Foretold and Fulfilled Messianic Prophecies (Part 2)

Brethren, the Bible is replete with prophecies which are fulfilled through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. These prophecies, which span thousands of years and are penned by multiple authors, are really incredible when you put them together as a package. Of course, from our understanding, it shouldn't be surprising because it's not like each of these men came up with these ideas on their own. We understand that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and He is the mind, He is the spirit, and the driving force behind. All that is prophesied and fulfilled in the Bible. In my last sermon, we looked at 10 fulfilled prophecies surrounding the birth and early ministry of Jesus Christ. And while there's actually a number of prophecies that would carry through the years of His ministry and over the course of the decades of His life, as I said, there's three to four hundred prophecies that point to the Messiah pertaining either to His first and second. Obviously, we cannot hope to even scratch the surface on this number, but I do want to, as I did the first time, cover what we had for His birth, the prophecies surrounding the miraculous nature of that. So we have the snapshot on the one end of His life, and I would like to bring us forward now through this message, and we're going to look at prophecies pertaining to the final days of Jesus' ministry, as well as His arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection. Because again, as we come up to the Passover every year, it's important we are confident in the validity of the One we recognize as our Messiah. That yes, indeed, this is the One the Father sent to be the sacrifice for the sins of the world. And certainly from where I sit, as you examine all these prophecies and even simply the ones we will go through today, it's without question. It's without question. He is the One from the Father sent, whom He worked through, and frankly, even whom He opened the way before, for so many things to be fulfilled that no man of and by themselves could have ever hoped to fulfill. This is God's divine confirmation of who indeed the Messiah is. The title for today is Foretold and Fulfilled Messianic Prophecies, Part 2. And the last message we concluded, the final prophecy, pointing to Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God. And so it's from that perspective I'd like to jump off and move forward now for the remainder of this series because as the Lamb of God is going to be the focus, the one who laid His life down, indeed these are the prophecies we will look at today.

So I'll continue our numbering from where we left off last time. So this is prophecy number 11. We're going to go through prophecy number 23 and and call it a day. Prophecy number 11, the Messiah would be sacrificed for the sins of mankind. And again, I think this is something any of us could easily prove in multiple places we could go, but I do want to show us something specific because the concept of a sacrifice for our sins was central to the theme of His first coming. And the Father supported that and opened the way for that fulfillment all along the way. Psalm chapter 40, as we begin today, Psalm chapter 40 foreshadows the sacrificial nature of Jesus' mission on earth. And if you have a bookmark today, you might stick it in the book of Psalms. We'll be going back and forth through the Bible, but we'll come a number of times through the book of Psalms today, which is a very prophetic book. But Psalm chapter 40 verse 6 through 8 lays out for us a prophecy. Psalm 40 verse 6, it says, sacrifice and offering you did not desire. My ears you have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering you did not require. Then I said, behold, I come, and the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do your will, oh my God, and your law is written in my heart. You know, this passage, it actually highlights the transition that would take place between the traditional sacrificial offerings where you had the temple system and the priesthood and the animals that were killed and offered for sin. The transition from that to actually then the fulfillment that would be in Jesus Christ as the one that laid his life down. Because animal sacrifices were insufficient for the remission of sins, especially apart from the repentant heart, the obedient heart, the one that had the Spirit of God truly internally working for a change of character so that, as the sermonette said today, individuals could walk according to this standard. You know, David says, you do not desire these. In his day, you do not desire these. This isn't God really what you want. So the essence of who and what Jesus Christ was and the purpose for which he came is wrapped up in this, which is to die for humanity's sin, to provide what it is that God really wanted, which was not just more and more blood of animals. He wanted reconciliation between himself and his creation of mankind. And Jesus brought that. But again, it would take this transition away from animal sacrifices. We find the fulfillment in Jesus' sacrifice for sin in Hebrews chapter 10. And again, there's so many different places you could go to show fulfillment of this, but as it applies specific to the old way of sacrifice for sin, versus what Jesus brought, Hebrews chapter 10, verse 4 through 12, walks us through the fulfillment of this.

