Bible Basics

It Must Be

As pointed out last week, several prophets of the Old Testament foretold of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. More than once, Jesus Himself foretold of these events. Towards the beginning of His great mountain sermon Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matt. 5:17). The very purpose for His coming to this earth was “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10), a mission only accomplished through His death, burial and resurrection. After Peter confessed the deity of Christ, Matthew records, “From that time on Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day” (Matt. 16:21). Notice the word “must.” If man was to be saved from his sin, Christ must die, be buried and raised from the dead. This word is used time and time again in reference to Christ’s death and resurrection (see Mark 9:12; Luke 9:22; 17:25; 24:7). After His resurrection, Jesus said to His apostles, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me” (Luke 24:44).

                                                                                                               -- Clark Dugger

Bible Basics