35). Scholars agree that Isaiah’s portrayal of the Messiah’s death, rejection, and subsequent exaltation is unparalleled in the Old Testament, making it a cornerstone of messianic expectation.
3. Zechariah’s Pierced One (Zechariah 12:10)
Zechariah prophesies:
“They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for an only son.”
The imagery is striking: the Messiah will be “pierced” and mourned. The New Testament sees its fulfillment in Jesus’ crucifixion (John 19:37). The prophecy demonstrates both suffering and recognition—the people will understand the gravity of the Messiah’s sacrificial death only after it occurs.
4. The Messianic Psalms
David and other psalmists contain prophetic allusions to the Messiah’s suffering and death:
Psalm 22 details events remarkably similar to the crucifixion: “They pierce my hands and feet” (v.16), “They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing” (v.18).
Psalm 69 describes thirst and mockery: “They gave me vinegar for my thirst” (v.21), fulfilled at the cross (John 19:28–30).
These texts function as predictive poetry, illustrating the exact nature of the Messiah’s suffering centuries before the Roman method of crucifixion existed.
5. Daniel’s Anointed One (Daniel 9:24–26)
Daniel predicts the coming of the Messiah and explicitly mentions His “cutting off”:
“After the sixty-two weeks, an Anointed One shall be cut off and shall have nothing” (Daniel 9:26).
The Hebrew karet (“cut off”) conveys a violent death. Contextually, Daniel’s prophecy links the Messiah’s death to atonement and the fulfillment of divine purposes: to “make an end of sin, to make reconciliation for iniquity” (Daniel 9:24). The New Testament identifies Jesus as this Anointed One whose sacrificial death inaugurates the new covenant (Hebrews 9:15; Luke 22:20).
6. Jeremiah and the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31–34)
Jeremiah foretells a new covenant in which sins will be forgiven:
“For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jeremiah 31:34).
The New Testament interprets this forgiveness as effectuated through Jesus’ sacrificial death (Hebrews 10:16–18). Through the cross, the eternal forgiveness promised by Jeremiah is realized, demonstrating continuity between the Old and New Testaments.
Scholarly Analysis
A careful study of the Old Testament demonstrates a coherent, cumulative trajectory pointing toward the Messiah’s sacrificial death. From Genesis’ protoevangelium to Isaiah’s suffering servant, Zechariah’s pierced one, Davidic psalms, Daniel’s anointed one, and Jeremiah’s covenantal promise, the Old Testament presents a unified anticipation of redemptive atonement. These texts are not ambiguous; they explicitly describe vicarious suffering, death, and the forgiveness of sins.
Islamic critiques that claim the Old Testament contains “no prophecy of Jesus’ death for sin” often overlook both the theological interpretation of substitutionary atonement and the New Testament’s hermeneutical role in revealing fulfillment. The Quran itself acknowledges the Torah and Psalms as sources of guidance (Quran 5:44–46), yet it fails to address these precise messianic predictions or their fulfillment in Christ. This demonstrates a distinctive continuity and divine plan in the biblical narrative that is unmatched in Islamic scripture.
Conclusion
The prophetic witness of the Old Testament clearly points to a Messiah who would die to atone for human sin. The convergence of multiple texts over centuries, the detailed description of vicarious suffering, and the New Testament’s affirmation in the life and death of Jesus of Nazareth provide irrefutable scholarly evidence. Far from being silent, the Hebrew Scriptures loudly proclaim the coming sacrificial work of Christ, thus forming the backbone of Christian messianic expectation.
Perfect. Here’s a scholarly comparative chart showing key Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah and their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. This is presented in a way suitable for academic or apologetic use.
| Old Testament Prophecy | Scriptural Reference | Messianic Meaning / Description | New Testament Fulfillment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protoevangelium: The seed of the woman will crush the serpent | Genesis 3:15 | A future Redeemer (“seed”) will suffer (heel bruised) but ultimately triumph over sin and Satan | Galatians 3:16 – Christ as the promised Seed; victory over sin and death through the cross and resurrection |
| The Suffering Servant | Isaiah 52:13–53:12 | Messiah will be pierced, crushed for our sins, bear the iniquities of many, and bring righteousness | 1 Peter 2:24 – Jesus bore our sins on the cross; Matthew 8:17 – fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy |
| Pierced One mourned by the people | Zechariah 12:10 | Messiah will be pierced; recognition follows His suffering; people mourn for Him | John 19:37 – Jesus’ crucifixion fulfills Zechariah’s “pierced” prophecy |
| Suffering and mocked King | Psalm 22 | Messiah will experience intense suffering, mockery, piercing of hands and feet, and division of garments | John 19:23–24, 28, 30 – Crucifixion events match Psalm 22 in detail |
| Messiah “cut off” | Daniel 9:26 | The Anointed One will be killed (“cut off”) to end sin and make atonement | Hebrews 9:15; Luke 22:20 – Jesus’ death inaugurates the new covenant for forgiveness of sins |
| New Covenant promises forgiveness | Jeremiah 31:31–34 | God will forgive sins decisively; covenant written on hearts | Hebrews 10:16–18 – Jesus’ sacrificial death fulfills Jeremiah’s promise of total forgiveness |
| Messiah as the ultimate sacrifice | Leviticus 16 / Sacrificial system (Foreshadowing) | The sacrificial system points to one perfect, sinless sacrifice for atonement | Hebrews 9:11–14; 10:10 – Jesus’ sacrifice fulfills and replaces all animal sacrifices |
Analysis of the Chart:
Cumulative Evidence: No single prophecy stands alone; rather, multiple texts over centuries converge on the same theme: the Messiah suffers, bears sin, and provides atonement.
Predictive Specificity: The nature of the suffering (piercing, mockery, bearing sin) is detailed, not symbolic allegory, making it highly specific.
New Testament Confirmation: Each prophecy is explicitly cited in the New Testament as fulfilled in Jesus, demonstrating theological continuity.
Uniquely Christological: Islamic scripture recognizes the Torah and Psalms as divine, yet does not account for these specific prophetic anticipations of a suffering, atoning Messiah.
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