It says, "...for it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. Therefore, when he came into the world," speaking of the Messiah, he said, sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you have prepared for me." Understand, Christ came in the flesh. The Father prepared what would be a body that would be killed, that would be sacrificed for the sins of the world. He says, "...and burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin, you had no pleasure. Then I said, Behold, I have come, in the volume of the book it is written of me, to do your will, O God." Previously saying, sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin you did not desire, nor had pleasure in them, which are offered according to the law. Then he said, Behold, I have come to do your will, O God." It says he takes away the first that he may establish the second. There's a change taking place through what Jesus Christ did.

By what then, excuse me, by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for the sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. So through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, through his suffering, through his death, he not only fulfilled the prophecies, but he provided the path. He opened the way forward by which we could follow in this relationship, reconciled to God. When he died, that curtain, that veil, which hung up in the temple and separated the Holy of Holies from the main part of the sanctuary, ripped into top to bottom, exposing the fact that direct access to God was now available through this sacrifice. He opened the path forward for salvation and demonstrated God's immense love towards all humanity. So that's the backdrop by which we'll walk through the rest of these prophecies today, with the reminder that this was the sacrifice for sin, for our sin, that the Father provided, and he was the perfect solution.

Prophecy number 12. The Messiah would enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey. The Messiah would enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey. Zechariah chapter 9 foretells the manner in which the anticipated Messiah would enter Jerusalem. Zechariah chapter 9 and verse 9.

It's important from time to time to lay our eyes on the prophecies, our eyes on the fulfillments, even though we know these things. It really brings to mind the detail by which God carried this all out. Zechariah chapter 9 and verse 9. It says, Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion, shout, O daughter of Jerusalem, behold your king is coming to you. He is just and having salvation lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt full of the donkey. The Jews knew this prophecy, and actually they were watching. They were watching for the one who would come, who would fulfill it, who would be the Messiah God had sent. They were watching in their day, in Jesus' day. They were watching, but because of their blindness they did not see. But the fact is it was the last week of Jesus' life when he entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey, a bull event that boldly proclaimed, this is the king, this is the Messiah, this is the one that has been testified to by God. And we find the fulfillment in Matthew chapter 21 verse 1 through 11. Let's turn there.

Matthew chapter 21 verse 1 through 11.

It says, Now when they drew near Jerusalem and came to Bethphagi at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to me. It says, And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, The Lord has need of them, and immediately he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell the daughter of Zion, behold, your king is coming to you. Lowly, and sitting on the donkey, a colt, a foal of a donkey. Verse 6, So the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their clothes on him. They set him upon him. And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road. Others cut down branches from the trees, and spread them on the road. You know, as Darla often likes to remind me, you know, you take a colt on which nobody has ever sat, and you throw your garment on it, and you put a person on it, and you take it down the road with cheering crowds, and people are throwing branches and clothing out there for it to walk upon. This is a miracle in and of itself, that it's just not simply rodeo day, you know, in downtown Jerusalem. But this indeed is a fulfillment of what God was doing.

Carrying on, then verse 9, it says, In the multitudes who went before, and those who followed, cried out, saying, Hosanna to the son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest. And when he had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? So the multitudes said, This is Jesus the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.

Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem demonstrated his position, his authority, as the king, as the Messiah, the one whom the father had sent. And the mount he rode, you know, not a horse of war, not a horse necessarily of triumph, he rode an animal of humility, a donkey. You remember, the kings of Israel were to ride donkeys. It was a symbol of humility and service that pointed ultimately to the Messiah who would come. Unfortunately, a suffering Messiah was a reality most of the people couldn't recognize. People came and cheered him on. They liked the food that he provided. They liked the miracles he did. But a suffering Messiah, frankly, was something they really could not accept, by and large. It wasn't just a few days after this that the crowd in Jerusalem was standing before Pilate shouting, Crucify him! Crucify him! Probably many that were healed, here, they'd seen him heal. They'd seen him raise Lazarus from the dead. This was sort of almost in my mind like a parade by which he came through. But how quickly that waned in the moment. In doing so, they looked right past the one who was truly there in the capacity of Hosanna. Save now. But indeed, that is what he came to do.

Prophecy number 13. A friend would betray the Messiah for 30 pieces of silver.

