How does Mark 15:28 fulfill Old Testament prophecy about the Messiah's suffering? Mark 15:28—The Fulfilled Word “So the Scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’” Isaiah 53:12—The Prophecy Behind the Verse “Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He poured out His life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.” Point-by-Point Fulfillment at Calvary • Jesus was crucified between two criminals (Mark 15:27). • Roman authorities treated Him as a lawbreaker, publicly displaying Him under the placard “King of the Jews” (Mark 15:26). • The crowd, soldiers, and even one of the thieves mocked Him (Mark 15:29-32; Luke 23:39). • By sharing the same execution site and stigma as genuine transgressors, He literally fulfilled Isaiah’s wording. More Prophecies That Converge on the Cross • Psalm 22:16-18—pierced hands and feet, divided garments. • Psalm 22:7-8—mocking by onlookers. • Isaiah 50:6—spitting and striking. • Zechariah 12:10—“They will look on Me, the One they have pierced.” Mark 15:28 stands within this larger tapestry, spotlighting the specific detail of being “numbered with the transgressors.” Why This Fulfillment Matters Today • It confirms that every foretold detail—down to how Messiah would be classified among sinners—happened exactly as written. • It underscores Christ’s identification with human sin; He not only bore sin spiritually (2 Corinthians 5:21) but also shared the shame of sinners physically. • It strengthens confidence that remaining prophecies, including His return (Acts 1:11), will be fulfilled with equal precision. Living in the Light of the Fulfilled Promise • Rest in the certainty that Scripture’s smallest details are trustworthy (Matthew 5:18). • Rejoice that Jesus willingly stepped into the place of the guilty—our place—so that we might be called righteous (1 Peter 3:18). • Reflect that the cross was not a tragic accident but a scripted, sovereign act of redemption foretold centuries in advance (Acts 2:23). |
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