Master Minded Ministries Newsletter - May 2025
Prophecy and its role in the Last Week of Jesus Life
by Paster Dave McGarrah
For the first couple of centuries of the church, before Rome adopted Christianity as the official imperial religion, the leaders who defended the Gospel did so with two main sources of evidence. First, they pointed to the behavior of believers. Those who followed Jesus, they argued, lived lives of more character, paid their taxes, and followed the laws. Second, those pastors and bishops would point to the overwhelming amount of Old Testament prophecy fulfilled in Jesus. Modern Christianity rarely points to either, regrettably. The Gospel writers laced their storytelling with such commentary, especially Matthew.
Prophecy played a crucial role in the narrative of Jesus, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament. Old Testament prophecies, especially those about the Messiah, foretold Jesus' birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection, highlighting his fulfillment of God's promises. The New Testament then validates these prophecies as fulfilled in Jesus, solidifying his identity as the Messiah.
The gospel writers believed that the life, death and resurrection of Jesus was not a divine afterthought but was always God's design for dealing with human sin and rebellion. Hundreds of years before he was born, the prophecies showed that God had already planned to send Jesus. A mathematician and professor, Peter Stoner calculated the odds of just eight specific Messianic prophecies being fulfilled in Jesus as 1 in 100 quadrillion (next after trillion). Statistically, it’s what we would consider miraculous. Some apologists claim 300+ prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus, statistically beyond impossible.
Of course, not only are the following proof of God’s heavenly plan being fulfilled, possible only through the Lord’s work, but the Father also communicates his love and power to us through them. Here are some key Old Testament prophecies fulfilled during Passover Week.
Triumphal Entry: Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a donkey fulfills Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”which prophesies the king coming meekly on a colt.
The Last Supper: Isaiah 53 – The Passover. The Last Supper, where Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper, is a foreshadowing of his sacrifice and the establishment of the New Covenant. It is fulfilled in Mark 14.
Betrayal: Ps. 41:9 “Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.” Jesus lived this verse as a prophetic moment in John 13:18-27. While he ate the Passover with his disciples, he grieved and said, “One of you will betray me.” The disciples grew confused, and Christ identified the villain by dipping a piece of bread and handing it to Judas Iscariot, one of the main twelve disciples. Judas took the bread, and the Gospel says Satan entered him. Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” Judas’ betrayal of Jesus is a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.
Sold for 30 Pieces of Silver: Zechariah contains much about the coming Kingdom and Messiah. Zech 11:12-13 says, “So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter’—the handsome price at which they valued me!” Zechariah originally wrote about how much people devalued God’s redemptive shepherd, being fulfilled in his day and hundreds of years later in Jesus. The Jewish religious leaders had been looking for a way to arrest and kill Jesus. Judas went to the priests and betrayed Jesus for 30 silver coins, the exact amount mentioned by the Old Testament prophet. After Jesus’ arrest, Judas felt great remorse, realizing he “betrayed innocent blood.” He tried to return the money, but the priests refused what they called “blood money.” Judas threw the coins into the temple and left. The priests used it to buy a potter’s field to bury foreigners. Zechariah 11:12-13 as mentioned above. Every detail matched Zechariah’s prophecy: the amount, throwing the money, and finally using it to buy a potter’s field. Judas nor the priests acted randomly. Although they behaved and chose according to their hard hearts, God used their evil to prove his glory and power. God’s Word was fulfilled exactly. As it always will be.
Crucifixion and Burial: Psalms 22. Many verses in Psalm 22, such as "They have pierced my hands and my feet" (Psalm 22:16) and "I can count all my bones" (Psalm 22:17), are seen as prophecies about the manner of Jesus' crucifixion.
Jesus Was Pierced on the Cross: In another song from David, we get a verse about abuse very specific to Jesus. “They pierce my hands and feet.” Psalms 22:16. Amazingly, this was written centuries before crucifixion was even developed into a method of execution. While impalement is considered a precursor to crucifixion, scholars credit the Persian Empire with first using crucifixion, which was centuries after the writing of Psalm 22. David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, described a form of pain widely adopted by the Romans to strike fear and pain into conquered peoples. On Good Friday, Roman soldiers nailed Jesus to a cross, hammering spikes through his hands and feet. He suffered torture for hours before dying, but he rose again.
The Resurrection of Christ Both Psalms 16:10 and Isaiah 53 mention the resurrection of God’s Son, the Savior. After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples and showed them his hands and feet. Check out John 20:25-27. Thomas famously doubted Jesus was really alive and said, “Unless I see the nail marks on his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Jesus later appeared again and allowed Thomas to do just that, encouraging the disciples to believe.
