Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written [by the prophet Zechariah]. (Matthew 26:31, NIV 1984).
“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!” declares the Lord Almighty. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.” (Zechariah 13:7, NIV 1984).
“Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” Then everyone deserted him and fled. (Mark 14:48–50, NIV 1984).
My Musings – “In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah.” (Zechariah 7:1, NIV 1984). This dates the prophecy to around 487 B.C.
A false Messiah would likely have intended to be “leading a rebellion” with the expectation that He would not be betrayed by one of them (Judas) and that the others would desert him. Jesus knew all this and pressed on knowing that it would result in His crucifixion. Because “[His] kingdom is not of this world. If it were, [His] servants would fight to prevent [His] arrest by the Jews. But now [His] kingdom is from another place.” (John 18:36, NIV 1984).
My Advice – Which is better? A kingdom of “this world” that like all kingdoms will eventually fall? And we will die no matter how long it lasted. Or a Kingdom “from another place” that will last forever and where we will live forever? A Kingdom where “the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:3–4, NIV 1984).
It’s not a magic Kingdom. It’s the Messiah’s Kingdom. With free admission to all who place their faith in Jesus. If we are wise, we will go to this Shepherd instead of fleeing from Him.
The Brew Is A Musing 