Jesus was Accused by False Witnesses (Ps. 35:11; ref. Mark 14:57-58)

The ministry of the Messiah was well planned by God the Father even before He sent His Son to this world. Everything that would happen to Christ had been pre-ordained by the Lord. Thus when Jesus Christ came to this world, He was obliged to do what His father had commanded Him. His mission was to please His Father in the things He had planned for the redemption of the wretched man.

The life and death of Jesus had been programmed by God. Everything Jesus did must be acceptable and according to the Father’s wish and nothing could happen to His Son without the foreknowledge of God the Father. In fact when the New Testament books record the life of Jesus Christ, they give strong support to the fact that even the false witnesses against the ministry and works of Jesus was recorded. Mark 14:57-58 said, “And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and with three days I will build another made without hands.”

The content of this verse is not contrary to what Jesus proclaimed during His preaching and teaching sessions. It is true that Jesus did say, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). Nevertheless, what Jesus said here refers to His body and not to the temple building or the sanctuary. Jesus never said that He would destroy the Sanctuary. But the unbelieving Jews were blind and could not understand what Jesus had said. To them what Jesus meant was that Jesus would truly destroy the sanctuary and in three days He would rebuild it. However, Mark emphasized in his gospel that what these people had claimed were actually false witnesses against the Messiah.

Although Jesus Christ did nothing wrong, the chief priest and all the members of the council looked for witnesses against Jesus to put him to death (Mark 14:54). After all, they could not find any fault in Him; in fact those false witnesses did not agree with each other (Mark 14:55). The Psalmist said in Ps. 35:11, “False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.” Everything that had been predicted concerning the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, must be fulfilled as seen in this passage.

Jesus was Betrayed for Thirty Pieces of Silver (Zech. 11:12; ref. Matt. 26:14-15)

For the second time, the scripture records how the Messiah would be betrayed in His first coming. In Psalm 41:9, He was betrayed by His close friend or disciple, while the prophet Zechariah gave details of how His disciple would betray Him. Both the Psalmist and Zechariah were referring to the same person. And these passages were given to the Old Testament believers that they might anticipate and know what would happen to the Messiah in His first coming.

What did the prophet Zechariah prophesy concerning the betrayal of the Messiah? He said, “And I said unto them, if ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver” (Zech. 11:12). This verse is talking about the value of the Messiah sold by his disciple to those who had been appointed by the Lord to fulfill what was recorded in the scriptures. The prophet Zechariah was chosen by God to be one of prophets to reveal the truth to the Old Testament believers concerning both the first and second coming of the Messiah.

The first coming of the Messiah was not to set up His kingdom but rather He was appointed to be a servant, who would bear the sufferings, and the sins of the world and redeem man by His death at the cross. His forth-coming crucifixion was very clearly proclaimed in His preachings before the multitudes and in particular among His disciples. In fact Jesus Christ said that one of the disciples would betray Him. This implied that the Lord Jesus Christ prepared the hearts of His disciples to accept what would happen to Him as recorded in the scriptures.

The crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ would not be fulfilled except being preceded by the betrayal of His own disciples. Matthew recorded the account of how Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus Christ. “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver” (Matt. 26:14, 15). Judas Iscariot went to the chief priest, the main enemies of Jesus, asking how much they would give him for betraying his own Master. What Judas Iscariot had done here is proof of his avarice, even selling His own Master for thirty pieces of silver. Lockyer said, “What an illustration of false values we have in this bargain Judas struck with those who wanted to murder his Master! What a measly sum to pay for Him Who declared that all the silver and the gold belonged to Him, and whose price is above rubies!”

Whatever reason Judas had for betraying his own Master, the scripture recorded that it was prophesied in the Old Testament that everything that had been written must be fulfilled for the glory of the Lord.

Jesus was Betrayed by a Close Friend (Ps. 41:9; ref. Luke 22:47-48)

The prophecies in the Old Testament concerning the first coming of the Messiah not only related the lineage, birth, life and ministry of the Messiah, but also provided clear descriptions of the death and crucifixion of Christ. This implies that the life which Christ led in this world was not accidental but was well planned by God the Father. Even the Old Testament believers were able to see what Christ would do and undergo when He came to this world.

Psalm 41:9 is one of the passages in the Old Testament that gives an account of who would betray the Messiah. The Psalmist wrote, “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.” In other words, it was not only those who were in His own household who would reject Him but also the person who was with him, having meal and drink with Him at His table who would betray Him. And the Psalmist emphasized the idea in this verse that the person who would lift up his heel against Him would be the one whom he called His close friend and who lived with Him.

Although David was speaking of himself in this Psalm, nonetheless, he presented the person of Christ. What was begun in David would be fully accomplished in Christ. The prophecy given to those chosen of God in the Old Testament would be fully fulfilled in the appointed time of the Lord.

