Day 36

Since it was the day of Preparation, in order to prevent the bodies from remaining on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with Him; but when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the scripture might be fulfilled, “Not a bone of Him shall be broken.” And again another scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they have pierced.” John 19:31-37 (From the Gospel of the Vespers on Good Friday Afternoon)

Prophecy: a prediction of something that will come to pass. Today’s gospel passage talks about prophecy, specifically prophecies that pointed to a coming Messiah; that pointed to Jesus Christ.

In the Orthodox Church there are 4 major prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. There are also a number of minor prophets, Hosea, Micah, Habakkuk to name a few. The one thing they all had in common was that they spoke for God. As we read in Deuteronomy “I will put my words in his mouth and he will speak to them all that I command him."

The scripture passage above refers specifically to Jesus’ crucifixion. As Fr. Stavros points out, the Passover of the Old Testament becomes fulfilled in Christ, as He becomes the “new” Passover. It is in this fulfillment, that our faith is founded.

One of the more unique things about Jesus Christ and His ministry here on earth was the understanding that He was the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. Jesus’ words and teachings during His public ministry fulfilled the Law of the Old Testament. His actions, especially during His Passion, crucifixion and death, fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament.

The understanding of this fulfillment lays the foundation for our faith and the path of our salvation. We have talked about the understanding of a thread of salvation that has been woven since the creation of man. Jesus becomes the culmination, the end of this thread. Why? Because He fulfills all things.

The Church teaches us that prophecy has ended with St. John the Baptist. “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight." These words of St. John from the Gospel of Matthew begin our understanding of how Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the second person of the Holy Trinity, is indeed He who was spoken of by the prophets. He is indeed the Messiah, the anointed one, the Christ.

He indeed was the kingdom of heaven that was at hand.

In Christ

Fr. David