A friend would betray the Messiah for 30 pieces of silver. Psalm chapter 41 and verse 9 contains a prophecy. I realize we'll be moving quickly back and forth through scriptures if you have a buddy system. Maybe one takes notes and the other turns, but we do have a lot to cover today. Psalm chapter 41 and verse 9 is a prophecy. A friend would betray the Messiah for 30 pieces of silver. It says, even my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who ate my bread has lifted up his heel against me. As I mentioned last time, there's actually context in place for these prophecies. There's a duality. You know, David was writing about something he knew and experienced, but it pointed forward as well. It was prophetic to something that would yet take place in the future. He says, he ate my bread, who was my own familiar friend. This one has lifted up his heel against me.

Judas Iscariot was one of Jesus Christ's chosen twelve. You know, he's part of the inner circle. For three and a half years, he walked with him. He talked with him. He heard him preach. He saw him conduct miracles. He, I don't know, maybe Judas, when he had a cold, came and Jesus healed him. Whatever that relationship would have been, as one of the twelve, maybe sleeping by the campfire at night as they went from area to area, he carried the money bags. He was kind of the one, actually, you're traveling down the road, your party, and something looks threatening. You usually put the guy with the money belt in the middle. And, you know, the other disciples would have even offered perhaps protection of this one. But, indeed, this was one who willingly betrayed his own rabbi for a price. And Zechariah chapter 11 tells us that price in advance. Zechariah chapter 11 verse 12 through 13. Zechariah 11 verse 12 and 13 says, Then I said to them, If it is agreeable to you, give me my wages, and if not refrain. So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, Throw it to the potter, that princely price that they laid on me, that they sent on me. He said, Throw it to the potter. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw it to them into the house of the Lord for the potter. Again, context in place here, but also prophetic.

This was fulfilled through Judas's betrayal of Jesus to the chief priests. Again, for the price, of thirty pieces of silver. And we find a New Testament fulfillment. Matthew chapter 26 verse 14 through 16. Matthew chapter 26 verse 14 through 16 says, Then one of the twelve called Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests, and he said, What are you willing to give me if I deliver him to you? And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he sought opportunity to betray him. Betray Jesus. Understand, brethren, thirty pieces of silver was not a significant amount of money. I'll just give you a notation. Exodus 21 verse 32 shows that thirty pieces of silver was actually the price of a slave who had been gored by an ox. If your ox got out and gored and disabled somebody's slave, and you had to make just recompense to them thirty pieces of silver. This was essentially a slave's price. And it emphasized the low value on Jesus Christ in the eyes of Judas, the eyes of the religious leaders. And it also highlights the depth of betrayal.

The fact that the Son of God, the Messiah, would be delivered up at such a price. Again, it shows the lowest steam that was held for him. We find the actual betrayal in Luke chapter 22.

Luke 22 verse 47 and 48.

For time, I've skipped over the interactions at the Passover itself, where he gave him the bread and said, you know, what you do, do quickly. This is following the Passover meal that evening. Luke chapter 22 verse 47 and 48. It says, And while he was still speaking, behold a multitude. And he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near to Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said to him, Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss? It's a very, very sad circumstance. Again, his friend, one of the twelve, one of those he had invested in. Of course, this was prophetic of the Son of Perdition as well. But Jesus didn't love him any less, even if he would be, in this case, allowed to be used to fulfill a purpose. And a purpose did need to be fulfilled. And Judas carried that forward. This would open the door to Jesus being delivered up unto crucifixion as prophesied. But it's interesting, when you read through the Gospel accounts, if you're looking, and if you're aware of them, just how many prophecies are fulfilled in these things. Indeed, there are no less than 28 prophecies in the final 24 hours of Jesus' life that are clearly fulfilled. 28. We're not going to cover all those today. But again, I encourage you to continue to research this out. Eyewitnesses throughout the New Testament attest to the validity of these things. It's recorded. And as they taught, this is how they taught, right? The disciples, the apostles, went out and said, here's the prophecy and here's the man that fulfilled them. And we read their writings and their record of this. And we take it, indeed, as the Word of God. It is valid. Matthew chapter 27, verse 3 through 10.

