 Throughout this class, we have explored Matthew’s use of how Old Testament prophecies point to Jesus.  We’ll do that tonight (Matthew 26:31/Zechariah 13:7).  However, tonight we also have the opportunity to see Jesus, the Messiah, has a prophet.  In our passage, Jesus makes two prophecies.  It’s no surprise, but both of His prophecies take place just as He had said.

MATTHEW 26:31-35

 In context, this is immediately after the Last Supper.  Jesus has just instituted the Lord’s Supper (vv 26-29).  Jesus and His disciples have sung a hymn and have gone out to the Mount of Olives (v 30).  Throughout Matthew 26, Jesus has predicted His coming death.  Verses 18, 21, 24, 28.  The disciples should have understood at this point.

 In Luke (22:31-31) and in John (13:36-38), this conversation took place while Jesus and the disciples are still in the upper room.  Matthew and Mark both change the order.  The purpose of changing the chronological order seems to be to demonstrate the gravity of the situation.  Jesus knows that His time is at hand.  Even His closest disciples are going to desert Him.

 Jesus’ arrest and the disciples’ desertion are very close – “this night.”  Jesus’ arrest would be a cause of offense/stumbling block for the disciples.  How did Jesus’ arrest cause the disciples to stumble?  Do people still stumble because of Jesus?  Do we sometimes stumble because of Jesus?  How might we stumble because of Jesus?  How could we keep ourselves from stumbling because of Him?

 Jesus uses Zechariah 13:7 to demonstrate that what is about to happen was known by God for all of eternity.  Sometimes the question is asked, “Did prophets prophesy because God knew what was going to happen, or did the prophecies come true because God caused them?”  It seems this is a case where we know that God used prophets to predict what would happen.  God wouldn’t cause someone to stumble.

ZECHARIAH 13:1-7

 This text certainly seems Messianic to its core.  The prophet speaks about the prevalence of apostasy, and that God will cut off about two-thirds of the land.  Yet, there will be a remnant (“one-third shall be left in [the land]” (v 8).  The disciples seem to form the core of the remnant who would remain.  Do the religious leaders of Jesus’ day stand for those who would apostatize?

 When the Shepherd is struck, the sheep will scatter.  Why would the sheep scatter?  Why is a shepherd so important?  How is Jesus a shepherd?  “I am the good shepherd” (Jn 10:11).  “When the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away” (1 Pet 5:4).  How do we follow Jesus as our Shepherd?

 It’s interesting to note that Jesus here makes a prediction about what’s going to happen with the disciples.  Jesus has supernatural knowledge about what is to occur and how His disciples are going to act.  Does Jesus still have supernatural knowledge?  Does He know how you are going to act?  How should Jesus’ knowledge impact the way that we live?

 Jesus promised that after he was raised, He would go before the disciples to Galilee.  Matthew 28:  This statement would give the disciples hope and direction.  Jesus wasn’t going to remain dead; He would be raised.  The disciples had direction/purpose.  They were to meet Jesus in Galilee.  From there, Jesus would send them all over the world.  Doesn’t Jesus still give us direction/purpose?

 Peter boldly says that even if every other disciple stumbles because of Jesus, he never will.  Where did Peter get his arrogance?  What did his arrogance cost him?  What does arrogance cost us?

 Before the rooster crows, Peter would deny Jesus three times.  What’s the significance of the rooster crowing?  The significance seems to be that Peter would deny Jesus that very night.  Rooster crow in the morning, and this discourse is likely taking place late at night.  We know that Jesus’ prediction took place just as He had promised (Matt 26:69-75).