In Fulfillment: Biblical Audio Drama

Jesus enters Jerusalem and calls the disciples to follow him. One prophecy from the Old Testament is fulfilled: Zechariah 9: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O Daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Jesus clears the temple, Caiaphas and the Elders plot to capture and arrest Jesus, and Jesus eats the Passover meal with the Apostles. Two prophecies from the Old Testament of the Bible are fulfilled: Isaiah 56: These I will bring to my holy mountain, and them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. Psalm 31: I hear the whispering of many – terror on every side! – as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.

Caiaphas, the High Priests, and the Elders are on their way to arrest Jesus, bringing an army with them. Peter is found in the courtyard during Jesus's first trial, Jesus is tried and convicted, Barabbas is released from prison, and Jesus is crucified, and buried. Two prophecies from the Old Testament are fulfilled: Zechariah 11: Then I said to them, "If it seems good to you, give me my wages, but if not, keep them." And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver. Then the Lord said to me, "Throw it to the potter" – the lordly price at which I was priced by them. So, I took thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord, to the potter. Zechariah 13: "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me," declares the Lord of hosts. "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones."

Six prophecies are fulfilled: Isaiah 53: He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. Zechariah 12: When they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. Isaiah 53: He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one form whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not… But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities… and by his wounds we are healed. Psalm 22: All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; "He trusts in the Lord," they say, "let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, for he delights in him." Psalm 34: He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken. Zechariah 12: And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly, as one weeps over a firstborn.

Mary Magdalene, Salome, and Mary the mother of James visit Jesus's tomb to find a surprise waiting inside. Two prophecies from the Old Testament of the Bible are fulfilled: Psalm 118: I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord. The Lord has disciplined me severely. But he has not given me over to death. Job 19: Oh, that my words were written! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book! Oh, that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever! For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at last he will stand upon the earth.

Jesus sends his promise to Earth and everyone living on it. Two prophecies from the Old Testament of the Bible are fulfilled: Psalm 68: You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God my dwell there. Joel 2: And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days, I will pour out my Spirit.

The Magi find Jesus, give him gifts, and flee from Herod's wrath. Herod throws a fit, and Jesus and his family take flight to safety in Egypt.  Four prophecies are fulfilled:  Isaiah 60: And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.  Jeremiah 31: Thus says the Lord: 'A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.'  Hosea 11: I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.  Psalm 72: May desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust! May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! 

Simeon finally meets Jesus, the Magi visit the bustling Jerusalem marketplace, and the Magi ask Herod some questions.  Three prophecies are fulfilled:  Isaiah 49: I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.   2 Samuel 7: When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.  Numbers 24: I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. 

The shepherds finally find Jesus and they share the good news with the rest of Bethlehem. While the good news spreads across the town, Mary, Jesus, and Joseph rest.   Jeremiah 23: Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: The Lord is our righteousness.  Genesis 28: Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.  Micah 5: But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from old, from ancient days… And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.   

Joseph deals with a dilemma, Caesar Augustus creates a new edict, Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem, Jesus is born, and the Heavenly Hosts announce the joyous news about Jesus' birth to all in Bethlehem.  Three prophecies are fulfilled:  Isaiah 7: Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.  Isaiah 42: I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations.  Isaiah 9: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders, and He will be called 'Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.' Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness form that time on and forever.