Resonance

Tag: Resurrection

  • 30 Prophecies Jesus Fulfilled in 3 Days

    The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are not just events. They are the very foundation upon which the entirety of the Christian faith stands. In just three days, over 30 ancient prophecies, spoken hundreds of years before Jesus was born, were fulfilled with breathtaking precision. In total, Jesus fulfilled 300+ prophecies. These fulfillments are what ensure the validity, entirety, and authenticity of Christianity.

    Every law, every symbol, every prophecy pointed to Him. Every festival, every sacrifice, every Psalm whispered His name.The years it took for each prophecy to be fulfilled (noted in brackets) reveal the incredible thread of divine authorship woven throughout Scripture (circa; c). These three days did not happen by chance. Jesus really did it all just as it was written.

    1. Betrayed by a Close Friend (c. 1000 years)

    Prophecy: “Even my close friend, whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” — Psalm 41:9

    Fulfillment: “After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me. Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. — John 13:21,26



    2. Betrayed for 30 Pieces of Silver (c. 500 years)

    Prophecy: “So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.” — Zechariah 11:12

    Fulfillment: “And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver.” — Matthew 26:15



    3. The Silver Thrown in the Temple and Used for a Potter’s Field (c. 500 years)

    Prophecy: “So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord… to the potter.” — Zechariah 11:13

    Fulfillment: “So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. They took the thirty silver pieces… and bought the potter’s field.” — Matthew 27:5-7



    4. Silent Before His Accusers (c. 700 years)

    Prophecy: “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth.” — Isaiah 53:7

    Fulfillment: “When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge, to the great amazement of the governor.” — Matthew 27:12-14



    5. Spat Upon and Beaten (c. 700 years)

    Prophecy: “I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.” — Isaiah 50:6

    Fulfillment: “Then they spat in His face and struck Him. Others slapped Him” — Matthew 26:67



    6. Mocked by Soldiers (c. 1000 years)

    Prophecy: “They open their mouths wide against me, like ravening and roaring lions.” — Psalm 22:13

    Fulfillment: “The soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head… they mocked Him.” — Matthew 27:29-31



    7. Pierced Hands and Feet (c. 1000 years)

    Prophecy: “They have pierced my hands and my feet.” — Psalm 22:16

    Fulfillment: “When they had crucified Him…” — John 19:18



    8. Crucified with Criminals (c. 700 years)

    Prophecy: “He was numbered with the transgressors.” — Isaiah 53:12

    Fulfillment: “Two rebels were crucified with Him.” — Matthew 27:38



    9. Prayed for His Enemies (c. 1000 years)

    Prophecy: “He made intercession for the transgressors.” — Isaiah 53:12

    Fulfillment: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” — Luke 23:34



    10. Cast Lots for His Clothing (c. 1000 years)

    Prophecy: “They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” — Psalm 22:18

    Fulfillment: “They divided His clothes by casting lots.” — John 19:23-24



    11. Gall and Vinegar Given to Drink (c. 1000 years)

    Prophecy: “They also gave me gall for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. — Psalm 69:21

    Fulfillment: “They gave him to drink vinegar mixed with gall, and having tasted, he would not drink. — Matthew 27:34



    12. Darkness Over the Land (c. 700 years)

    Prophecy: “On that day…I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth.” — Amos 8:9

    Fulfillment: “From noon until three in the afternoon, darkness came over all the land.” — Matthew 27:45



    13. No Bones Broken (c. 1000 years)

    Prophecy: “He protects all His bones, not one of them will be broken.” — Psalm 34:20

    Fulfillment: “But when they came to Jesus and found that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.” — John 19:33



    14. Pierced Side (c. 500 years)

    Prophecy: “They will look on Me whom they have pierced.” — Zechariah 12:10

    Fulfillment: “One of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear.” — John 19:34



    15. Buried with the Rich (c. 700 years)

    Prophecy: “He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death.” — Isaiah 53:9

    Fulfillment: “A rich man…Joseph of Arimathea…placed it in his own new tomb.” — Matthew 27:57-60



