How does Luke 24:7 affirm Jesus' foreknowledge of His death and resurrection? Setting the Scene Luke 24 opens with the women at the empty tomb. Angels remind them of words Jesus had spoken in Galilee: “ ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and on the third day rise again.’ ” (Luke 24:7) Four Specific Details Jesus Knew in Advance • “must be delivered” – a deliberate handing over (cf. Luke 22:48) • “into the hands of sinful men” – arrest by Roman and Jewish authorities (Luke 22:52-54) • “be crucified” – the exact method of execution (Luke 23:33) • “on the third day rise again” – the precise timing of His resurrection (Luke 24:1-6) Each element unfolded exactly as predicted, revealing conscious, detailed foreknowledge. Earlier Statements That Echo Luke 24:7 • Luke 9:22 – “The Son of Man must suffer many things … be killed, and on the third day be raised to life.” • Luke 18:31-33 – Jesus lists betrayal, mockery, flogging, death, and rising “on the third day.” • John 2:19-22 – “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The angel’s quotation in Luke 24:7 ties these prior prophecies together, showing they were not after-the-fact edits but words spoken before the Passion. Fulfillment Documented by Luke 1. Betrayal (Luke 22:47-48) 2. Delivery to sinful men (Luke 22:54) 3. Crucifixion (Luke 23:33) 4. Third-day resurrection (Luke 24:1-7) The seamless record underscores that Jesus’ foreknowledge was accurate, literal, and complete. Why This Matters • Confirms Jesus’ divinity—only God knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:9-10). • Validates Scripture’s trustworthiness—prophecy fulfilled in real history. • Assures believers that every promise Christ makes—salvation, return, eternal life—stands just as firm (John 14:3; 1 Peter 1:3-5). • Strengthens faith in trials: the One who knew His own path knows ours (Hebrews 4:14-16). Luke 24:7, therefore, is not merely a reminder to the women; it is a concise affirmation that Jesus planned, predicted, and perfectly accomplished His death and resurrection, demonstrating divine foreknowledge and sovereign control over redemption’s unfolding. |
    |