Fulfilled

What’s on your to-do list for today? Perhaps picking up a few more items for your Christmas shopping list? My tasks for today include a trip to the vet for the cat, a trip to the dump for the recycling, cleaning, laundry . . .

No matter what your checklist looks like this morning, I am certain it comes no where near the one Jesus had in Luke 23. He mentioned this list in Chapter 22 when He said, “Yes, everything written about me by the prophets will come true” (Luke 22:37 NLT).

What kinds of things had been written hundreds of years earlier that He had to accomplish? Let’s look at a few of them.

Isaiah 53:7 — “He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word.”

“[Herod] asked Jesus question after question, but Jesus refused to answer” (Luke 23:9).

Isaiah 53:8 — “Unjustly condemned, he was led away.”

“You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent. Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us. Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty” (Pilate, Luke 23:14-15).

“But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed. So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded” (Luke 23:23-24).

“As they led Jesus away . . .“ (Luke 23:26).

Isaiah 53:12 — He was counted among the rebels.”

“Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him” (Luke 23:32).

Psalm 22:7 — “Everyone who sees me mocks me. They sneer and shake their heads.”

“The soldiers mocked him, too . . .” (Luke 23:36).

Psalm 22:17 — “My enemies stare at me and gloat.”

“The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed” (Luke 23:35).

Psalm 22:18 — “They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing.”

“And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice” (Luke 23:34).

Psalm 69:21 — “They offer me sour wine for my thirst.”

“The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine” (Luke 23:36).

Psalm 31:5 — “I entrust my spirit into your hand.”

“Then Jesus shouted, ‘Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” (Luke 23:46).

Isaiah 53:9a — “He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone.”

“When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, ‘Surely this man was innocent'” (Luke 23:47).

Isaiah 53:9b — “He was put in a rich man’s grave.”

“Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council . . . He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock” (Luke 23:50, 52-53).

That’s quite a day of accomplishments, wouldn’t you say? I’m sure none of us would choose any of them for our own to-do list, but Christ willingly chose them with us in mind.

“Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all” (Isaiah 53:4-6).

“When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins” (Luke 23:11).

A great sacrifice was made to enable you to be adopted as a child of God, my friend! Have you accepted this incredible gift? 

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Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash