• “Do Not Put Your Trust in Nobles”
    Isaiah’s Prophecy—Light for All Mankind II

    • 13. What lies ahead for Jesus, yet how does he show himself courageous?

      13 Some of those who reject Jehovah’s only-begotten Son persecute him, and this too is foretold: “My back I gave to the strikers, and my cheeks to those plucking off the hair. My face I did not conceal from humiliating things and spit.” (Isaiah 50:6) According to the prophecy, the Messiah will suffer pain and humiliation at the hands of opposers. Jesus knows this. And he knows how far this persecution will go. Yet, as his time on earth draws to a close, he shows no fear. With flintlike determination he sets out for Jerusalem, where his human life will come to an end. On the way there, Jesus tells his disciples: “Here we are, advancing up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and will deliver him to men of the nations, and they will make fun of him and will spit upon him and scourge him and kill him, but three days later he will rise.” (Mark 10:33, 34) All this wicked mistreatment will be at the instigation of men who should know better​—the chief priests and the scribes.

      14, 15. How are Isaiah’s words that Jesus would be struck and humiliated fulfilled?

      14 On the night of Nisan 14, 33 C.E., Jesus is in the garden of Gethsemane with some of his followers. He is praying. Suddenly, a mob appears and takes him into custody. But he is not afraid. He knows that Jehovah is with him. Jesus assures his terrified apostles that if he wanted to, he could appeal to his Father to send more than twelve legions of angels to rescue him, but he adds: “In that case, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled?”​—Matthew 26:36, 47, 53, 54.

      15 Everything foretold concerning the trials and the death of the Messiah comes to pass. After a rigged trial before the Sanhedrin, Jesus is examined by Pontius Pilate, who has him whipped. Roman soldiers “hit him on the head with a reed and spit upon him.” Thus Isaiah’s words are fulfilled. (Mark 14:65; 15:19; Matthew 26:67, 68) Although the Bible does not state that some of the hair of Jesus’ beard is literally pulled out​—a gesture of extreme contempt—​this no doubt occurs, just as Isaiah foretold.c​—Nehemiah 13:25.