When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus in the garden, Peter drew his sword and cut off the right ear of the high priest's servant. But Jesus told Peter to put away his sword so that God's plan would unfold. There are times when we to want to take matters into our own hands. This can lead to sin. We must trust God to work his plan in our lives.
Just think of it! What if Peter had been able to intervene? Christ would not have been gone to the cross and God's redemptive plan would have been stopped.
The cup in this verse refers to Christ's suffering, separation and death which he endured in order to expiate the sins of the world.
Today we are looking at three more prophesies that are fulfilled because Christ humbly submitted.
Messiah was to be given vinegar and gall.
Prophecy: Psalm 69:21 "They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst."
Fulfillment: Matthew 27:34 "There they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall (a narcotic used to deaden pain); but after tasting it, he refused to drink it." (Jesus wanted to be fully conscious and able to think clearly.)
John 19:28-30 "Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, 'I am thirsty.' A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips."
Messiah's garments were divided by casting lots.
Prophecy: Psalm 22:18 "They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing."
Fulfillment: John 19:23, 24 "When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 'Let's not tear it. Let's divide it by lot who will get it.' "
Messiah's bones were not to be broken.
Prophecy: Exodus 12:46 "It (the Passover lamb) must be eaten inside one house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones."
Fulfillment: John 19:32-33 "The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs."
Tomorrow is Good Friday and we will complete our series on prophecies fulfilled, Jesus' sacrificial death and his glorious resurrection.