BIBLE STUDY
The Preposterous Calvary Story:
As is our way in Megamorphic Church culture where we love language and plays on words this study takes a triple entendre preposterous perspective on The Calvary story.
Firstly, considering the story was originally imagined before the world began, indeed before time, then it is very much the case at least from a life on Earth sense, it was well before the very first poster was printed and displayed. Thus pre-poster-ous.
Secondly, as per the form of the notes below, the story is laid out in Holy Scripture (the Bible) before the actual event, the event itself, and post the event. Thus pre, post-erous.
Thirdly and especially when considering the full story, all that was involved - particularly Jesus’ totally unjustified suffering, the crazy things that happened in the natural like dead bodies coming out of the grave including Jesus himself. Thus preposterous
Leading up to IT
OT PROPHECY:
- God will provide the lamb
Prophecy:
Abraham/Isaac (Gen 22)
“He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter…” (Isa. 53:7)
Fulfilled:
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” John 1:29
“For Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us” (I Cor. 5:7).
“Knowing that you were not redeemed by corruptible things … but by the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot; Who truly was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was manifested in these last times for your sakes” (I Pet. 1:18-20).
“And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed." So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.” Galatians 3:8-9
- Jesus would be cut off, not for Himself
Prophecy:
“And after sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off but not for Himself” (Dan. 9:26).
Fulfilled:
‘Nor consider that it is better for us that one man die for the people, than that the whole nation should perish.’ Now he did not say this of himself, but being high priest that year, prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation; and not for the nation only, but also that He might gather together into one the children of God who were scattered abroad” (John 11:50- 52).
- Betrayal of Jesus by Judas
Prophecy:
“Even a man, my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate of my bread, has lifted up his heel against me” (Psa. 41:9).
Fulfilled:
“Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order that he might deliver Him up to them. And after hearing this, they were delighted and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray Him” (Mark 14:10-11)
- The price Jesus was betrayed for and where the money would end up
Prophecy:
“And I said to them, ‘If it is good, give me my price; and if not, let it go.’ So they 2 weighed my price—thirty pieces of silver. And the LORD said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter’—the princely price at which I was valued by them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD” (Zech. 11:12-13).
Fulfilled:
“And said, ‘What are you willing to give me, and I will deliver Him up to you?’ And they offered him thirty pieces of silver” (Matt. 26:15).
“Now when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He was condemned, he changed his mind and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, ‘I have sinned and have betrayed innocent blood.’ But they said, ‘What is that to us? You see to it yourself.’ And after throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he went out and hanged himself. But the chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, ‘It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood.’ And after taking counsel, they bought a potter’s field with the pieces of silver, for a burial ground for strangers” (Matt. 27:3-7).
- Jesus was forsaken by His disciples
Prophecy:
‘Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, and against the Man who is My companion,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘Strike the Shepherd [Jesus], and the sheep shall be scattered’ ” (Zech. 13:7).
Fulfilled:
“Then they all forsook Him and fled” (Mark 14:50).
- Jesus scourged and mocked
Prophecy:
“I gave My back to the smiters [scourgers], and My cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting” (Isa. 50:6).
Fulfilled:
“Then he released Barabbas to them; but after scourging Jesus, he delivered Him up so that He might be crucified. Then the governor’s soldiers, after taking Jesus with them into the Praetorium, gathered the entire band against Him; and they stripped Him and put a scarlet cloak around Him. And after platting a crown of thorns, they put it on His head; and a rod in His right hand; and bowing on their knees before Him, they mocked Him, and kept on saying, ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ Then, after spitting on Him, they took the rod and struck Him on the head” (Matt. 27:26-30).
- Jesus body mutilated
Prophecy:
“Many were astonished at Him—for His body was so disfigured—even His form beyond that of the sons of men” (Isa. 52:14).
“I can count all My bones; they look and gloat over Me” (Psa. 22:17).
Fulfilled:
“But after scourging Jesus, he delivered Him up so that He might be crucified” (Matt. 27:26). “Then Pilate therefore took Jesus and scourged Him” (John 19:1).
- False Witnesses Testifying
Prophecy:
“Cruel witnesses rose up; they asked me of things that I knew nothing about” (Psa. 35:11).
