Jesus said: “They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified.
On the third day he will be raised to life!” Matthew 20:18,19
TOPIC: Jesus forewarned his followers about his death and resurrection.
BACKGROUND: Jesus’ death should not have taken his followers by surprise. Several times he warned them that it was coming, yet they could never grasp its importance.
We seldom realize how important Jesus’ death and resurrection were to the gospel writers. Matthew begins Jesus’ Passion Week already in chapter 21 of 28 chapters. Mark tells of his triumphal entry in chapter 11 of 16 chapters; Luke in chapter 19 of 24. And John spends the last 10 chapters, nearly half his book, on the last week of Jesus’ life. In other words, nearly one-third of the gospels concentrate on Jesus’ final days. That was by far the centerpiece for each writer.
Jesus was well aware that his purpose as the Son of Man was to sacrifice himself on the cross to pay the price necessary for our salvation, and he would rise again from the dead to show his victory over sin and death. That is why he repeatedly explained to his followers in detail what was about to happen. Notice: Mark 8:31, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.” Mark 9:31, “They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” And again in Mark 10:32-34, “The Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
Jesus willingly suffered and died for each of us. Our works, riches, or obedient life could not pay the price. How grateful we are that God had us in his plans all along. Jesus’ death and resurrection must be our centerpiece as well!
PRAYER THOUGHT: by Eric G. Geijer
Thy cross to victory Thou didst bear; oh, grant that I, dear Savior,
May glory in the cross and share Thy heavenly joy and favor!
Then shall my soul have reached its goal, safe in Thy loving bosom. Amen.
PAUL WRITES ABOUT JESUS: “Together you are the body of Christ. Each one of you is part of his body.” 1 Corinthians 12:27 CEV
From At the Feet of Jesus by Reynold R. Kremer