Matthew 27, verse 3 through 10, it says, then Judas a betrayer, seeing that he had been condemned, Jesus was condemned, was remorseful and brought back the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned by betraying innocent blood. And they said, what is that to us? You see to it? Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, it is not lawful to put them into the treasury because they are the price of blood. And they consulted together and bought with them the potter's field to bury strangers in. Therefore that field has been called the field of blood to this day. Then it was fulfilled, which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, and they took the 30 pieces of silver, the value of him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, and they gave them to the potter's field as the Lord directed me. This is a very specific prophecy. You know, are you going to get the Jewish leaderships to actually come in and cooperate to fulfill things to point to Jesus as the true Messiah? You're not. But this is what God had prophesied through his physical prophets, and this is what he was bringing about even through individuals that were unknowingly fulfilling what God would have fulfilled in their day.

Prophecy number 14. The Jews and Gentiles would conspire together against the Messiah. I want you to think about that for a moment. How incredible is that? What would it take for the Jews of Jesus' day to conspire in partnership with the Romans? Right? With those who impressed them? With those that they wanted liberated from? What would it take for them to sit down at the table in agreement? Well, they came together. They came together. They came together over the matter of this man and the matter of his death. Psalm chapter 2 is the prophecy.

Let's turn there. Psalm chapter 2, verse 1 through 3.

What's interesting too is some of these prophecies have multiple applications pointing forward.

Psalm chapter 2, verse 1 through 3, highlights this collaboration between governments that would take place. It says, why did the nation's rage and the people plot a vain thing? You know, it's a vain thing if you think you're going to stand against God. But is that not what humanity would seek to do in our day? The people plot a vain thing. It says, the kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, let us break their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords from us.

You know, bondage is the result, they would say, of living God's way. Let's just throw this off. And it says, they come together and they set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed. Understand, it isn't just the Gentiles who rage against God and Christ. It is Israel as well. It was the Jews in that day as well for the rejection of the Messiah. It comes to our day today as well. Not to just point at the Jews, to point at the whole world, the nation's rage against God and his anointed.

This prophecy is multiple applications, but as it pertains to the Messiah, there's a specific fulfillment. Indeed, the kings of the earth, the rulers, both Jew and Gentile, took counsel together against Jesus. Let's notice the fulfillment. Acts chapter 4 verse 23 through 28. Again, what would it take to get the Jews and the Romans to sit down together into almost, maybe for a moment, be friends? Acts chapter 4 verse 23 through 28. This is sort of now historic, looking back at what took place. It says, and being let go. Okay, Peter and John had been brought in for preaching in Jesus' name. They were threatened by the Jewish chief priests and then let go.

They went to their own companions and reported all the chief priests and elders who said to them. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said, Lord, you are a God who made heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in them, who by the mouth of your servant David had said, why did the nations rage? And the people plot vain things.

The kings of the earth took their stand and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ. For truly against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together to do whatever your hand and your purpose determined before to be done. Did you catch that? He said, both Herod and Pontius Pilate and the people of Israel and the Gentiles, they were gathered together in this thing to oppose him.

This was the fulfillment of prophecy. Essentially, everyone came together to be against Jesus Christ when he was in the flesh. Jew and Gentile alike stood against him. The leaders did so and the people by and large did so as well. You had Herod Antipas. Herod was multiple people down the line, held that Herod, Herodian Herod name. Herod Antipas at the time was the regional tetrarch who had jurisdiction over Galilee. He was seen by the Jews as this is our governor of the region.

He was the leader of the Jews and some kind of questioned that. He says, I am the leader of the Jews and I am a Jew, but his lifestyle did not back that up. Okay, but that said, he was there as their leader of that region. Pilate was the Roman governor of the region, appointed by Caesar, and they were not friends.

They did not like each other. They did not entertain each other. The Roman Jewish antagonism was there. You know, Matthew was a tax collector that Jesus called as a disciple, and some people didn't like that because a tax collector was a Roman collaborator. So you understand the division that existed there, and what existed between Herod and Pilate, but they came together in alliance at the time of Jesus Christ over the matter of his crucifixion. And we can see it play out here in Luke chapter 23 verse 6 through 12.

Luke 23 verse 6 through 12. It says, when Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the man, Jesus, were a Galilean. And as soon as he knew that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at the time. He says, now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad, for he had desired for a long time to see him, because he had heard many things about him, and he hoped to see some miracle done of him. He says, when he questioned him with many words, but Jesus answered him nothing. Verse 10, and the chief priests and the scribes stood and vehemently accused him. Then Herod, with his men of war, treated him with contempt, mocked him, arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him back to Pilate. Verse 12 says, that very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.

