Q: Where are the Prophecies of Christ's Passion in the Old Testament?

They’re in between a bunch of really hard to pronounce names of Old Testament places you’ll never visit and O.T. people you’d never name your children after…but the prophecies, they’re there, you just have to know where to look.

There are so many prophecies that point to Jesus being the Christ (the Anointed One) and Messiah. Over a span of a few thousand years, there is a virtual “laundry list” of specifications, signals, clues and qualifications that the Messiah would have had to “fulfill” in accordance with the Scriptures.

By the way, I’m really proud of you for asking this question and for putting in so much effort to grow closer to God through His Word. The Old Testament points ahead to Christ in the New Testament, and the NT unpacks the Old in beautiful and intricate ways. The Old Testament is usually considered too boring or confusing to read, but it really isn’t. Knowing where in the Old Testament to read and study is an important piece of knowledge. The Old Testament has the power to change your life and faith, if you let it.



...know Jesus not only like the back of our hand, but the front of your heartIn the interest of time, however, I’m only going to answer the ones you specifically asked about, regarding the O.T. prophecies about His Passion and not all the rest. Here are a bunch to get you thinking and praying…I hope they help you in your study.


Gen 3:15 – seed of woman, strike his heel

Ex 12:1-11 – lamb slain for us

Ex 12:46 – no bone broken

Ps 22:2 – “Why hast thou forsaken me…”

Ps 22:7-8 - mocked and insulted

Ps 22:16 – thirst

Ps 22:17 – pierced my hands and feet

Ps 22:19 – soldiers cast lots

Ps 34:21 – no bone broken

Ps 35:19 – hated without cause

Ps 41:10 – betrayed by a friend

Ps 69:22 – gave me vinegar to drink

Isa 7:14 – virgin will conceive

Isa 50:6 – scourged and spat upon

Isa 53:3 – despised and rejected of men

Isa 53:4-5 – suffered for others

Isa 53:7 – lamb led to slaughter, silent

Isa 53:11-12 – bear their iniquities

Zech 9:9 – triumphant entry

Zech 11:12-13 – thirty pieces of silver

Zech 12:10 – body pierced

The prophecies are fact – written hundreds upon hundreds of years before Christ’s birth.
The crucifixion is fact – foretold hundreds of years before that day He bore the wood.
Way back in Genesis, we were promised a Redeemer that would set things straight.
And even with all those prophecies and warnings, even the wisest ones who knew the Old Testament Scriptures like the backs of their hands, sought to hang Love on a tree and leave Him for dead.

The most important thing we can do, as modern day Bible Catholics, is to know Jesus not only like the back of our hand, but the front of your heart. Keep cracking open the Word, every single day – and keep getting to the Sacraments throughout the week, not just on Sundays – that is how you will know more than the words…but the Author.

He loves you. If you don’t believe me, read the above verses again.