Jesus Predicts His Death A Second Time - Matthew 17:22-23
Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time
22 When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. 23 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief.
Reflection:This is now the second time that Jesus is predicting his death to only the disciples. He wants to prepare them as much as possible for several reasons. Number one, he really cares about them. After spending three years with these guys he wants them to be ready for what lies ahead for them. Second, he is wanting them to connect what is going on with the prophecies from the Old Testament that had foretold all of this. Up to this point only Peter realized he was the Messiah, and he would still have many tests ahead. Third, he wanted to remind them that ultimately the Good News was that He would be raised from the dead after three days, just as had been foretold as well.
But as he had hoped this might comfort them, they were so filled with grief they could not even see the true reason for the events that were going to unfold. Their sights were so focused on the here and now, they could not see anything but their immediate perspective. And because their expectation was so different than the scenario Jesus predicted, they were filled with grief. Part of this might have been that their expectations from the beginning were that Jesus was going to deliver them and set up an earthly kingdom.
So it makes me think, how do we do the same thing? How do make our Jesus into someone that will fulfill our wishes of what we think life should be like, or even better what Jesus could do for us according to our agenda. We like to make our own personal Jesus, who we construct according to our wishes for him to deliver what we want and need. Now it is not that Jesus is against meeting our needs or being there for us when we need him, but ultimately this is a much bigger need than we might be aware of. Jesus came to give us life and life abundantly, but that is a life of dying to ourselves and being raised to a new life of being poured out for others.
Take a minute and think about how your expectations of Jesus may be tainted by who you would like him to be or do for you? My experience is when I am really experiencing the life he wants for me, I am doing things way beyond what I would have imagined for myself. Jesus wants us to be on a faith adventure, where he is directing and we are following. This is the life he called us to where greatness is defined by a willingness to serve and lay down our lives for others.
Jesus help us to surrender to our need to control you. May we see our lives through the lens of the cross. Rather than seeking to be served may we follow your lead and seek and find ways to serve others without getting the credit. Help us to die to pride and to humble ourselves in your sight so that in due time You might lift us up. Amen.
22 When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. 23 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief.
Reflection:This is now the second time that Jesus is predicting his death to only the disciples. He wants to prepare them as much as possible for several reasons. Number one, he really cares about them. After spending three years with these guys he wants them to be ready for what lies ahead for them. Second, he is wanting them to connect what is going on with the prophecies from the Old Testament that had foretold all of this. Up to this point only Peter realized he was the Messiah, and he would still have many tests ahead. Third, he wanted to remind them that ultimately the Good News was that He would be raised from the dead after three days, just as had been foretold as well.
But as he had hoped this might comfort them, they were so filled with grief they could not even see the true reason for the events that were going to unfold. Their sights were so focused on the here and now, they could not see anything but their immediate perspective. And because their expectation was so different than the scenario Jesus predicted, they were filled with grief. Part of this might have been that their expectations from the beginning were that Jesus was going to deliver them and set up an earthly kingdom.
So it makes me think, how do we do the same thing? How do make our Jesus into someone that will fulfill our wishes of what we think life should be like, or even better what Jesus could do for us according to our agenda. We like to make our own personal Jesus, who we construct according to our wishes for him to deliver what we want and need. Now it is not that Jesus is against meeting our needs or being there for us when we need him, but ultimately this is a much bigger need than we might be aware of. Jesus came to give us life and life abundantly, but that is a life of dying to ourselves and being raised to a new life of being poured out for others.
Take a minute and think about how your expectations of Jesus may be tainted by who you would like him to be or do for you? My experience is when I am really experiencing the life he wants for me, I am doing things way beyond what I would have imagined for myself. Jesus wants us to be on a faith adventure, where he is directing and we are following. This is the life he called us to where greatness is defined by a willingness to serve and lay down our lives for others.
Jesus help us to surrender to our need to control you. May we see our lives through the lens of the cross. Rather than seeking to be served may we follow your lead and seek and find ways to serve others without getting the credit. Help us to die to pride and to humble ourselves in your sight so that in due time You might lift us up. Amen.
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