He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Luke 24:44 NIV

Jesus is the focal point of God’s plan for our salvation. Sin separates man from God. Our Creator is holy and will not permit sin in his presence. In addition, God judges sin and corruption. Sin is so serious in God’s eyes that he gives the death penalty for breaking his holy law. However, the Lord provides a remedy for law breakers. As we read in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. KJV”

When we repent from sin and  accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we pass from death to life. The penalty for our sins no longer applies to us because Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross. Jesus describes the fate of those who reject him in comparison to those who believe in him and serve his purpose in Matthew 25:46 saying, “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. WEB”

Doers of the Law

God’s plan for our salvation is found in his law, the words of the prophets, and in the psalms. We understand God’s righteousness by his law. Paul writes in Romans 2:13, “For it isn’t the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified. WEB” 

Jesus fulfilled the law and called his followers to obey the commandments. The Lord says in Matthew 5:17, “Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill. WEB” Jesus came to earth to live a sinless life in accordance with the law of God and to die for our sins as predicted by the prophets.

We read in Isaiah 53:4-6 the prophet’s description of our Lord’s suffering for our sins as it says, “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, We considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. NIV” 

The Cornerstone

Jesus’ assertion that “everything must be fulfilled” testifies to the proof that he is the promised Savior. Fulfilling the scriptures written about him, Jesus demonstrates the truth of his claim. In addition to fulfilling the law and the prophets, Jesus fits the description of our Savior given in the psalms. One famous example of this is Psalm 118:22 which reads, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. WEB”

Famously, Jesus quoted Psalm 22:1 while on the cross saying, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? WEB” Taking on the sin of the world, Jesus experienced that temporary separation from our Father in heaven while paying the price for our sins. Luke describes Jesus’ return to his disciples after his resurrection reminding them and assuring them of his fulfillment of the scriptures.  

Yesterday’s Devotional: You Search the Scriptures