Herod and Pilate, they had been thrown into an alliance with each other over the arrest of Jesus Christ, both Jewish leadership and Roman leadership collaborating together for his crucifixion.

This was a fulfillment of prophecy. Why do the nations rage? Why do these leaders gather together, right, take counsel together against the Lord and his anointed?

Prophecy fulfilled. You can't say, well, Jesus walked through this step on his own, so that he could say, I fulfilled all these things. He walked through things specifically, but there are things specific to these other parties involved as well that only God could bring to pass. Indeed, truly, it happened, and it stands as a sign for us of the validity of the one we call the Messiah. Prophecy number 15. The Messiah would offer no defense at his trial. The Messiah would offer no defense at his trial. While we're in the neighborhood here of Luke 23, let's look at verse 9 again. He's before Herod, and verse 9 says, Then he questioned Jesus with many words, but he answered him nothing. He didn't say a word in his own defense. And, you know, that might seem a little bit unusual. Wouldn't the natural reaction be to speak up? To speak up to your own defense? I'm innocent! I've done nothing wrong.

But again, this is taking him down a path of fulfillment. We get some more detail in Matthew 27, verse 12 through 14. Matthew 27, verse 12 through 14. So he'd been silent before Herod, and I will see you silent before Pilate. It says, And while he was being accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then Pilate said to him, Do you not now hear how many things they testify against you? But he answered him not a word, so that the governor marveled greatly. You know, for an innocent man to have so many accusations hurled at him and remain silent, you know, to not give a defense, that was something that Pilate marveled at. But again, the fulfillment. Jesus understood what was taking place. He knew the scriptures. He knew the prophecies, and there's things as well that intentionally he walked through. He held his tongue because he was committed to a course that must take place. The fulfillment for this is—let's go back to Isaiah 53. Actually, this is the prophecy of the fulfillment we've just read. Isaiah chapter 53, we'll read of the prophecy pointing to this event. Matthew chapter 53 and verse 7.

Speaking of the Messiah to come, it says, He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before it shears is silent. So He opened not His mouth. This inaction showed an incredible level of restraint by Jesus Christ. Again, He was totally innocent. He could have offered a defense. He could opened his lips and and dispelled the things about Him that were not true, and yet He endured it all without complaint because it was literally walking through the purpose for which He was sent. Okay, His ministry had a purpose, but it all brought Him to this point, and He must see it through.

Isaiah 53 is a detailed prophecy regarding His suffering, His crucifixion, His death and sacrifice. So I recommend you read through it. Some of it will be read during the Passover, and we're going to pull some prophecies from it, but take some time between now and Passover and study through Isaiah chapter 53 in its entirety. So we'll stay here for a few moments. Prophecy number 16. The Messiah would be rejected by His own people. The Messiah would be rejected by His own people, and here in Isaiah 53 we see that prophesied in verse 2 through 3. It says, For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness, and when we see Him there is no beauty that we should desire Him. It says, He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid as it were our faces from Him. He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. I'll just give you a couple of New Testament references for the fulfillment, because we'll stay in Isaiah 53. But you can jot down John chapter 1 verse 11, which says, He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. You know, the very people of God that were looking for Him rejected Him. And also Mark chapter 6 verse 3, it highlights the rejection Jesus would receive from His own countrymen.

Prophecy 17. The Messiah would be wounded and bruised. The Messiah would be wounded and bruised. Isaiah 53 verse 5. It says, He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

Again, it's easy to read over quickly. Last year I gave a sermon simply on the chastisement for our peace was upon Him. So there's so much that we can slow down and study through and internalize as we look at these scriptures coming up to the Passover. But again, He would be wounded and bruised is the prophecy. The fulfillment jot down John chapter 19 verse 1 through 3. And it tells us that Jesus was wounded, that He was bruised, that He was tormented. And it tells you about what He received at the hand of the Romans, but what you could also find if you back up to Matthew 27 verse 67 and 68, that prior to be handing over to the Romans, He was abused by the Jews. He's before the chief priests and it says they mocked Him and they slapped Him upside the head, you know, hit Him with the palms of their hands and say, prophecy! Who hit you? Who struck you? Again, He was abused by His own, turned over to foreigners, abused by them, and ultimately crucified.

