As we continue moving forward in our journey through the night Jesus was betrayed and arrested, specifically looking at prophecies that Jesus’ life fulfilled during this point in His ministry, we arrive at one of the clearest prophecies regarding Jesus’ betrayal and arrest.
However, before looking at the events during the night Jesus was betrayed and arrested, let’s look at the prophecy which will be the focal point of our time together.
Our passage and prophecy is found in the book of Zechariah, chapter 13, and we will read it using the New American Standard Bible translation. Starting in verse 2, Zechariah writes:
2 “It will come about in that day,” declares the Lord of hosts, “that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be remembered; and I will also remove the prophets and the unclean spirit from the land. 3 And if anyone still prophesies, then his father and mother who gave birth to him will say to him, ‘You shall not live, for you have spoken falsely in the name of the Lord’; and his father and mother who gave birth to him will pierce him through when he prophesies. 4 Also it will come about in that day that the prophets will each be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies, and they will not put on a hairy robe in order to deceive; 5 but he will say, ‘I am not a prophet; I am a tiller of the ground, for a man sold me as a slave in my youth.’ 6 And one will say to him, ‘What are these wounds between your arms?’ Then he will say, ‘Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.’
7 “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd,
And against the man, My Associate,”
Declares the Lord of hosts.
“Strike the Shepherd that the sheep may be scattered;
And I will turn My hand against the little ones.
8 “It will come about in all the land,”
Declares the Lord,
“That two parts in it will be cut off and perish;
But the third will be left in it.
9 “And I will bring the third part through the fire,
Refine them as silver is refined,
And test them as gold is tested.
They will call on My name,
And I will answer them;
I will say, ‘They are My people,’
And they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’”
In this prophecy, we have a clear picture of a very negative and unpleasant time. A broad look at this passage seems to indicate that what is being described is the purification of God’s people. Through Zechariah, God shares a challenging message about a future time when prophecy will be looked down on, and that anyone claiming to be a prophet will be, at the very least, chastised by even their own parents, if not worse.
During the time that is being described, God’s people are being sifted out of and set apart from the rest of the world. Some might say that what is being described here happens at Jesus’ return, or at the judgment, though I would need to do more study before concluding the same way.
However, tucked within this prophecy that seems to be reserved for a future time, we have a phrase Jesus pulls out and applies to His ministry.
To set the stage, if we step back to earlier in the evening that ends with Jesus’ arrest, to the supper Jesus shares with His disciples, Jesus references this prophecy, much to the surprise and shock of the disciples present.
In Matthew, chapter 26, starting in verse 31:
31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.’ 32 But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 33 But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 35 Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing too.
Near the end of the special supper Jesus eats with His disciples, Jesus makes reference to this prophecy from the writings of Zechariah. However, while Jesus intended to take this prophecy and frame it in the context of His resurrection, this detail is missed by the most vocal of the disciples, Peter. While trying to warn the disciples about the events of that night, while also wanting to remind them that He would not stay dead, Jesus draws the disciples’ attention to this prophecy about the shepherd being struck, and the flock being scattered.
However, while we oftentimes look at Peter and how he verbally claims that he would never deny Jesus, all the remaining disciples say the same thing. Abandoning Jesus was never an option to these men, and because they didn’t want to focus any time on discussing the possibility, they miss any opportunity to be prepared for what that night would ultimately hold.
Jumping forward in Matthew, chapter 26, to later on that night, after Jesus had finished praying in the garden and had come back to wake His disciples up, starting in verse 47, we read:
47 While He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.” 49 Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 50 And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.
51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?”
55 At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me. 56 But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled.
During Jesus’ arrest, while the initial reaction of the disciples is one of hostility, seeking to do anything and everything necessary to defend Jesus and keep Him from being arrested, Jesus knew that this was not a part of God’s plan for His life. While God had protected Jesus from every threat against His life prior to this point, what was written into history for that weekend was a death Jesus willingly walked towards which would ultimately bring God the glory. Jesus stepping forward and facing death was a direct fulfillment of prophecy.
However, stepping back to Zechariah’s prophecy that we began this podcast by looking at, Jesus’ death that was written into history, was destined to be the ultimate test for purifying and separating God’s people. While humanity was hopelessly infected with sin, God, through Jesus, stepped into history to make a way out of sin. The way out of sin that Jesus made was taking our punishment onto Himself allowing God the option of forgiveness. Anything less than punishment for sin makes God not just, and strict punishment against the sinner makes God unloving and unmerciful.
To solve this no-win scenario, Jesus came to take our punishment, and give God the ability to extend mercy while also remaining just. This truth purifies God’s people, and as we move forward with Him, living our lives in a way that says thank you to Jesus, we become more like Jesus and better able to reflect Jesus’ love in the world around us.
As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:
As I always open by challenging you, continue to seek God first in your life and accept the gift Jesus offers to take your punishment onto Himself. Choose to place your trust, faith, hope, and belief in Jesus for everything related to salvation.
Also, continue to pray and study the Bible for yourself to grow your personal relationship with God. Through prayer and Bible study, discover just how much God loves you and what Jesus was willing to face to redeem you out of sin. Live your life moving forward in a way that says thank you to Jesus for everything He accomplished for us.
And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or reject where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!