Today’s devotion covers Mark 14:43-52 which covers the betrayal of Jesus by Judas and the arrest of Jesus. We will focus on verse 49.
“49 “Every day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me; but this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures.” Mark 14:49.
At first reading, it did not seem that significant that the arrest of Jesus took place as it did “to fulfill the Scriptures”. I considered finding another topic for today’s devotion.
But, then I thought again about how often we read about events taking place “to fulfill the Scriptures”. This obviously must have considerable importance.
Before we proceed to this more general topic, I want to see if I can find the Old Testament Scripture which specifically prophesies about Jesus’ arrest and which is fulfilled.
Perhaps, it is reference to Psalm 41:9:
“Even my close friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.”
Perhaps, it is a reference to Isaiah 53:7-8
“7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He did not open His mouth;
Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,
And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
So He did not open His mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment He was taken away; …”
Yet He did not open His mouth;
Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,
And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
So He did not open His mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment He was taken away; …”
Perhaps, it is a reference to Zechariah 13:7:
“7 “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd,
And against the man, My Associate,”
Declares the LORD of hosts
“Strike the Shepherd that the sheep may be scattered;
And I will turn My hand against the little ones.”
And against the man, My Associate,”
Declares the LORD of hosts
“Strike the Shepherd that the sheep may be scattered;
And I will turn My hand against the little ones.”
(There may be other Old Testament Scriptures which specifically prophesy about Jesus’ arrest and which are fulfilled.)
We will now proceed to look at some Scriptures which emphasize that all Scripture must be fulfilled.
Matthew 5:18
“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”
“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”
Luke 24:44
“And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.”
“And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.”
Second, we will now look at some Scriptures which speak of specific fulfillment of Scripture.
Matthew 1:22-23
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, “BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.”
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, “BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.”
Matthew 21:4-5
All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, “SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION, ‘BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU, GENTLE, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY, EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A BEAST OF BURDEN.'”
All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, “SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION, ‘BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU, GENTLE, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY, EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A BEAST OF BURDEN.'”
Matthew 24:34
“Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”
“Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”
Matthew 26:56
“But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled.”
“But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled.”
Mark 14:49
“Every day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me; but this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures.”
“Every day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me; but this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures.”
Mark 15:28
“[And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with transgressors.”]”
“[And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with transgressors.”]”
Luke 4:21
“And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (referring to Jesus’ public ministry and the Old Testament prophesy: (“THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.” as quoted in Luke 4:18-19)
“And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (referring to Jesus’ public ministry and the Old Testament prophesy: (“THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.” as quoted in Luke 4:18-19)
Luke 21:22
“For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.”
“For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.”
Luke 21:32
“Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.”
“Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.”
John 13:18
“I do not speak of all of you I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘ HE WHO EATS MY BREAD HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.’ “
“I do not speak of all of you I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘ HE WHO EATS MY BREAD HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.’ “
John 17:12
“While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.”
“While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.”
John 19:24
“So they said to one another, ” Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be”; this was to fulfill the Scripture: “THEY DIVIDED MY OUTER GARMENTS AMONG THEM, AND FOR MY CLOTHING THEY CAST LOTS.”
“So they said to one another, ” Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be”; this was to fulfill the Scripture: “THEY DIVIDED MY OUTER GARMENTS AMONG THEM, AND FOR MY CLOTHING THEY CAST LOTS.”
John 19:28
“After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, ” I am thirsty.”
“After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, ” I am thirsty.”
John 19:36
“For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, ” NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN.”
“For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, ” NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN.”
Acts 1:16
“Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.”
“Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.”
Acts 3:18
“But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.”
“But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.”
Acts 13:29
“And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.”
“And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.”
James 2:23
“and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ” AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God.”
“and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ” AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God.”
In conclusion, this study of fulfillment of Scripture gives us great respect for God’s word.
Jeremiah 23:29
“Is not My word like fire?” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?
“Is not My word like fire?” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?
1 Peter 1:24-25:
“For, “ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS,
AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS.
THE GRASS WITHERS,
AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF,
BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER ”
And this is the word which was preached to you.”
AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS.
THE GRASS WITHERS,
AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF,
BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER ”
And this is the word which was preached to you.”
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 