HOW THEN COULD THE SCRIPTURES BE FULFILLED?
"HOW THEN COULD THE SCRIPTURES BE FULFILLED, that it must happen thus?"
Matthew 26:54 (NKJV)
READ: Matthew 26:47-56; Philippians 2:5-11
In this passage Jesus reproved the disciple who wanted to defend him. One who cut the ear of the high priest servant with the sword (Matthew 26:51,52).
Jesus did not want to be defended. He wanted the Scriptures to be fulfilled (Matthew 26:54,56).
We could see that the fulfilment of the Scriptures are more important to him than whatever help He could receive from anyone (Matthew 26:54,56).
What is the significance of Scriptures being fulfilled?
If the Scriptures, the old testament writings of the prophets about the coming Messiah were not fulfilled, it means Jesus of Nazareth is not the expected Messiah.
What made Jesus of Nazareth the expected Messiah or the Christ is the fulfillment of the old testament prophecies in His life. If those prophecies were not fulfilled by Him, the events in His life; it means He was not the expected Messiah.
Thus, the fulfilment of the Scriptures was more important to Him than any other thing.
If the disciples fought on the day of his arrest, and were able to rescue Him, the purpose of His coming to the earth would have been aborted (Matthew 26:51-54).
Likewise in your life as an individual believer, a number of things would have to be passed through for your assignment to be considered done.
If such things were not passed through, you might not be considered to have accomplished your purpose and assignment on earth.
Jesus had to suffer, be maltreated, flogged, pierced, be crowned with thorns, for it to be considered that He, Jesus of Nazareth, was the expected Christ, the Anointed One, or the Messiah (Isaiah 53:1-10).
It was because Jesus suffered those things recorded in the old testament writings that we got to know that He is the expected Messiah, the Christ.
Jesus of Nazareth would not have been considered to be the Christ or Messiah, If He did not humble and submit Himself to be treated the way He was treated (Philippians 2:5-8), because the path which the true and genuine Messiah would toe had already been predicted (Psalm 22:1,18; 69:21; Isaiah 50:6; 53:1-10).
That was the reason why Jesus would not want to be defended from being arrested and crucified (Matthew 26:51-54).
Jesus humbled Himself to be humiliated and maltreated to fulfil the Scriptures (Philippians 2:5-8).
It was the willingness to humble Himself that confirmed His Messiahship and gave Him the exalted position He is occupying today (Philippians 2:9-11).
Likewise, it is your humility, the choice to humble yourself that would give you the exalted position which you believe God wants you to occupy (James 4:10).
Jesus would not have occupied the exalted position He is occupying today if He did not make the choice of humbling Himself (Philippians 2:7-11).
Are you willing and ready to humble yourself and bear the brunt that you might be what God wanted you to be or occupy the exalted position He has prepared for you. Remember, it is by humility and obedience: "AND BEING FOUND IN APPEARANCE AS A MAN, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF AND BECAME OBEDIENT TO THE POINT OF DEATH, EVEN THE DEATH OF THE CROSS" (Philippians 2:8 NKJV).
Peace.