Who was the betrayer mentioned in Psalm 41:9? The Old Testament believers absolutely did not know the name of the person, but it was known that he was one of the Messiah’s close friends. The New Testament books record that the person who was prophesied to betray the Lord Jesus Christ was Judas Iscariot. He was truly a very close friend of Jesus for he was His own disciple, one who heard all the teachings and saw all the miracles of Christ. He was chosen to play the role of the betrayer as a fulfillment of scripture. John the apostle recorded in his gospel, “I know whom I have chosen; but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me, hath lift up his heel against me” (John 13:18).

Although Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve Disciples of Christ and was always with Him and even served together with other apostles, he never believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. His heart was hardened and he was used as an instrument of the Devil to betray the Lord Jesus Christ. Lockyer rightly said, “Although chosen as an apostle, Judas could never have had a deep love in his heart for Jesus; otherwise he would never have heartlessly betrayed Him as he did. No wonder that, after he realized the enormity of his foul deed, he committed suicide.” With the help of Judas Iscariot, the Jews nailed the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. But Jesus Christ knew all these things happened to fulfill what was recorded in the Scripture.

Jesus was Adored by the Children (Ps. 8:2; ref. Matt. 21:15-16)

Every detail of the first coming of the Messiah is well recorded in the Old Testament books. The prophecy given by the Psalmist concerning the ministry of the Messiah in Psalm 8:2 is indeed for the praise of the Lord Jesus Christ. When the Psalmist wrote “Out of the mouth of the babes and sucklings has thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger,” shows that the Lord can do anything in order to glorify His Son, Jesus Christ. The Lord can open the mouth of babes and the suckling to proclaim the truth and speak against the unbelieving leaders of the Jews.

There is no doubt that what the Psalmist prophesied here has been truly fulfilled during the ministry of Jesus Christ. Matthew wrote, “And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, and said unto him, Hearest thou these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never heard, out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou has perfected praise” (Matt. 21:15-16). When the chief priests and scribes heard the shouting of the children, they considered it as blasphemy against God, for in the temple they called Jesus the Son of David. They tried to stop the children but the Lord Jesus allowed them to continue by quoting what the Psalmist had written concerning this event.

The shouting of the children, “Hosanna to the Son of David” was apparently an echo of the crowds who shouted “Hosannas” when Christ entered Jerusalem. Nevertheless, in all probability the Hosannas of the children were far more pure in Spirit than those of the older people. Thus it is absolutely right to say that God is also using the shouting of the children for His own glory.

The Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ

Again and again, the Old Testament prophets had prophesied about the things that the Messiah would do when He would come in His first coming. Now the prophet Zechariah prophesied concerning the ministry of the Messiah and in particular about His triumphal entry to the city of Jerusalem. Zechariah gave a word of comfort to the Jews who were waiting for their King. He said, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, o daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy king cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass” (Zech. 9:9).

With regard to this verse, there are three important things which we should take note of. Calvin rightly commented, "The sum of the whole is, that the prediction by which God gave to his chosen people a hope of redemption were not vain or void; for at length in due time Christ, the son of David, would come forth, - Secondly, that this king would be just, and saved or preserved; for he would restore things into order which were in a disgraceful state of confusion, - and thirdly, he adds, that this king would be poor; for he would ride on an ass, and would not appear in great eminence, nor be distinguished for arms, or for riches, or for splendour, or for number of soldiers, or even for royal trappings which dazzle the eyes of the vulgar: he shall ride on an ass."
This is to say that the prophecy of Zechariah reveals that the Messiah would be a King when He enters Jerusalem. Nevertheless the last part of Zech. 9:9 shows that when the King comes He would be poor and riding on an ass.

When Mark recorded the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem, he emphasised that Jesus was sitting upon a colt (Mark 11:7). Therefore when the people saw Jesus, they shouted, “Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Mark 11:9). They knew that Jesus was the one prophesied by Zechariah. Nevertheless soon after this event, the Jews were waiting for Jesus to bring victory and liberty to the nation of Israel as a King appointed by God. When they realised that Jesus did not do as they wished, they rejected Him. Nonetheless, those who believed in Him knew that in His first coming, the Messiah would come as a poor and a servant. But in the Second Coming of Christ, He would come as a King who would fulfil what the Scripture said concerning Him.

Jesus Is The Priest After The Order Of Melchizedec

The prophecy of the second function of the threefold titles of the Lord Jesus Christ is expounded in a very distinctive way. Earlier on He was described as a Prophet (Deut. 18:15), and here as a Priest. The Old Testament priesthood is disputable for as a priest, he must be from the line of Aaron, the Levite. This is an absolute truth given to the nation of Israel. It is the commandment of the Lord.

A careful study of the Old Testament will show that the coming Messiah is definitely not from the line of Levite. The Messiah is from the line of Judah, the line of kingship for Israel. Old Testament history records that there has never occurred in the history of Israel a priest from the line of Judah. It was from only the line of Aaron, the Levite appointed by God, that the line of priesthood came. Anyone who tried to take the position of priesthood other than those from the line of Aaron was an abomination to the Lord.

