What is the meaning of Matthew 26:56? But this has all happened • Jesus speaks these words in Gethsemane moments after His arrest (Matthew 26:47-55). • “All” includes Judas’ betrayal (Psalm 41:9; John 13:18), the armed crowd sent by the chief priests (Isaiah 53:3), and the seeming triumph of darkness (Luke 22:53). • None of these events are accidental; every detail unfolds under God’s sovereign hand (Acts 2:23). • Earlier that evening Jesus had said, “The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed” (Luke 22:22), reminding His followers that God’s plan, not human scheming, governs the moment. so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled • Jesus ties the chaos to the prophetic Scriptures, declaring the Old Testament both reliable and authoritative (2 Timothy 3:16). • Key prophecies now converging: – Isaiah 53:5-12—Messiah’s suffering and substitutionary death. – Psalm 22:1-18—mockery, pierced hands and feet, divided garments. – Zechariah 11:12-13—thirty pieces of silver for betrayal. – Zechariah 13:7—“Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered,” words Jesus had quoted earlier that night (Matthew 26:31). • By pointing to these prophecies, Jesus reassures His followers—and us—that Scripture never fails (John 10:35) and that the cross was foreseen, not forced. • God’s purpose is redemptive: through fulfilled prophecy He proves His faithfulness and secures our salvation (Romans 15:8-9). Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled • The disciples’ flight fulfills Zechariah 13:7 exactly as Jesus predicted (Matthew 26:31-32). • Their desertion underscores human frailty: even the closest followers falter without the Spirit’s power (John 16:32; Galatians 3:3). • Yet their failure does not derail God’s plan; it magnifies grace. The risen Christ will restore them (John 20:19-23) and commission them to preach repentance and forgiveness (Luke 24:46-49). • For believers today, this moment offers hope: our weaknesses cannot cancel God’s purposes (2 Timothy 2:13). summary Matthew 26:56 shows that every detail of Jesus’ arrest happened under divine control to fulfill Scripture. Prophecies centuries old came true in those dark hours, proving God’s Word reliable and His redemptive plan unstoppable. Even the disciples’ fearful flight, predicted in advance, sets the stage for their later restoration. The verse reminds us that God’s promises stand firm, His sovereignty rules over human failure, and His salvation story unfolds exactly as written. |
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