September 20, 2026 - Luke 18-20

For the third time, Jesus told his disciples about his upcoming death:  “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished.  For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon.  And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise” (18:31-33).  Think about it, from the opening chapters in Genesis, the whole of Scripture points toward this event.  Consider these texts:  Psalm 22 describes a crucifixion scene and provides Jesus’ words on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  Isaiah 53 tells of Messiah who would die for the sins of his people.  Zechariah 12:10 foresees the wounding of Jesus:  “When they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him.”  And Psalm 34:20 tells that “not one of [his bones] will be broken,” which was fulfilled when Jesus' legs were left unbroken at his crucifixion.  Just a small sample of Old Testament Scripture texts but enough to remind us that the whole of the Bible tells the story of redemption achieved by the death and resurrection of Messiah.  That’s the Bible’s story.  That’s our story!

O perfect life of love!

All, all, is finished now,

all that he left his throne above

to do for us below.

No work is left undone

of all the Father willed;

his toil, his sorrows, one by one,

the Scriptures have fulfilled.   -- H. W. Baker (1875)