The crucifixion of Jesus Christ, particularly the nailing of His hands and feet to the cross, stands as a significant fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. This event is not only central to the Christian faith but also serves as a testament to the divine foreknowledge and plan of God as revealed through Scripture.

Old Testament Prophecies

1. Psalm 22:16: This psalm, attributed to King David, contains a vivid depiction of suffering that parallels the crucifixion of Christ. The verse states, "For dogs surround me; a band of evil men encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet." . This imagery of piercing is a direct foreshadowing of the method of execution that Jesus would endure, despite crucifixion not being a known practice in David's time.

2. Zechariah 12:10: The prophet Zechariah speaks of a future time when the people of Israel will look upon the one they have pierced. "Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the residents of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on Me, the One they have pierced; they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son." . This prophecy not only anticipates the physical piercing of the Messiah but also the deep spiritual impact it would have on the people.

New Testament Fulfillment

1. John 19:18, 37: The Gospel of John provides a detailed account of the crucifixion, affirming the fulfillment of these prophecies. "There they crucified Him, and with Him two others, one on each side, with Jesus in the middle." (John 19:18). Later, John explicitly connects the event to prophecy: "And, as another Scripture says: 'They will look on the One they have pierced.'" (John 19:37).

2. Luke 24:39-40: After His resurrection, Jesus Himself refers to the wounds in His hands and feet as evidence of His identity and the fulfillment of prophecy. "Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself. Touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." (Luke 24:39). This post-resurrection appearance underscores the physical reality of His crucifixion wounds.

3. Acts 2:23-24: The Apostle Peter, in his sermon at Pentecost, speaks to the predetermined plan of God in the crucifixion of Jesus. "He was handed over to you by God's set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for Him to be held in its clutches." . This passage highlights the divine orchestration behind the events of the crucifixion, including the nailing of Jesus' hands and feet.

Theological Significance

The nailing of Christ's hands and feet to the cross is not merely a historical event but a profound theological moment that signifies the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. It serves as a powerful symbol of the suffering servant, as foretold by the prophets, and the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of humanity. The fulfillment of these prophecies affirms the reliability of Scripture and the messianic identity of Jesus Christ, providing believers with assurance of God's sovereign plan and the hope of salvation through the crucified and risen Lord.John 19:18
Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the middle.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 20:25
The other disciples therefore said to him, We have seen the LORD. But he said to them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Fulfilled Prophecies of the Bible Bespeak the Omniscience of ...
... definite and distinct were the Old Testament prophecies respecting the Birth of
Christ, that the ... call attention to one of the prophecies which declared ...
/.../the divine inspiration of the bible/chapter five the fulfilled prophecies.htm

John xix. 16-18
... disciple concerning His mother, fulfilling prophecies, holding forth ... men imagining
nothing great respecting Him; but ... the grave, leaving [2524] Christ his heir. ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily lxxxv john xix 16-18.htm

The Meaning
... Now to that vision the remaining prophecies of the same ... is unnecessary to add a word
more respecting it ... men as are enemies of God, and his Christ, although they ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/the meaning 3.htm

The Christ of the Gospels. By Rev. Professor Schaff.
... miracles performed by him, and the prophecies fulfilled in him ... pregnant with the
deepest meaning respecting the counsel ... How did Christ bear all these little and ...
/.../the christ of the gospels.htm

part i
... You are the work of His hands: His most insignificant creature ... the second state,
the transgression of His holy laws ... your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part i.htm

part ii
... man is the beautiful work of God's hands; everything in ... It obliges me to always have
Christ in my thoughts and heart, always to have His spirit, throughout ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part ii.htm

How can I identify messianic prophecies in the Old Testament? | GotQuestions.org

How many prophecies did Jesus fulfill? | GotQuestions.org

What biblical prophecies were fulfilled in AD 70? | GotQuestions.org

Prophecies: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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