Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time - Mark 10:32-34
Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time
32 They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33 “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and 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, 34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
Reflection:
For the third time now, Jesus prepares the disciples for his imminent death. He is headed back to Jerusalem, the headquarters of the church, where he would meet the powers that would seal his fate. Though this is the third time he mentions this, there are aspects of this passage that are different and worth noting.
1. The most important detail in this story is that Jesus led the way, or we might say he went ahead of them. This left the disciples astonished and others afraid. Jesus is not only ready and prepared to go to the cross, but he presses forward with confidence and boldness. A phrase that has stuck with me over the years, which a few of my colleagues have taught me, is that Jesus is ahead of us! No matter where we go, or what suffering we experience for following Jesus, he is leading the way and always with us.
2. We see more details of the circumstances surrounding his betrayal. We see that the Jewish leaders will condemn Jesus to death and hand him over to the Roman government, or Gentiles. The Gentiles represent all the non-Jews, thus his betrayal and crucifixion is carried out by all humankind, Jew and Gentile. Finally, we see the horrific treatment Jesus is given, which is administered by only the worst criminals in that society. He is mocked, spit upon, flogged and killed, the worst of public humiliation and shame. In Philippians 2:1-5, we learn that Jesus willingly gave up his rights as God. And today, he chooses to subject himself to the basest treatment any human being could conceive. Nobody would invent a Messiah, who would subject themselves to such treatment. Yet, it is all motivated by love. Love for you and me.
3. Finally, he gives them hope. Fortunately this is not the end of the story. Jesus closes with in three days he will rise. The cruelty of his crucifixion is matched by the glory of his resurrection. God glorifies the same Son, in which he said when He was baptized, "This is my Son in which I am well pleased"
It is good for us to contemplate the depth of Jesus' suffering at the hands of man. When we are treated poorly or offended how do we react? When we suffer do we count it all joy to suffer for our Lord? One thing we must remember as we face trials of many kinds (read James 1:2-4), is that Jesus goes ahead of us and He promises to be with us until he comes again in great and promised glory. We say this when we receive Holy Communion at our church. In Holy Communion, Jesus is with us in a special way, and He reminds us that He is ahead of us and with us forever!
Jesus, thank you for being ahead of us. As we face trials and pick up our cross daily, help us to do so in the power of your resurrection and the Holy Spirit you have given us. Amen.
32 They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33 “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and 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, 34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
Reflection:
For the third time now, Jesus prepares the disciples for his imminent death. He is headed back to Jerusalem, the headquarters of the church, where he would meet the powers that would seal his fate. Though this is the third time he mentions this, there are aspects of this passage that are different and worth noting.
1. The most important detail in this story is that Jesus led the way, or we might say he went ahead of them. This left the disciples astonished and others afraid. Jesus is not only ready and prepared to go to the cross, but he presses forward with confidence and boldness. A phrase that has stuck with me over the years, which a few of my colleagues have taught me, is that Jesus is ahead of us! No matter where we go, or what suffering we experience for following Jesus, he is leading the way and always with us.
2. We see more details of the circumstances surrounding his betrayal. We see that the Jewish leaders will condemn Jesus to death and hand him over to the Roman government, or Gentiles. The Gentiles represent all the non-Jews, thus his betrayal and crucifixion is carried out by all humankind, Jew and Gentile. Finally, we see the horrific treatment Jesus is given, which is administered by only the worst criminals in that society. He is mocked, spit upon, flogged and killed, the worst of public humiliation and shame. In Philippians 2:1-5, we learn that Jesus willingly gave up his rights as God. And today, he chooses to subject himself to the basest treatment any human being could conceive. Nobody would invent a Messiah, who would subject themselves to such treatment. Yet, it is all motivated by love. Love for you and me.
3. Finally, he gives them hope. Fortunately this is not the end of the story. Jesus closes with in three days he will rise. The cruelty of his crucifixion is matched by the glory of his resurrection. God glorifies the same Son, in which he said when He was baptized, "This is my Son in which I am well pleased"
It is good for us to contemplate the depth of Jesus' suffering at the hands of man. When we are treated poorly or offended how do we react? When we suffer do we count it all joy to suffer for our Lord? One thing we must remember as we face trials of many kinds (read James 1:2-4), is that Jesus goes ahead of us and He promises to be with us until he comes again in great and promised glory. We say this when we receive Holy Communion at our church. In Holy Communion, Jesus is with us in a special way, and He reminds us that He is ahead of us and with us forever!
Jesus, thank you for being ahead of us. As we face trials and pick up our cross daily, help us to do so in the power of your resurrection and the Holy Spirit you have given us. Amen.
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