God wants us to know about the future. This is just one of the significant reasons we should embrace and study the prophecies of the Bible.
Student Trip: Following the Footsteps of Paul
We had been anticipating March 14th, 2025, for what felt like ages. And by “we,” I mean the students who committed to being discipled and traveling with us to Israel. It all began back in the summer of 2022, when our grandson Carter came to me and said, “I think it’s my turn to go with you to Israel.” That simple statement got me thinking— maybe there were other students who would benefit from such a life-changing journey. December 2022, we hosted an informational meeting to gauge interest. To our amazement, 50 students showed up—many with their parents. That was the spark that started it all.
I laid out the vision:
We would disciple the students through the Word so their hearts and minds would be ready.
I committed to help raise $100,000 for the trip, on the condition that they committed to the discipleship journey and trusted God to work in them.
True commitment would require full participation.
And participate they did! We hosted fundraisers, including a powerful dinner drama in September 2023. The students performed Dark Road, a haunting Holocaust-era play, with help from some incredible parents. It was moving— emotional and deeply impactful. Then came October 7, 2023. The tragic attacks in Israel shocked the world—and our students. Suddenly, this wasn’t just a trip anymore. It was personal. The focus shifted from “our experience” to “how can we help?” The students stepped up. They looked for ways to support Israel, signed up with CUFI (Christians United for Israel), attended leadership conferences, and five even traveled to Washington, D.C., for the CUFI Summit. That summer, 50 Idahoans showed up at the Summit and made sure our senators and representatives heard us loud and clear. To say these students rose to the occasion is an understatement.
But the conflict in Israel meant our original travel plans had to change. We pivoted. That’s when the idea for a trip to Turkey and Greece was born—a journey in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul. A journey into the heart of cultural confrontation and Gospel expansion.
The plan came together. Miraculously, the funds were raised—praise God! We had 47 signed up and ready to go. By Christmas, we had the itinerary in hand, but it still felt like a dream. Then March 2 arrived. Our final meeting made it all real—packing tips, luggage tags, reminders, questions… and before we knew it, it was Friday, March 14, and we were headed to the airport.
We met in Seattle, checked in, and boarded our 8 p.m. flight—an 11.5-hour journey to Istanbul. It was a long night, but excitement carried us through. After landing, we caught another flight to Izmir, arriving around 10:30 p.m. It was a short night at the hotel before we were up again and off to Ephesus.
What a breathtaking introduction! Rolling green hills, fertile valleys, and vibrant crops. The beauty was surprising. It made us pause and consider what daily life is like for people living in Turkey today. One of our first stops was the small mountaintop house believed to be Mary’s. Surrounded by tourists and watched over by nuns who ensured no photos were taken, there was a sacred hush as we walked through. We imagined what her new life must have been like in a foreign land.
Ephesus itself was astonishing. Massive ruins told stories of wealth, worship, and community. Opulent homes, elegant gathering places, and the impressive façade of the ancient library stood as a testimony to the city’s grandeur. As a major port, Ephesus welcomed people from all over—bringing with them goods, ideas, and gods. We reflected on Paul, John, and young Timothy, who all spent time in Ephesus. Paul’s letters to Timothy came to life as we stood in the very place he once led. “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young,” Paul had written. Instead, be an example. That message still speaks today. Paul’s heart was for every believer to understand that God’s work in us is eternal. “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.” Sometimes we forget that it’s not just about us—it’s about generations to come. Paul’s life continues to bear fruit centuries later.
From Ephesus to Athens, Corinth, Thessaloniki, Philippi, and Istanbul, we saw the footprints of the Kingdom of Heaven. It didn’t always look familiar, but the evidence was there—lives transformed by the Word and passed down through generations until it reached us.
Our 47 travelers were incredible. Each person listened, learned, and absorbed the significance of what we saw. Sadly, much of what remains are ruins of a culture once immersed in paganism. The ancient temples now stand as silent witnesses to a world consumed by self indulgence—gods offering love, money, health, or pleasure to anyone who’d listen. It felt oddly familiar. My prayer is that this journey planted something deep within our students and their parents—a clearer understanding of who it is we serve and love. The gods of today may wear different faces, but the call is the same. We must choose wisely. To everyone who prayed, gave, supported, and encouraged us along the way—thank you. You’ve shown these students that they matter. That their faith matters. And for that, we are eternally grateful.
With heartfelt thanks, from all 47 of us on the journey of a lifetime.
Events And Opportunities
As we look ahead at the year, we would like to let you know what we are offering so you may want to partner with us and see what God is doing.