Prophecy number 18. The Messiah would die with criminals, yet be buried with the rich.

The Messiah would die with criminals, yet be buried with the rich. Isaiah 53 verse 9 and 12. It says, and they made His grave with the wicked, but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor with any deceit in His mouth. Verse 12, therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. It says, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Again, the Messiah would die with criminals, yet be buried with the rich. This prophecy highlights the paradox of Jesus' life and death. He was publicly condemned alongside criminals, and yet He received an honorable burial among the rich. And I do want to turn to this fulfillment. Let's go to Mark chapter 15 verse 27 and 28. Mark chapter 15 verse 27 and 28. It says, with Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left, that the Scripture was fulfilled, which says, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Okay, so it's a fulfillment, and they said that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But understand, nobody trying to point to the Messiah as legitimate orchestrated this. The Romans crucified Him. He was crucified between two criminals, given a criminal's death, and was indeed a fulfillment of the prophecy. As the one who willingly entered into the human condition, Jesus took upon Himself the sufferings and the humiliation and the ultimate death that comes as the price for our sins. He bore it on the tree, as the Bible says, and He took that upon Himself for you and for me. As sad of an event as it is, the story does not end with humiliation. And see, that is what God puts before us. It's kind of an emotional song to me that we were singing just before the announcements about Joseph and Egypt and the fact that all things work out for good. Those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Sometimes we may in this life struggle to understand the whys and the answers, especially as we're walking today through such struggles and trials. But we have to hold fast to that promise that all things work out for the good, to those who God's loving hand is upon, and even for this one who laid his life down for us. It was sorrow. It was humiliation. But it ended in victory. And so His death might have been with criminals, but there was actually something honorable about His burial. Matthew chapter 27 verse 57 through 60. Matthew 27 verse 57 through 60 says, Now when evening had come, there was a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his new tomb. Okay, Joseph's, this rich man, had a tomb hewn out for himself, whether it was for himself or, I don't know, maybe somebody whom he loved, but this was one he owned. He laid Jesus in his new tomb, which he had hewn out of the rock, and rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb and departed. This account shows us that even in Jesus' death, his significance could not be overlooked. He was buried in a rich man's tomb, reflecting God's sovereignty over all things, to bring this to pass, but also reflecting the honor due the Messiah, the one who had given him his life for the sins of the world. This was a honorable burial in that sense, for as long as it would last, right, for three days and three nights.

Prophecy 19. The Messiah would be mocked on the stake. The Messiah would be mocked on the stake. We're in the neighborhood. Let's go to Matthew 27, verse 39 through 44.

Matthew 27, verse 39, it says, And those who pass by blasphemed him, wagged their heads, saying, You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself. If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise, the chief priests also mocking with the scribes and elders said, He saved others, himself he cannot save. If he is the king of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. Verse 43, it says, He trusted in God. Let him deliver him now if he will have him. For he said, I am the Son of God. And even the robbers who were crucified with him reviled him with the same thing. These words were used to ridicule Jesus Christ as he hung dying in crucifixion, and rather than responding in like manner, again, he remained silent. Though he was reviled against, he did not revile in return, but he committed himself to him who judges righteously. But again, this was prophetic. Luke chapter 23 verse 35 through 37.

Luke 23 verse 35 through 37. It says, And the people stood looking on, but even the rulers with them sneered, saying, He saved others, let him save himself, if he is the Christ, the chosen of God. The soldiers also mocked him, coming and offering him sour wine. Okay, that's a fulfillment we won't take time for today. Verse 37, and saying, If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself. Again, this is a fulfillment of a prophecy given a thousand years earlier or better. Psalm chapter 22 verse 7 and 8. Let's go there.

See the prophecy. Psalm chapter 22 verse 7 and 8.

David actually a very prolific prophet in the scriptures. Psalm 22 verse 7 and 8 says, All those who see me ridicule me. They shoot out the lip. They shake the head, saying, He trusted in the Lord. Let him rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him. Again, context and it's time and place, but duality pointing to the Messiah who would come, and these prophecies which would be fulfilled in him. Psalm 22 written by King David contains a detailed cluster of prophecies pointing to the death of Jesus Christ. Again, a thousand years before. Mark this down as well. Study Isaiah 53. Study Psalm 22. There's other prophecies we don't have time to pull out of this chapter today, but we will pull out a few while we're here.

