Jesus Completed His Mission: He FULFILLED the Law and the Prophets

Christ's disciples were bewildered by his arrest, trial, crucifixion, death, and burial. They had expected him to restore David's throne over Israel. In short, they hadn't really understood the things which he had been telling them about himself, and the things which would have to happen to him to fulfill those Scriptures.

After his resurrection, however, Christ made clear to his disciples just how he had fulfilled Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings of the Hebrew Scriptures (the only Scriptures extant at the time - there was NO New Testament then - the documents which would be a part of it had not even been written yet). In the Gospel of Luke, we read that Jesus addressed them in their sadness, and they didn't even know that it was him who was talking to them! They said: "You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days." (24:18, NLT) "What things?" Jesus asked. They answered: "The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,' they said. 'He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.'" (Verses 19-21) They went on to explain that some of their group had gone to this man's tomb and found it empty (verses 22-24).

Christ replied: "You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?' Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." (Verses 25-27) Did you catch that? Christ explained to his disciples how he had FULFILLED the Law and the prophets by showing them how those writings related/pointed to HIM! Even so, Luke tells us that they still didn't fully comprehend the extent to which those documents pointed to Christ. Finally, we are told that Jesus had to open their minds to understand what he was trying to explain to them. He said: "When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.' Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said, 'Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ You are witnesses of all these things." (Verses 44-48)

To be clear, early in his ministry, Christ had told his disciples that he had been sent to this earth to fulfill the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17). Jesus made clear to them that he had done just that - THAT HE HAD FULFILLED THE LAW, PROPHETS, AND WRITINGS OF THE HEBREW BIBLE! Indeed, EVERYTHING he had done during his time on earth (his obedience, ministry, death, burial, and resurrection) had fulfilled those Scriptures! In short, Jesus completed his mission - ALL was FULFILLED!