When reading the accounts of the crucifixion of Jesus in the gospels, you cannot but be impressed with the great detail with which Old Testament prophesy is fulfilled. In many cases, the writers of the gospels are careful to point out these prophecies and their fulfillment. Matthew points out that the dividing of Jesus’ garments was "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet" and goes on to quote the prophesy from Psalm 22:18. (Matt. 27:35). Mark says that by being crucified between the two robbers that Jesus fulfilled Isaiah 53:12 which stated that he would be numbered with the transgressors. (Mark 15:27-28). John tells us that the piercing of Jesus’ side and the fact that Jesus’ legs were not broken while he hung upon the cross were in fulfillment of the prophesies in Psalm 34:20 and Zechariah 12:10. These are just a few examples of the Old Testament prophesies which where fulfilled when Jesus was rejected by the Jews and put to death.
Why is it so significant that these prophesies of the Old Testament are fulfilled in such detail at the end of Jesus’ time here on earth? Religious teachers of our day sometimes make the accusation that Jesus came to this earth to set up his kingdom in Jerusalem. But the Jewish people refused to accept him as their ruler and rejected Him and killed Him, forcing Him to implement a kind of alternate plan. It is argued that Jesus then put the church in place to make do until He could at some later time come back and set up the kingdom, ruling from Jerusalem, that He originally intended to do. So many today apply the kingdom prophesies of the Old Testament to look forward to some time in our future when Jesus will finally be able to come and set up that kingdom that He had originally planned but was prevented from implementing because of the evil Jewish nation.
There are many things in the Scriptures that refute this idea and show the absurdity of it. One thing that clearly refutes this idea is the fulfillment of Scripture seen in the death of Christ. The fact that His rejection and death at the hands of the Jews was prophesied in detail many years before it happened shows that it was part of God’s plan all along. It could not be true then that this was some kind of mistake and a result of a miscalculation on the part of the Lord. It was then not necessary for Him to come up with some sort of secondary plan as some want to imply. The prophesies and their fulfillment show without a doubt that this was God’s only plan all along. The rejection of Jesus and His being put to death at their hands was necessary in order for God to bring about his plan to save mankind, not a mistake.
Luke tells that Jesus told his disciples, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:46-47). No, the rejection and crucifixion of Christ were not a mistake that Jesus is planning to return and correct someday. IT WAS NECESSARY!
-- Edward O. Bragwell, Jr.