And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. (Luke 24:25-27, NASB)
Jesus, on the evening of His resurrection from the dead, appeared to two of His disciples (not apostles) as they traveled from Jerusalem to Emmaus, “which was about seven miles from Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:13) Dr. Luke reports that they were discussing the events of the past few days, specifically the crucifixion of Jesus, and the reports that He had risen from some women who had visited His tomb and found it empty. Angels told the women that Jesus had risen, that He was alive!
Jesus asked the travelers were they were discussing, and wanted to know more about it. Then Jesus lectures them about how the prophets foretold these things. “Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” Indeed, the Old Testament is full of prophecy regarding Jesus Christ.
The first prophetic words about Jesus: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.” (Genesis 3:15)
The words of Moses: ““The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.” (Deuteronomy 18:15)
From King David: “They pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at me; They divide my garments among them, And for my clothing they cast lots.” (Psalm 22:16-18)
“For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.” (Psalm 16:10)
From the Prophet Isaiah: “But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.” (Isaiah 53:5-7)
On this Resurrection Sunday, we pause to remember how much God loves us. He sent His Son Jesus Christ to cover our sins. We remember, too, how much Jesus loves us. He suffered unspeakable pain from torture and execution to deliver us from our sins. The above verses are just a few in the Old Testament that Jesus fulfilled, and are about the suffering He endured because He loves you and me. In Jesus’ discussion with the travelers on the road to Emmaus, He proved just Who He is. He is God’s Son, sent to the earth to save us, as foretold by the prophets of old!