Fulfilled:
“And the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to find testimony against Jesus, to put Him to death; but they did not find any. For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree. And some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying...” (Mark 14:55-57).
- Hands and feet pierced, many watch and gloat, parting of garments
Prophecy:
“Dogs have surrounded Me; a band of evildoers have encircled me; they have pierced My hands and My feet…” (Psa. 22:16).
“They look and gloat over Me” (Psa. 22:17).
“They divide My garments among them and cast lots upon My vesture” (Psa. 22:18).
Fulfilled:
“And they crucified Him” (Mark 15:25).
“Then the other disciples said to him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he said to them, ‘If I do not see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger into the nail marks, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe at all!’ Now after eight days, His disciples were within, and Thomas with them. After the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace to you.’ Then He said to Thomas, ‘Bring forth your finger, and see My hands; and bring forth your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving, but believing’ ” (John 20:25-27).
“And the guards sat down there to guard Him” (Matt. 27:36).
“And all the people who were gathered together to this sight, after seeing the things that took place, beat their breasts and returned” (Luke 23:48).
“Then they said to one another, ‘Let us not tear it, but let us cast lots for it to determine whose it shall be’; that the Scripture might be fulfilled, which says, ‘They divided My garments among them, and they cast lots for My vesture.’ Therefore the soldiers did these things” (John 19:24).
- Side pierced with spear
Prophecy:
“And they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced…” (Zech. 12:10).
Fulfilled:
“But one of the soldiers had pierced His side with a spear, and immediately water and blood had come out....And again another scripture says, ‘They shall look upon Him 6 Whom they pierced’ ” (John 19:34, 37).
- Jesus friends and fam watched (from a distance)
Prophecy:
“My loved ones and my friends stand apart from my plague; and my neighbors stand far off” (Psa. 38:11).
Fulfilled:
“Now all those who knew Him stood afar off observing these things, the women also who followed Him from Galilee” (Luke 23:49).
- Those watching would shake their heads at him
Prophecy:
“And I also became a reproach to them when they looked upon me; they shook their heads” (Psa. 109:25).
Fulfilled:
“But those who were passing by railed at Him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” (Matt. 27:39-40)
- The Specific words of the reproachers
Prophecy:
“He trusted on the LORD; let Him deliver Him; let Him rescue Him, since He delights in Him!” (Psa. 22:8).
Fulfilled:
“He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him; for He said, “I am the Son of God.” ’ And the two robbers who were also crucified with Him reproached Him with the same words” (Matt. 27:43-44).
- Vinegar given to drink
Prophecy:
“They also gave Me gall for My food; and in My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink” (Psa. 69:21).
Fulfilled:
“They gave Him vinegar mingled with gall to drink; but after tasting it, He would not drink” (Matt. 27:34).
- His words on the cross
Prophecy:
“My God, my God, why have You forsaken me, and why are You so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?” (Psa. 22:1.)
“Into Your hand I commit my spirit…” (Psa. 31:5).
“They shall come and shall declare His righteousness unto a people that shall yet be born, that He has done this” (Psa. 22:31). (NOTE: The Hebrew literally reads, “For it is finished.”)
Fulfilled:
“And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ That is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’ ” (Matt. 27:46).
“And after crying out with a loud voice, Jesus said, ‘Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ And when He had said these things, He expired” (Luke 23:46).
“Therefore, when Jesus had received the vinegar, He said, ‘It is finished.’ And after bowing His head, He yielded up His spirit” (John 19:30).
- No bone broken
Prophecy:
“He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken” (Psa. 34:20).
Fulfilled:
“Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first one, and the legs of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs....For these things took place so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, ‘Not a bone of Him shall be broken’ ” (John 19:32-33, 36).
- His burial in rich dudes tomb
Prophesied:
“By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and with His generation who did consider that He was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgression of My people He was stricken? And He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death; although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth” (Isa. 53:8-9). Fulfilled: “And when evening was coming on, a rich man of Arimathea came, named Joseph, who was himself a disciple of Jesus. After going to Pilate, he begged to have the body of Jesus. [Jesus would otherwise have been buried among the criminals.] Then Pilate commanded the body to be given over to him. And after taking the body, Joseph wrapped it in clean linen cloth, and placed it in his new tomb which he had hewn in the rock; and after rolling a great stone to the door of the tomb, he went away” (Matt. 27:57-60).
