UNDERSTAND!
UNDERSTAND!
Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.” The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about. —Luke 18:31-34
“Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn Him to death and will deliver Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. And on the third day He will be raised to life.” —Matthew 20:18-19
The disciples had walked with Jesus for three years. How much clearer could Jesus be about what was going to happen to Him, but what He said was hidden from them. They did not understand any of what He was saying. They did not know what He was talking about.
Jesus would be—
- Treated just as the prophets foretold
- Handed over to the Gentiles
- Mocked
- Insulted
- Spit upon
- Flogged
- Condemned to death
- Killed
How much clearer could He have communicated what would happen to Him? Yet the disciples could not understand this. We, on the other hand, have the benefit of knowing the whole historical story. How sad for us if the story ended with Jesus being killed and that was it. “If our hope in Christ is for this life alone, we are to be pitied more than all men” (I Corinthians 15:19).
But Jesus also told His disciples that He would rise from the dead the third day. They did not get it. Praise God! We just went through the Passover/Easter season when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Indeed, we rejoice every day and every moment the resurrection of Jesus from the dead! Without the resurrection we would have no hope. But we have great hope, great expectation because Jesus did rise from the dead, appeared to many, ascended back to heaven and is coming again one day! Hialeah! Amen!
Thank You Dear Father for all Jesus has done for us, planned from eternity past. It is so amazing to me that You would love us so much that You would give Your only Son to be so wickedly treated by His own creation. But praise be Your Name for His resurrection from the dead. Now may I live faithfully for Him by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus! Yes, may it be so! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUxI-ynsTnM