Reading the Bible consistently uncovers unexpected detail that delights, like noticing a small but meaningful flourish an artist inserted into a painting.
Biblical prophecy of the coming Messiah is woven throughout the Old Testament. Sometimes the prophecy is plainly obvious, as in Isaiah 53’s description of the Messiah taking the punishment due to us for our sin upon Himself, or Psalm 22 saying, “they have pierced my hands and my feet, and for my clothing they cast lots.”
But sometimes the prophecy is more subtle. In Psalm 41 David describes how his enemies plot against him and how one of his most trusted friends betrayed him:
Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. —Psalm 41:9
This tiny detail finds its fulfillment at the Last Supper, when Jesus announces that one of the disciples would betray Him. The disciple John (mentioning himself in third person), asks Jesus who it would be.
So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”—John 13:25-27
Jesus was the host of this Passover meal with the disciples. The host would dip a piece of bread into a bowl of gravy and offer it to an honored guest to sample.
Jesus offered the bread to the man that He knew was about to betray Him, Judas Iscariot. Jesus graciously extended honor to the very man who sold him out to death and in so doing, fulfilled one of the tiny details of the prophecies concerning Him.
If God can masterfully orchestrate with that precision, will He not carry out His plan for our lives with similar attention and love?