Prophesy

Prophesy. Prophesy is a strange word, and a stranger command: “Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, saying, ‘Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?’” (Matt. 26:67-68). The noun form is less strange, prophecy, but not entirely familiar either. How does one play the prophet or occupy the office of soothsayer except in some dark version of a dog-and-pony-show meant to entertain sadists? In effect, these thugs were not seeking information, they were seeking humiliation. They were hell-bent, in the most literal sense, on knocking Jesus down a few pegs. All week in Jerusalem, Jesus was being publicly venerated as the Prophet who is like but much greater than Moses in terms of authority (Deut. 18:15). Moses spoke for God, but the Prophet after Moses will speak as God (Deut. 18:18). In effect, they demand: Prove it, Prophet! Tell us what God reveals about a hidden subject, whether it be the future, or what is happening in the next room, or which assailant struck a blindfolded detainee (Mark 14:65; Luke 22:64).

The original promise of the Prophet after Moses contained a capital offense clause, either against the one who refused to listen to the Prophet, or against the so-called prophet who claimed that office illegitimately. “And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die” (Deut. 18:19-20). This is high stakes poker! The temple guards are calling out what they think is Jesus’ bluff, but it is they who are in mortal danger as they scorn the Savior. Jesus does not answer them. He will not. He has said enough.

What is remarkable, however, is what is happening outside that interrogation room. Prophecy is happening, but not in response to the guards’ command to prophesy. Judas, who shared the previous night’s supper with Jesus, has done exactly as Jesus prophesied by betraying him. “What you are going to do, do quickly” (John 13:27). Peter, who could not keep prayerful vigil with Jesus, has lunged toward temptation, exactly as Jesus prophesied. “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation” (Matt. 26:41). All the disciples fled when Jesus was arrested, exactly as Jesus prophesied (Zech. 13:7; Matt. 26:31). And most prominently, in the very courtyard outside Jesus’ illegal trial, Peter was actively denying the Lord three times, exactly as Jesus prophesied. “Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you mean" (Matt. 26:69-70). “And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:61-62).

Prophesy to us, you Christ, who is it that struck you? Judas struck Jesus. Peter struck Jesus. All the disciples struck Jesus. I struck Jesus. You struck Jesus. We struck Jesus in ways that hurt far more than the slaps of the high priest’s hitmen, exactly as Jesus prophesied.