Prophecy number 20. The Messiah would be crucified. Of course, we know that through the other context, but again, specific prophecy. Psalm 22, verse 14 through 17. Jesus says, I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax. It is melted within me. My strength is dried up like a pot shard, and my tongue clings to my jaws. You've brought me to the dust of death. He says, For dogs have surrounded me. The congregation of the wicked has enclosed me. They have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones. They look at me, and they stare at me. It's not my intention to colorfully or graphically walk through the illustration of this, but it's here in the scripture, and it is a part of what we must focus on and consider. Consider the price that was paid on account of sin for you and me as we come up to the Passover. This was not an easy thing, and you could say, well, you know what? The one that had the power to do all these things. When they came to arrest him, he said, you know what? I could immediately pray to my father, and I'd have legions of angels here, and I would not be delivered up. Incredible power. Consider the power needed to subject his will to that of the Father in human, in physical form, in flesh walk through this circumstance. Something that's incredible for you and I to consider in this process. But he said, they pierced my hands and my feet. It's a portion of what they would do in crucifixion. I'll give you the reference fulfillment. Matthew 27, verse 31, as well as John 20, verse 25 through 27. Crucifixion was one of the most horrific ways a human being could die. The Romans didn't invent it. They discovered it from somebody else that they had conquered, but they took it and they perfected it, and it became one of their preferred methods of execution. A lesson we must take from this brethren is that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, took upon himself what he did not deserve, so that you and I could receive what we do not deserve.

He received what he did not deserve. He didn't deserve this. He didn't deserve death. He was perfect. He was innocent, but he received what he did not deserve willingly, so that you and I can receive what we do not deserve, which is the gift of life. It is a humbling and a sobering thing to consider. So I bring these prophecies and fulfillments, not just for the sake of saying, look how the Bible fits together so beautifully, but this also is intended to get our mind focused as we come up to the Passover of the price that indeed was paid for you and me.

Prophecy 21. Others would cast lots for his garments. Others would cast lots for his garments. Here's still in Psalm 22 and verse 18. Psalm 22, 18, it says, they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. Again, very specific, and I do want to turn to the fulfillment of that. John chapter 19 verse 23 and 24. John 19 verse 23 and 24. It says, then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, made four parts to each soldier apart, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from top in one piece. This is a very quality garment. This wasn't a cheap, you know, pieces sewn together garment that Jesus was wearing as a tunic. It was a quality made from one piece. Verse 24, they said therefore among themselves, let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, who it shall be. That the scripture might be fulfilled, which says they divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. Therefore the soldiers did these things. The Roman soldiers did these things. Again, you're not going to pay them off to go do something that points to you as the Messiah. Specific fulfillment. God put it here for you and me, that we might understand and be convicted in the one whom we hold up as the Savior. In their cruelty, the Roman soldiers unknowingly participated in God's plan, and it highlights how even in the darkest moments, God's will will be accomplished. Even in the darkest moments, God's will will be accomplished.

Prophecy number 22. None of the Messiah's bones would be broken. Incredible, incredible prophecy. None of the Messiah's bones would be broken. Psalm 34, verse 19 through 20, gives us the prophecy.

Psalm 34, 19 and 20.

Again, King David writing, he says, many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. Says he guards all his bones, not one of them is broken. It's the Scripture you and I can take confidence in to know who our God is, to know the care he takes for us. David took confidence in these words when he wrote them. They pointed ultimately to the Messiah. Not one of his bones would be broken.

Incredible. Think about the beatings. Think about the scourging, the crucifixion, the lashing that he took. All of this, not one bone was broken. It does say his visage was marred beyond any man. It wasn't recognizable, really, by those that knew him or even as a human being, yet not one of his bones was broken. Fulfillment, John chapter 19, verse 31 through 37.

