You know someone provided clear directions or adequate instructions when you follow what they say and find it to be just as they described. How helpful to embark on a journey or walk through a process with well-defined guidelines and explicit directives!
Not surprisingly, this was Jesus’ approach during His time on earth. The Messiah came to fulfill the promises made about Him and explain the commands made to reflect Him. The Son of God spoke to man what His Father spoke to Him.
From the very start of His earthly ministry, Jesus expounded the Scriptures and foretold the future fulfillment of them. Most of the time, His listeners failed to understand. They would ask clarifying questions and receive wisdom from above. But it still didn’t click all the way.
Without fail, everything happened just like He said it would. When He commanded the dead to rise, they did. When He told the lame to walk, they did. When He rebuked the wind and waves to cease, they did. His followers were always in awe of the power of God on display through Him.
All along, He diligently prepared their hearts for His crucifixion. That day at Calvary would shake the faith of those who loved Him. But it would again be just as He said.
Jesus’ final meal was another proof.
“And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, ‘Where will You have us go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?’ And He sent two of His disciples and said to them, ‘Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, “The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.’ And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as He had told them, and they prepared the Passover.” – Mark 14:12-16
The subsequent events unfolded exactly the way He told them they would.
“The Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and He will be raised on the third day.” – Matthew 20:18-19
And then finally, when it was finished and the stone rolled away, angels appeared to confirm that all was according to God’s word.
“Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” – Luke 24:5-7
Just as He said. And so will be every promise yet to come.
