Anchor My Faith

The Coming Death and Resurrection of Jesus

Scripture: Matthew 17:23; Mark 9:30-31; Luke 9:43-45

In the previous lesson we ended the section of narrative that was about the disciple’s inability to cast the demon from the boy and learned the importance of spiritual growth. With this lesson we will cover a short section of narrative in which Jesus again predicts his death and resurrection.

^{Lk 9:43} “While [the crowds] were all marveling at everything [Jesus] was doing, ^{Mk 9:30} [he and his disciples] went on from there and passed through Galilee. [But Jesus] did not want anyone to know, ³¹ for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, ^{Lk 9:44} “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, ^{Mt 17:23} and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.”’

Looking back at Luke 9:37, we find a great crowd waiting for Jesus to come down from the transfiguration event. Jesus was then confronted with a demon possessed boy that the disciples, who were left behind when Jesus went up the mountain, could not cast out. Jesus cast out the demon to the astonishment of the people. These kind of events in which Jesus demonstrates his power are those the crowds were marveling over.

Somehow Jesus managed to separate himself and the disciples from the crowds and leaving that area they journeyed on, passing through Galilee. The secrecy of this travel was important because Jesus wanted to continue teaching his disciples about his impending suffering in Jerusalem. He pointed out the importance of what he was teaching by telling the disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears.” He then follows with the words: “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men and they will kill him.”

In 2 Samuel 14:14 ESV: “Then David said to [the prophet] Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.” It was the Father’s plans that Jesus would intentionally be delivered into the hands of Jewish leaders and Gentiles. This provides a profound paradox in which the murderous intent of Jesus’ opponents succeeds because that was the Father’s will. Those who were intent in doing evil by killing Jesus were actually doing the will of God as someone had to nail Jesus to the cross in order for him to achieve the atonement planned through his death. The enemies of Jesus were very willing to accomplish that assigned task, but what they didn’t know or understand, and at this time neither did the disciples, was that Jesus would rise from the dead on the third day.

What the disciples heard Jesus say, ^{Mt 17:32} “greatly distressed” them. All they could understand was the grief they would experience over the cruel treatment and death of the one they had come to love so deeply. They had no idea of the joy they would experience as a result of the fulfillment of the words “raised on the third day.”

^{Lk 9:45} “They did not understand this saying, [as] it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.” Why did God conceal this from them? A possible reason would be to keep them from forming a wrong understanding and then sharing that which was not true with others. I believe God wanted them to wait until the event, so they would clearly understand.

Why might they be afraid to ask him about his statement? Is it not human nature to be afraid to ask for further information when you think that maybe you should understand but don’t?

Conclusion

Day by day Jesus is getting closer to the cross and as he does, he tries to prepare his disciples for what to expect.