“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 20:18b–19
As much as prophets in the Old Testament foretold of the Messiah who was to come and who would suffer, die, and be raised to life, the disciples had a hard time grasping this truth. This was because the prophets also spoke of their coming Messiah as a conquering king. I imagine that a king was a much more pleasant thought for the Jewish people to hang their hope on, especially since they had and have been persecuted through the centuries.
On several different occasions in different locations, though, Jesus spelled out His fate for the disciples. While the Gospel of John mentions other occasions when Jesus predicted His death, we will look at accounts from Matthew, Mark, and Luke today. A very specific sequence of events was prophesied: the Jews’ own religious leaders would turn Jesus over to the Roman government to be killed, but three days later He would be raised from the dead.
In the Matthew and Mark accounts, it is recorded that Peter got pretty adamant that this would never happen, and Jesus rebuked him. A much larger plan with the highest of stakes was in the works. It had to take place. Jesus had to die for our sins. But Peter was caught up in the emotion of a seemingly horrible fate for the Rabbi he had come to love and follow, and he ignored the Scriptures that foretold what was to be.
Mark records a brief account of the second prediction of Jesus’ death and resurrection. It adds a significant detail. On this particular occasion, the disciples were very sad to hear what was to take place. Even if they didn’t really understand, the thought of their precious Teacher being killed was once again a horrible burden.
In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke is an instance when Jesus predicted His death for a third time. Jesus was headed to Jerusalem and He pulled the Twelve aside to reveal what was about to happen. In these accounts, the extra detail shared is that Jesus would not only be arrested and killed, but also tortured in between the two events.
As clear as the prophecy seems, Luke’s account states that the disciples didn’t grasp what Jesus was talking about. Put yourself in their shoes, though. I’m sure every day contained the unbelievable for them. I don’t blame them; I imagine it would be hard to grasp such amazing and horrible prophecies.
Let’s close by focusing on the message Jesus shared to His disciples the first time He predicted His death: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). The call is simple, but costly. In order to follow Jesus, we must deny all our natural intentions to live for self. We must metaphorically pick up our cross and die to ourselves. Not our will be done, but the Father’s will—just as Jesus did. I encourage you to revisit this calling afresh today.