The prophet Isaiah tells us that before Messiah begins to reign as King, He must first suffer as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. These and other prophecies were the foundation of Jesus’ ministry, and He often referred back to them. They also helped to carry Him through the great trial of His suffering and crucifixion as the time drew near.
1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that He said to His disciples, 2 “You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
24 The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him… Matthew 26:1,24 (NKJV)
When His hour had fully come, Jesus broke bread with His disciples, celebrating their final Passover meal together. Here He instituted the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion, to always remember His loving sacrifice for us – our deliverance from sin and death through the offering of the Lamb of God.
26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Matthew 26:26-28 (NKJV)
Later that evening, when His disciples began to resist the large crowd that had come to arrest Jesus, He restrained them.
53 …Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” 56 But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Matthew 26:53-54,56 (NKJV)
Jesus submitted to His arrest, was unfairly tried, and though innocent, was beaten and crucified unto death on a cross. He was buried in a rich man’s donated tomb, but was raised to life in glory by the Father on the third day, having defeated the curse of death, once and for all.
After Jesus’ resurrection, He was on His way to Galilee when He encountered two grieving disciples walking together on the road to Emmaus. Their eyes were restrained, and they did not recognize Him, as He began to walk alongside them. He asked them what was going on, and they explained that they were downcast because of everything that had happened to Jesus. Despite hearing rumors that Jesus had risen from the dead, they were troubled and confused, and feared that their hopes for kingdom of heaven had been dashed.
25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Luke 24:25-27 (NKJV)
When Jesus blessed and broke bread with them, their eyes were opened, no longer restrained, and they recognized Him as their Christ.
32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:32 (NKJV)
The Holy Spirit burned within their hearts at Jesus’ words, and still does when we open the Scriptures to feed and nourish our souls. As it is written, may He speak through His word to burn brightly in our hearts today!
Reflection
There is great spiritual power that comes from reading the Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah. Jesus Himself drew great strength from them as He walked the lonely road to the cross. Yet, there are still many unfulfilled prophecies about Jesus’ second coming, when He will return to rule and reign in glory over the entire world, from David’s throne in Jerusalem. Some of these have been covered in previous meditations, with more to come in the days ahead.
Heavenly Father, may the words of Jesus and the prophets burn in our hearts as we seek to learn about You and to follow Your will. Every good thing we have has come from Your generous hand. Help us to know, love, and obey You each step of the way, following Jesus in our daily walk. Thank You for your gracious forgiveness, and for the gift of another day with You amongst Your people and creation. We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
May the presence of the Holy Spirit burn brightly in your heart today through the reading of God’s word.
Daily Meditations from the Genealogy of Jesus 