June 29 through July 1, 2025 - the CUFI Washington DC Summit. We have committed ourselves to advocating for Israel and the Jewish people to our elected officials. If you believe that our country should stand up against antisemitism and the “Jew hatred” that is growing, then come stand with us. CUFI offers a great education, tremendous speakers and accommodations. Last year, Idaho had 50 folks show up - the greatest yet on our watch!. We have some amazing students who are participating as high school and now college students.
Our weekly Tuesday Night Live (TNL)Bible studiy is growing! We. meet at Nampa Christian School where each week Pastor Dave brings a current events update and then an indepth Bible study with fellowship in the middle. This has been geared for folks who want more information about the Jewish roots of our faith.. The Teacher and the Preacher weekly radio and podcasts are reaching out through 56 stations throughout the US and we are hearing from our listeners regularly. Each session is filled with information but also great insights from both of our guys.
Our next Biblical Journey Tour will be October 10-20. You can go to Mastermindedministries.org and find the itinerary and opportunity to sign up. We are calling this one, Walking in the footsteps of Abraham. We’ll be seeing places we’ve never taken people before and you will understand the Bible like you’ve never realized it before. We have a specified number of seats so you may want to sign up sooner rather than later because when we’re full, we’re full!
Our bi-monthly newsletter continues to connect you to our activities and our teachings with great insights and information. We love to keep you updated on all the things the God is showing us, and how He leads us.
Our Master Minded Student Ministries. We really seek to engage our next generations to deeper spiritual insights and the roots of our faith, both Jewish and Christian. We have been offering scholarships to help them participate from trips to sponsorships with CUFI.
Reflections of the Year
Master Minded Ministries fiscal year runs from March to February. So, as of March 1 we are reviewing the past year. As we’ve pulled up the reports it’s staggering to see what happened this year and not be overwhelmed at the goodness of God. It’s watching the Lord fulfill Himself through His people. Each month we are able to pay over $6000 for all the radio costs. (Some months have more Sundays than others).
Then last year we spent right at $50,000 for various ministry projects to support Israel during the wartime. We sent right at $120,000 to Friendly Planet for the student trip to Turkey and Greece. All this to say, what God began in 2008 with MMM, He is doing incredibly more than anything we could ever have imagined! All that’s left to say is a huge THANK YOU! and Praise God!!
About Masterminded Ministries
Discovering the Jewish Roots of Christianity
Master Minded Ministries became a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in 2008 as a result of our growing love to help Christians understand the Jewish roots of our faith. From the beginning we have felt the Presence of God. From that date we started putting together a newsletter to be able to share some insights and opportunities. We had been taking people to Israel with us each year and had a great time helping our friends really see and experience the land and the people of Israel. It has always been a very exceptional time and has even expanded in these more recent years. Shortly after becoming an official ministry, The Teacher and The Preacher began to air on KPDQ in Portland, Oregon, with our dearest friend and teacher Charlie Schiffman and Pastor Dave diving into the deeper topics of our Jewish roots. The conversation has taken on an arena that we never imagined. From conversations to guests that joined the conversation, each week held another surprise. Unfortunately, Charlie passed away in July of 2015. He is greatly missed, but God has continued to be faithful to the ongoing work that he and Pastor Dave began and we have been joined by two great
Jewish voices that have helped to continue the work. Harold Berman joined Dave for a brief time and then more recently Aaron Lipkin has become the partner in ministry. During these past 2 years of war, Aaron has been called up to leadership in the IDF and serves in his own area in Samaria. Aaron has an extensive background in exploration, helping to identify Joshua’s Altar on Mount Ebal and many other sites in the Judean hills of Israel.
You will notice that we will not be using the words of the media - West Bank, Palestine and such, because we believe that all of Israel belongs to Israel and regardless of biased ideologies, we will follow God’s Word that what God promised, He continues to fulfill to His people.
Thank you for your interest and support. The facts remain that God is going to accomplish what He wants to accomplish and through His children both those who are born in to the family and those who are grafted in, we walk in obedience to what He calls us to do.
Our promise to you is that we endeavor to be faithful servants of the King of Kings and hopefully bring enlightenment to the world He puts us in.
Any donation of support goes to this work and supports the education and printing of material, special guests and events. It also supports special scholarships to those who want to travel with us including pastors and students. In March we have 47 students and parents traveling to learn about the work of Paul and John. We air our Teacher and the Preacher program on 25 stations around the US and have a link to podcasts with more messages of Biblical insights. We invite you to join us as we watch God bring the two together to shine His light on the deeper things of God.
You’re welcome to contact us on our website:
MasterMindedMinistries.org or TheTeacherandThePreacher.com
or mail to Master Minded Ministries
PO Box 127
Huston, ID 83630