John 19, verse 31 through 37 says, Therefore, because it was the preparation day, that the body should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath, for that Sabbath was a high day. Okay, back to John F. Sermon last week. This was the first day of 11 bread that was approaching the high day. The Jews asked Pilate that their legs, those on the those on the stake, might be broken and that they might be taken away. It says, Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. Okay, another fulfilled prophecy. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth so that you may believe. For all these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, not one of his bones shall be broken. And again, another scripture which says, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

This is also a fulfillment of the Passover lamb as described in Exodus chapter 12, verse 26. Write that down. Exodus 12, verse 26. It says, In the house that shall be eaten, you shall not carry any of the flesh outside of the house, nor shall you break one of its bones. Okay, this was a divine fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. All that he went through, he would remain sinless. He was always perfect of character. Not one of his bones was broken.

Prophecy number 23, our final prophecy for today, the Messiah would be resurrected from the dead. Let's end in victory. Okay, the Messiah would be resurrected from the dead. Psalm chapter 16, verse 9 and 10.

Psalm chapter 16, verse 9 and 10.

Psalm 16 and verse 9, it says, Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices, my hope also will rest, my flesh, excuse me, also will rest in hope. He says, For you will not leave my soul in sheol or the grave, nor will you allow your holy one to see corruption. You know, brethren, there's just some prophecies a person can't fake. Jesus Christ was dead. He was in the grave. He lay there for three days and three nights. He was dependent completely upon his father to resurrect him, to bring him back to life. Actually, not physical life, right? The glory he had with the father before the world was. Again, some things you just cannot fake. This is God's divine fulfillment, and we find it in Matthew chapter 28 verse 2 through 7. Matthew 28 verse 2 through 7 says, And behold, there was a great earthquake. For an angel the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was lightening, and his clothing was white as snow. And the guard shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. You know, they just passed out on the ground. Verse 5, But the angel answered and said to the women, Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he is risen. As he said, Come and see the place where the Lord lay. It says, And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead. And indeed he is going before you into Galilee. There you will see him. Behold, I have told you. He is risen, the angel said. Acts chapter 2 verse 22 through 32. Acts chapter 2 verse 22 through 32. It says, This Jesus, this is the day of Pentecost, Peter's sermon, he says, This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Okay, that's verse 32. Let me back up. I just cut to the chase. Excuse me. Back up page. Acts 2 verse 22. It says, Men of Israel, hear these words, Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through him in your midst. As you yourselves also know, says him being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, the prophecies were there, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified and put to death, whom God raised up, having loosened the pains of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it. For David says concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken. Therefore, verse 26, my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad. Moreover, my flesh also will rest in hope, for you will not leave my soul in eighties, nor will you allow your holy one to see corruption. It says, You have made known to me the ways of life. You will make me full of joy in your presence. And Peter goes on to say, Amen, and brethren, let me freely speak to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. He says, David, who you revere is in the grave, yet even today. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, meaning the Messiah, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne. He foreseen this spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that his soul was not left in Hades, the grave, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus, God, raised up, of which we are all witnesses.

It's a victory. That's ultimately where God is leading for you and me as well. All that Jesus went to, as he came in the flesh, as he walked, as he preached, as he taught, you know, these were wonderful, glorious things. The words he expressed pointed to the kingdom of God, but in his hour of, you could say, dark struggle, the point was to part the veil and let the light shine of God's glory and the victory that God will give over the grave through him. This is a victory, pure and simple. Through the death of Jesus Christ, he took upon himself the sins of the world. He paid the penalty for you and I, but God's power overcame death by resurrecting him to life and mortal, restoring to him the glory he had with the Father before the world was. Again, this is a resurrection unto victory over death, and in addition, it's also a promise of eternal life for all those who believe in him. Brethren, it is a promise to you and me today. Jesus said, because I live, you will live also. That's the promise. That's the victory that's before all of us, no matter what the dark moments of our life may be. If we look to him and we cry out to him and we have faith in the Son of God, whom he sent, Jesus says, because I live, you will live also. It is a promise for us today. In conclusion, the fulfilled prophecies of Jesus Christ are a testament to the truth of the Bible and the divine sovereignty of God. Each fulfilled prophecy affirms the identity of Jesus as the promised Messiah, and as we study these things, brethren, I hope it deepens our faith in him. We've just scratched the surface. Three to four hundred prophecies point to him. We've looked at less than 10% listed about Jesus Christ. As we approach the Passover once again this year, let's continue to study into the Scriptures for ourselves. Let's continue to prove these things for ourselves, marveling at the wondrous works of God. Brethren, his promises are true and faithful, and his love for us is always secure.