“ The Fifth Gospel” Isaiah 53 including;
- Not making an effort to defend Himself at Trial
Prophecy:
“He was oppressed, and He was afflicted; yet He opened not His mouth. He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before its shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth” (Isa. 53:7).
Fulfilled:
“Then Pilate said to Him, ‘Don’t You hear how many things they testify against You?’ And He did
- Jesus being a sin offering for the world
Prophecy:
“Surely He has borne our infirmities, and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we ourselves are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned each one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all…. Yet the LORD willed to crush Him and He has put Him to grief: You shall make His life an offering for sin. He shall see His seed; He shall prolong His days, and that the purpose of the LORD might prosper in His hand. He shall see of the travail of His soul. He shall be fully satisfied. By His knowledge shall My righteous Servant justify many; and He shall bear their iniquities” (Isa. 53:4-6, 10-11).
Fulfilled:
“Therefore, he then delivered Him up to them so that He might be crucified. Now they took Jesus and led Him away; and He went out bearing His own cross to the place called ‘A Skull,’ which is called in Hebrew, ‘Golgotha’; where they crucified Him, and with Him two others, one on this side and one on the other side, and Jesus in the middle. Now Pilate also wrote a 4 title and put it on the cross. And it was written, ‘Jesus the Nazarean, the King of the Jews’ ” (John 19:16-19).
- Jesus being numbered among sinners
Prophecy:
“He was counted among the transgressors…” (Isa. 53:12).
Fulfilled:
“And also two other malefactors were led away with Him to be put to death. And when they came to the place called ‘Skull,’ there they crucified Him and the malefactors, one on the right and one on the left” (Luke 23:32-33).
- Making intercession for sinners
Prophecy:
“He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for transgressors” (Isa. 53:12).
Fulfilled:
“Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not understand what they are doing.’ And they divided His garments, and cast lots” (Luke 23:34).
NT ELEMENTS OF STORY IN THE GOSPELS
Jesus cluing the Disciples in on His plans, dealing with their lack of understanding + sentimental soulish satanic objections
NOTE: Satan in his appearance and manifestation does not look blatantly evil, he masquerades as an angel of light and works through deception. So for example when Peter told Jesus effectively “no you won’t go die” and Jesus rebuked Him with “get behind me Satan, you have in mind the things of men not the things of God” - Jesus was calling out Peter’s sentimental “things of men” response that on the surface seems kind, caring and even full of faith, but instead would have subverted the plans of God to redeem humanity.
- Matthew 12:40
- Matthew 16:21-23
- Matthew 17:22-23
- Matthew 20:9, 17-19
- Matthew 26:1-75
- Mark 8:31
- Luke 9:22-27
- Luke 22:36-38
- John 3:16-17
- John 6:64-71
- John 13:1-38
- John 14:1-11
- John 16
- Jesus Prayer - John 17
- John 18:6
The Last supper (Matt 26:17-30, Luke 22:7-23)
Betrayal by Judas and arrest (Matthew 26:47-57, Mark 14:43-53, Luke 22:47-54, John 18:3-11)
Places of Judgment (Matthew 27:1-2, 11-14, mark 15:1-5, Luke 23:1-12, John 18:28-38, John 19:12-16)
Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:30-46, Mark 14:26-42, Luke 22:39-46, John 18:1)
The actual IT
Carrying the cross, Golgotha , Calvary Matthew 27:32-56, mark 15:21-38, Luke 23:26-49, John 19:16-37
Following IT
INCLUDING: The tomb, The garden , The road to Imaeus Why do you seek the living among the dead?, Breakfast on the wayside, Final briefing of the disciples
Matthew 27:57-66, Matthew 28; Mark 15:42-47, Mark 16; Luke 23:50-56, Luke 24; John 19:38-42, John 20 & 21, Acts 1-2 (and onward)
Keynote Gospel Truths
1 Corinthians 15:1-8
Romans 5:8 (While we were yet sinners)
Hebrews 9:22