Jesus Predicts His Death Again

Scripture: Matthew 20:17-19 (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)

17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. 18 “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. 19 Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” (Matthew 20:17–19 NLT)

The first time Jesus predicted his death (Matthew 16:21), his message to his disciples was that at some point he would go to Jerusalem, suffer many things at the hands of the Jewish elders, leading priests, and teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day, raised from death. At this point he challenges his disciples, “If you truly want to be my disciple, you must take up your cross and follow me!” The second time Jesus predicted his death, (Matthew 17:22-23), he added that he would be betrayed into the hands of his enemies and killed, but he would be raised from death on the third day.

This third time Jesus predicts his death, he tells his followers that on this visit to Jerusalem, he will be betrayed to the leading priests and teachers of the law and they will sentence him to die. But because they don’t have authority to execute him, they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, whipped, and crucified. But on the third day, he will be raised from death. You can see that he sees more detail of what will happen and how it will happen each time he speaks about it to his disciples.

My point here is that Jesus couldn’t read his life from a pre-written script. Jesus was watching, learning, listening to the voices around him and listening to the Holy Spirit who guided and empowered him. He was observing the rapidly hardening attitude of his enemies, he was going to Jerusalem for Passover, he was guided by the Spirit, and he knew this was to be the time of his death, burial, and resurrection.

I rejoice not only in the divinity of Jesus Christ the Son of God, I rejoice in the humanity of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Man, who was led by the same Holy Spirit he has made available to us.

Prayer:

Father, Thanks for the example of Jesus and thanks for giving us the same Holy Spirit who guided Jesus through the challenges and joys of his life! May we faithfully follow!