    16. Resurrected from the Dead (c. 1000 years)

    Prophecy: “You will not abandon me to the realm of the dead.” — Psalm 16:10

    Fulfillment: “God raised Him from the dead.” — Acts 2:31



    17. His Betrayer Replaced (c. 1000 years)

    Prophecy: “May another take his place of leadership.” — Psalm 109:8

    Fulfillment: “They cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias. And he was numbered with the Eleven Apostles” — Acts 1:20-26



    18. The Price of Betrayal’s Field (c. 500 years)

    Prophecy: “And they will call it the field of blood.” — Zechariah 11:13

    Fulfillment: “That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day.” — Matthew 27:8



    19. They Mocked Him, Shaking Their Heads (c. 1000 years)

    Prophecy:
    “All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: ‘He trusts in the LORD,’ they say, ‘let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.’” — Psalm 22:7-8

    Fulfillment:
    “Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!’” — Matthew 27:39-40



    20. The Passover Lamb Without Blemish (c. 1400 years)

    Prophecy:
    “Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year… You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight.” — Exodus 12:5-6

    Fulfillment:
    “For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.” — 1 Corinthians 5:7
    “And it was about the sixth hour, and He said to the Jews, ‘Behold your King!’… and they crucified Him.” — John 19:14-18



    21. His Cry of Forsakenness (c. 1000 years)

    Prophecy: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” — Psalm 22:1

    Fulfillment: “About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out…‘My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” — Matthew 27:46



    22. Commending His Spirit (c. 1000 years)

    Prophecy: “Into Your hands I commit my spirit.” — Psalm 31:5

    Fulfillment: “Jesus called out…‘Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit.’” — Luke 23:46



    23. Died on a Tree (c. 1400 years)

    Prophecy:
    “His body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God.” — Deuteronomy 21:23

    Fulfillment:
    “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’).” — Galatians 3:13




    24. He Became Sin for Us (c. 700 years)

    Prophecy: “The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” — Isaiah 53:6

    Fulfillment: “He bore our sins in His body on the tree.” — 1 Peter 2:24



    25. The Temple Curtain Torn (c. 500 years)

    Prophecy: Symbolic prophecy of God’s presence being opened (Exodus 26:31-33)

    Fulfillment: “The curtain of the temple was torn in two.” — Matthew 27:51




    26. Raised on the Third Day (c. 700 years)

    Prophecy: “On the third day He will raise us up.” — Hosea 6:2

    “Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” — Jonah 1:17


    Fulfillment: “He was raised on the third day.” — Luke 24:7

    “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth”. — Matthew 12:40



    27. His Body Would Not Decay (c. 1000 years)

    Prophecy: “You will not let Your Holy One see decay.” — Psalm 16:10

    Fulfillment: “God raised Him up…His body did not decay.” — Acts 13:35-37




    28. Declared the Son of God in Power (c. 1000 years)

    Prophecy: “You are my Son; today I have begotten You.” — Psalm 2:7

    Fulfillment: “Declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection.” — Romans 1:4




    29. Ascended on High (c. 1000 years)

    Prophecy: “You have ascended on high.” — Psalm 68:18

    Fulfillment: “He was taken up before their very eyes.” — Acts 1:9



    30. Took Captivity Captive (c. 1000 years)

    Prophecy: “You led captivity captive.” — Psalm 68:18

    Fulfillment: “When He ascended…He led captives in His train.” — Ephesians 4:8

    So you see…every little detail concerning Jesus’ death and resurrection in the Gospel was fulfilling Scripture. This is where the astonishing coherence of Scripture shines. Written by over 40 different authors, across a span of 1500 years, from shepherds and kings to prophets and fishermen, yet these scattered voices converge with pinpoint accuracy to tell one unified story — Jesus.

  • Why Do The Gospels Have Different Accounts of the Resurrection?

    In Matthew, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary rose up at dawn to go and balm the dead body of Jesus because they couldn’t do it the evening he died, which was the Sabbath. They went to meet a mighty angel sitting on the rolled stone. The angel told them to go and tell the rest of the disciples, and that Jesus had gone ahead of them to Galilee. In their joy and fright, they meet Jesus along the way. Jesus also echoes and affirms the angel’s report.