However, a study of Ps. 110:4 that says, “The Lord hat sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek,” shows a special characteristic of the coming priest. First, He is “a priest for ever.” There was never such a priest from the line of Aaron. Every priest in the Old Testament was limited by time and none was forever. And second, He is a priest “after the order of Melchizedek.” In the whole of scripture, the name of Melchizedek is mentioned only on three occasions namely in Gen. 14:18-20; Ps. 110:4 and Heb. 5:5-10, 6:19-7:28. Apart from these passages, the scripture says nothing about him. And it is important to take note that Aaronic priesthood was never referred to as after the order of Melchizedek.

Long before Aaron was appointed High Priest, Melchizedek was. Gen. 14:18-20 records that Abraham acknowledged Melchizedek as a high priest to whom he offered a tithe. His priesthood was most special and the Scriptures do not record from which line he had come. Nevertheless, the Psalmist shows that the coming Priest was from the order of Melchizedek.

In addition, Gen. 14:18-20 explains that Melchizedek was the only priest who had ever lived that held a position of both priest and King. He was a unique priest and king. Thus, when the Psalmist said, “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek,” truly, the coming Priest, the Messiah would follow the order of Melchizedek, for Melchizedek was a type of Christ.

When the writer of the book of Hebrews in Heb. 5:5-6 quoted the prophecy of the Psalmist, he added the idea of Sonship to the priesthood. In other words, he did see that the Christ who is the Son of God would be called also a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. As Barnes rightly opines, "To say that he was of the same order of Melchicedec was to say that he was of the same rank or station. He was like him in his designation to the office. In what respect he was like him the apostle shows more fully in [Hebrews] chapter vii. One particular in which there was a striking resemblance, which did not exist between Christ and any other high-priest, was, that Melchisedec was both a priest and a king. None of the kings of the Jews were priest, nor were any of the priests ever elevated to the office of king. But in Melchisedec these offices were united, and this fact constituted a striking resemblance between him and the Lord Jesus. . . . The meaning, is that Melchisedec was of a peculiar rank or order, that he was not numbered with the Levitical priests, and that there were important features in his office which differed from theirs. In those features it was distinctly predicted that the Messiah would resemble him."

Jesus was Rejected By His Own People, The Jews

The life and ministry of Jesus Christ were well documented and prophesied in the Old Testament. Various books of the Old Testament give indisputable information on the first coming of the Messiah, beginning from the book of Genesis right through to the book of Malachi. Prophet Isaiah in particular provides an excellent account of the first coming of the Messiah. He begins with the birth of the Messiah (Is. 7:14) and continues right through with the suffering that the Messiah would bear in His first coming (Is. 53).

The Jews were overwhelmed by the idea of the coming of the Messiah. They knew that “His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever” (Is. 9:6-7). This prophecy occupied the minds of the Jews to the extent that they could not differentiate the first coming from the second coming of the Messiah. What Isaiah said in Is. 9:6-7 would certainly be fulfilled by the Messiah, but would not be a hundred percent so in His first coming. The Jews did not have any idea of the Messiah coming in two great periods. What they knew was that Christ would come as a King to bring victory and liberty to the nation of Israel. But the Jews made a great mistake on this issue, for they did not realize that the Messiah would come first in the form of a servant. He was a suffering servant.

The prophet Isaiah in his writings in Is. 53:3 said, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief: and we hid as if were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” The Jews could not understand or accept this verse. Whatever reason these may be, prophet Isaiah prophesied the suffering of the Messiah in His first coming.

This prophecy was fulfilled during the life of Christ. When He came to this world to bring victory of salvation, He was despised, mocked and rejected by His people. The Jews were supposed to know this truth beforehand, for they had been chosen by God to be the nation from which the Messiah would come. But the Jews could not see the real function of the Messiah in His first coming. They were blinded by their sins. John the apostle recorded that when Jesus Christ came unto His own, they reject Him (John 1:11). Calvin rightly said, “Christ therefore first offered Himself to them as if they were His own household and belonged to His kingdom in their own right.” Nevertheless the Jews could not see the light and rejected their Saviour.” As Keil added, "The nation, which acknowledges with penitence how shamefully it has mistaken its own Saviour, laments that it has put no faith in the tidings of the lofty and glorious calling of the servant of God. . . . The heathen receives with tidings of things which had never been heard of before; whereas Israel has to lament that it put no faith in the tidings which it had heard long, long before, not only with reference to the person and work of the servant of God, but with regard to His lowly origin and glorious end."

Thus, when the Jews nailed the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, it was the final proof of their rejection of Him to be their Saviour. He was despised during His ministry and the last hours of His life on the cross. Nonetheless, Isaiah the prophet had prophesied the things that would be undergone by the Messiah before His death in His first coming.