Theologians estimate that Jesus fulfilled over 300 Old Testament prophecies. That’s a lot! We are currently covering a series on a handful of interesting messianic prophecies. Last week, we discovered 3 prophecies that Jesus fulfilled during the earliest days of His ministry. Today, let’s go over 3 specific prophecies that Jesus fulfilled during the last week of His ministry.
1.) Jerusalem would rejoice as the Messiah Enters Riding a donkey
Old Testament Prophecy:
“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9).
Ok so this a really interesting prophecy. During this time period, there could have been many ways that someone would travel. By horse, camel, even on foot. So why was the Messiah to enter Jerusalem on a donkey? Well historically, this action actually had a known meaning. A king who entered a city on a donkey signified entry in peace. Should a king enter upon a horse, this would signal intent of war or a forceful takeover.
Many people guess that God’s choice of the Messiah entering Jerusalem on a donkey simply symbolizes meekness and humility. And perhaps there is something to that notion. But in the Old Testament, it was common for a king to ride on a donkey. The rightful king—not a conqueror. We see this cultural practice in the Old Testament when Absalom attempted to steal his father David’s throne. David had to escape quickly; later Ziba brings two donkeys for the king’s household (1 Samuel 16:1-2). Riding a donkey signaled to the people: I am the king. The true king. I have no need of an army, weapons, war-horses or chariots—because I am already the king.
Further, this was shown when David was ready to establish his son Solomon as the next king. He arranged for Solomon enter Jerusalem on David’s royal mule. At this time, Nathan the prophet joined them and Zadok the priest anointed Solomon with oil. They blew the trumpet and the people yelled, “God save king Solomon.” (1 Kings 1:28-40). So, in ancient Israel, riding a donkey signifies the one true king and a peaceful coronation at that.
New Testament Fulfillment:
And Jesus fulfilled this prophecy. He didn’t normally travel with a donkey, he was normally on foot or boat, so he first instructed his disciples to pick up the special animal who was chosen to participate in His triumphal entry that day:
“Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie then and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them right away….”
“A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, ‘Who is this?’” (Matthew 21:1–10).
While John records that the disciples didn’t realize the implications of the entry on the donkey until later (John 12:16), the well-educated Pharisees certainly did (John 12:19). This action is one of reasons for their accusation that Jesus declared himself King of the Jews.
2.) The Messiah would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver
Old Testament Prophecy:
“I told them, ‘If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.’ So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. “And the Lord said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter’—the handsome price at which they valued me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter at the house of the Lord” (Zechariah 11:12–13).
So first, what is happening with Zechariah above so we understand the context of these statements? Well, part of God’s teaching strategy with the prophet Zechariah was to have Zechariah act out lessons in his life for the people of Israel. In this particular lesson, Zechariah is playing the part of a shepherd who is caring for a flock “doomed to slaughter” (Zechariah 11:4-14). This is to illustrate that the nation will reject the Messiah (the Shepherd), then fall to judgement (the fall of Israel to Rome in AD 70). There is a lot of fascinating symbolism in this passage. Zechariah breaks two shepherding staffs, naming one “Favor,” which symbolizes the breaking of the Mosaic Covenant, and the other “Union,” as the nation breaks up and the Jewish people subsequently scatter throughout the world. All very sad, but necessary for the salvation of the world.
So in this passage, as Zechariah was working as a shepherd, he asked his employers how much they thought he was worth. They gave him 30 pieces of silver. During this time period, 30 pieces of silver was not a lot of money. In fact, in the Old Testament law, thirty pieces of silver was the amount that a person was to pay a master “if his slave was gored to death by a bull” (Exodus 21:32). This particular amount was clearly meant as an insult to Zechariah—stating that he was worth no more than a servant. So he was clearly writing sarcastically when he used the phrase “the handsome price at which they valued me.”
New Testament Fulfillment:
And it happened. Judas Iscariot asked what the chief priests would be willing to give him if he delivered Jesus over to them. They counted out 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16). Later, “seized with remorse,” Judas returned the money to the chief priests and elders. He “threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.”
“The chief priests picked up the coins and said, ‘It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.’ So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: ‘They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me’” (Matthew 27:6–10).
As a reminder, 30 pieces of silver was not a lot of money at all during that time period. First, Judas did not do this because he really desired wealth. Second, knowing the depth of the chief priests’ knowledge of the law, they very likely purposely chose this amount to state that they saw Jesus’ life to be worth no more than that of a servant. As with Zechariah’s employers above, they wanted to insult and belittle Jesus further with this specific amount. However, the joke is on them, as they accidentally fulfilled messianic prophecy.
3.) The Messiah would be betrayed by someone who shares his bread
The final example of 3 prophecies that Jesus fulfilled during His last week of ministry is a very straight-forward sentence:
Old Testament Prophecy:
“Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me” (Psalm 41:9).
New Testament Fulfillment:
And Jesus fulfilled this prophecy as well. Did He consider his disciples to be friends? Jesus shared a last Passover meal with his disciples on the night that he was betrayed. He shares many things this evening with his disciples, including this:
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I call you my friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:13-15).
So we have the friend part figured out, how about the bread? During this same conversation during the Last Supper, Jesus told the disciples that one of them would betray him. John then asked who it would be. Jesus answered: “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.” (John 13:25-26)
Prior to researching this topic, I always thought that the reference to bread was just a clever and subtle way that Jesus revealed the identity of the betrayer. Now, it is clear, that Jesus was referring to this passage in Psalms and revealing the fulfillment of scripture. He really always had a reason for everything that He did! And He was not being secretive. Jesus actually quotes this exact Psalm right before he dipped the bread in the same conversation:
“I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me’” (John 13:18).
I hope you enjoyed learning about 3 Old Testament prophecies Jesus fulfilled during the last week of His ministry. Keep reading this week as I continue the series researching Old Testament prophecies fulfilled by Jesus. Next up, I will be covering the 3 prophecies fulfilled by Jesus during His crucifixion.
