Hung on a Tree

"If someone has committed a crime worthy of death and is executed and hung on a tree, the body must not remain hanging from the tree overnight. You must bury the body that same day, for anyone who is hung is cursed in the sight of God. In this way, you will prevent the defilement of the land the LORD your God is giving you as your special possession. (Deuteronomy 21:22-23 NLT)
 

It was nearly 1500 years before Jesus would be born.  The Roman Empire didn't exist.  Death by crucifixion was not a part of the culture.  Yet God implemented a rule that would serve as an integral part of His plan for us. We would know that Jesus is the One who came to save the world by this sign:

For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. (Matthew 12:40 NLT)

When Jesus was executed, he could have been left there for the birds to feast upon.  But this Law made it impossible for the Jewish leaders to leave him hanging there.

It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn't want the bodies hanging there the next day...So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down.  (John 19:31 NLT)

When they got to Jesus, there was no need to break his legs.  He was already dead.  So, the soldiers pierced his side and blood & water flowed.  He was dead.

Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock. This was done late on Friday afternoon, the day of preparation, as the Sabbath was about to begin. (Luke 23:53-54 NLT)

The prophecy fulfillment would begin.  When Jesus rose from the dead, he proved that he was who he claimed to be.  He proved that he was the Messiah, the Christ.  He proved that he was the Son of God.  He proved that He was God.  Not only that, he showed us the significance of his death that day.

But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When He was hung on the cross, He took upon Himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." (Galatians 3:13 NLT)

A fifteen hundred year old law...  God you amaze me.