I have received a number of emails asking whether the sermon I preached on Wednesday, March 22, at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana might be posted. Also, last night on the “Law and Gospel” radio program, I shared the kind of thinking that went into this particular sermon. You can listen to the archive of that program by going to the AM 850 KFUO website at kfuo.org and click on Law and Gospel listening to the March 23 broadcast. You can also access the site by clicking the radio link found on this blog. The title of the sermon is “Scripture Fulfilled” and the text is Mark 14:49.

Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and our LORD Jesus Christ.

Two assignments face the preacher in sermon preparation. The first is to interpret the text; the second is to apply the text. Only to do the first may provide a great Bible study but no sermon. To skip the first and only do the second is to drive the train of evangelical principles of life until you reach the caboose and realize that the engine is at the other end.

Interpretation and Application. The first is the realm of the exegete with the principle of “Scripture interprets Scripture.” The second is the realm of the systematician with the principle of “Law and Gospel.” The systematician builds on the work of the exegete, not vice versa or else you end up with eisegesis, not exegesis. This is not to ignore the historian who keeps us from reinventing the wheel of applicable doctrine nor the practician who helps us to deliver the message in a way that can be heard by contemporary ears.

Some texts are difficult to interpret such as Paul’s reference to the “baptism of the dead” which at last count, had over 20 different understandings. All texts are difficult to apply because it necessitates the Holy Spirit and experience. For example, it’s easy to interpret Jesus’ words to the rich man that to inherit the kingdom of heaven he must give away all his goods and follow Him. However, the ridiculous application that comes about by those who imagine that this is a stewardship text can fill volumes.

The text assigned for today presents difficulty in both interpretation and application. The words are, “But the Scripture must be fulfilled.” First, how does one interpret or understand what that means? Though the original Greek is absent any quotations marks, we will forego the notion that these words are not those of Jesus but the writer Mark. Either way, the precise question is “What is the Scripture that is being fulfilled?”

The queen of exegesis is context, which means to expand your analysis to the surrounding verses, chapters and so forth. Perhaps the previous verse 48 will provide us with some insight as Jesus asks, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me?” This may be a reference to Isaiah 53(:12), “and He was numbered with the transgressors.” In fact, that sounds viable in light of Jesus’ own words at the Last Supper from Luke 22(:37), “For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.”

However, the phrase that “the Scriptures must be fulfilled” might instead refer to the next verse 50, “Then they all forsook Him and fled.” John, inspired by the Holy Spirit, attached the following to Jesus’ words in chapter 18(:8), “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”

Or…the fleeing of the disciples reminds us of Zechariah 13:7, “Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.” Jesus Himself makes that connection in Mark 14:27, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.”

Or…Jesus may be referring to the hour of power, and I’m not referring to the Schuller Glass Cathedral. We are speaking of our Lord’s words in Luke 22(:53), “When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your HOUR, and the POWER of darkness.”

“But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” How can one move from interpretation to application until we are clear as to which Scripture is being fulfilled? On the other hand, I’m prepared to plead a more radical notion that from Jesus’ point of view, there was very little in his Hife that could not be understood as a fulfillment of the Scriptures.

The passage that substantiates this concept is John 18:4, “Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, ‘Whom are you seeking?’” “That the Scriptures must be fulfilled” means more than isolated events such as being treated as a robber, not losing any of the elect, his disciples being scattered or the hundreds of other specific fulfillments of Old Testament prophecy.

“That the Scriptures must be fulfilled” always directs us to the heart of the supreme fulfillment as revealed by the prophet Isaiah (53:6), “and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Every other event is tangential to both mountain top experiences of the Golgotha cross and the Ascension into heaven of the resurrected Christ.

To conclude that Jesus knew all the details that would come upon Him as though He was omniscient in regard to the number of stripes, the number of steps to Calvary, the number of jeers He would receive, is to go too far. Rather, in His state of humiliation, though some details were specifically promised, He knew the outline of the required death. And that was sufficient to conclude that whatever happened to Him was part of the plan for the purpose that “All Scripture must be fulfilled.”

Which leads us to application. Superficial preaching of the Law to a congregation might accuse them of not realizing that their sins have been forgiven. Then the Gospel comes on board proclaiming loud and clear that the Scriptures have been fulfilled and your sins were laid on Him! Superficial, not because it is untrue, but because they have heard it a thousand times. What is required in every sermon is a radical, uncommonsensical, unique application of Law and Gospel that leaves the hearers saying among themselves, “We never heard that before.” Or, “He preaches with such authority.” So here goes. First—the Law.

Every Christian has experienced sleepless nights due to worry, tragic events, death of loved ones, yesterdays that cannot be forgotten, tomorrows that are feared. For those at a seminary, that could translate into concerns about grades, course work, spouse, vicarage, children, the first call, tenure, and the list continues. The Law does its work not only through accusation of sin but reminders of powerlessness, inadequacy, things out of our control.

How to apply the Gospel? Listen to the words again, “But the Scriptures must be fulfilled!” That verse does not just apply to Jesus Christ. It applies to every one of His disciples. That verse is FOR YOU. Like Jesus, you have an outline of the big picture but with even fewer of the details revealed. Our Lord’s big picture was the determined walk to the accursed tree to be forsaken by His Father. Your big picture is the determined walk to the tree of life to be welcomed by your Father.

Everything that occurs between your baptism and death can be regarded as the Scriptures being fulfilled. For what else are the Scriptures than the Word of God as revealed in the numerous promises from the Father to His beloved, both Christ and you? And we are not simply speaking of your baptism or receiving the Lord’s Supper as a fulfillment of the Scriptures. For the apostle Paul it included shipwrecks, famine, imprisonment and whippings—all for which He gave thanks to God.

For me the drive from Saint Louis to Fort Wayne to preach and teach is a fulfillment of the Scriptures because every promise from God is in effect and continually being fulfilled. God never left me nor forsook me. The Word I preach and teach will NOT return empty.

Yesterday was the ninth anniversary of the death of my second son Philip in a motorcycle accident. That was a fulfillment of the Word of God as found in holy Scripture, for God kept His promise and Phil is now with Jesus. If on the way back to Saint Louis today, I die in a car crash, the Scriptures must be fulfilled. Heaven will be getting filled with one more believer. On every believer’s tombstone it can be written, “The Scriptures continue to be fulfilled!”

What joy to realize that the promises of God in the Scriptures in regard to our Savior’s life continue in regard to your life. Though you may not have specific events prophecied, you, the elect, receive the fulfillment of every Gospel promise whether you deserve it or not. Now that’s something for which we can give thanks and praise, serve and believe. Amen.

May the promises from the Holy Trinity that simply surpass all understanding, continue to be fulfilled because of Jesus Christ our Lord forever and ever. Amen.