    In Mark, it was Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome who rose up at dawn to go and anoint Jesus’ body. They were contemplating on how they’d roll the stone away. When they got there, the stone had been rolled away and an angel was sitting on the right side. Trembling and bewildered, the women left and told no one anything because they were afraid. Then Jesus appeared to only Mary Magdalene, who went to tell the rest of the disciples about the Resurrection. Jesus appeared to two other disciples and later appeared to the Eleven.

    In Luke, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Joanna and some other women took their spices and went to the tomb and arrived right after sunrise. They found the stone rolled away, and the tomb empty. Suddenly, two men appeared. The angel told them to remember the words of Jesus concerning His Resurrection, which they did. They came back to tell the other disciples but they didn’t believe. So Peter run back to check for himself and met an empty tomb and went away, wondering what had happened. On that same day, Jesus appeared to the two disciples Mark talked about, on the road to Emmaus.

    In John, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed. So she went running to Simon Peter and John, complaining that Jesus’ body had been stolen. So Peter and John run to the tomb. They both found the tomb empty, with the cloth and linen lying there. They went away. Mary Magdalene still stayed, crying. She bent over to look in the tomb and saw two angels in white. They only asked her why she was crying. After replying, she turned and saw Jesus but didn’t recognize Him, thinking he was the gardener. Jesus mentioned her name again and she finally recognized Him. Jesus spoke to her and she ran to tell the disciples that she had seen the Lord.

    Before I go on, it is necessary to point out that each of the Gospel writers had a clear purpose and emphasis set out to accentuate a specific and special image of Jesus. Therefore, each detail they add or didn’t add was because of what they want to emphasize.

    At least five women went to the tomb since Luke names three of them and then says “other women” went too (at least two). Notice that Matthew does not say that only two women were there. Mark does not say that only three women were there. They simply focus on the women they name. They arose while it was still dark according to John and reached the tomb right after sunrise.


    Prior to their arrival, Matthew tells us that there was a great earthquake, for an angel descended and rolled back the stone and sat on it. The women were contemplating how they’d roll the stone but went and saw it removed. There were two angels. Neither Matthew nor Mark claims that only one angel was at the tomb. The complete number does not appear in their accounts and clearly wasn’t the emphasis of the story.

    Apparently, Mary Magdalene left the other women to alert Peter and John. Based on her comment about not knowing the location of the Lord’s body, it seems that she was not among the women who encountered the angels at the tomb.

    Meanwhile, the other women entered the tomb and encountered the angels. Mary Magdalene first left the tomb and entered nearby Jerusalem to get Peter and John. During that time, the other women encountered the angels and then left the tomb to set out on the two-mile trip to Bethany to tell the other disciples about the Resurrection. They may have stopped along the way to tell Clopas and an unnamed disciple about the morning’s events (Luke 24:22–24), or they may have split up so that a couple of them could inform these men. In all likelihood, “the wife of Clopas” was among these women (John 19:25).


    Meanwhile, Peter, John, and Mary raced to the tomb. The men entered the tomb, saw the grave clothes, and then left. Mary stayed behind, weeping outside the tomb. When she looked into the tomb, she saw two angels (John 20:12), and after explaining her grief to them, she turned around and saw the Savior (John 20:16). After Mary departed to tell Peter and John about seeing the risen Lord, Jesus appeared to the other women who were on their way to Bethany (Matthew 28:9).

    The remaining appearances of Christ on that day are much easier to follow. Luke wrote about Clopas and a companion meeting the Lord while they walked from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They did not recognize Him until He broke bread with them (Luke 24:30–31). They immediately returned to Jerusalem to share the good news of the Resurrection with the disciples, without Thomas (John 20:19–24). Upon their arrival, they were told by the disciples that Jesus had appeared to Simon Peter (Luke 24:34; see also 1 Corinthians 15:5).

    So you see, the entire story fits like a jigsaw puzzle. As a learner, don’t be too quick to draw conclusions. If you are always quick to draw conclusions, you won’t learn anything. Wait for the story to unfold before your eyes. The fact that someone’s account is different from the other doesn’t mean one is true and the others aren’t. Though they all went into different details to expatriate the Resurrection story, the whole story comes together to tell one big true and eternal story: Jesus has Risen.