Matthew 20:17-19

NASB	NLT	VOICE
17  As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the road He said to them,	17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him.	17 As Jesus was making His way to Jerusalem, He took His twelve disciples aside and once again told them what was about to happen.
18 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death,	18 “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die.	18 We are going to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the teachers of the law. He will be condemned to death,
19 and they will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and flog and crucify, and on the third day He will be raised up.”	19 Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”	19 and the priests and teachers will turn Him over to the Romans, who will mock Him and flog Him and crucify Him. But on the third day, He will be raised from the dead to new resurrected life.

Jesus has predicted his death and resurrection for the third time with his disciples. The fact that this was the third time is important, because the number three stands for holy perfection. Jesus explained to them what was exactly going to happen, down to the most minute detail, and the disciples didn’t accept or believe it. They focused instead on what their positions are in the Kingdom of God. Now, we will be going over the other two mentions of these words, but let’s say the elephant in the room. No matter how many times you hear this, would you believe your mentor, teacher, guide, or other important person? Probably not. The amount of anxiety, fear, and panic that I believe is being stirred internally would lead them to feel like they are losing control. When this happens, you will tend to focus on the tangibility of life (such as the role you have.) It’s not necessarily that they are intentionally ignoring Jesus and his teachings, but the fact that this is a harsh reality that they don’t want to happen. Let’s look at the first time this is spoken.

Matthew 16:21

NASB	NLT	VOICE
21 From that time Jesus began to point out to His disciples that it was necessary for Him to go to Jerusalem and to suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and to be killed, and to be raised up on the third day.	21 From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of the religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead.	21 Then Jesus began to tell the disciples about what would happen to Him. He said He would have to go to Jerusalem. There the elders, chief priests, and scribes would meet Him; He would suffer at their hands; and He would be killed. But three days later, He would be raised to new life.

The keyword in this passage is the first three “From then on…” This is the beginning of Jesus’ new focus on his death and resurrection. The disciples were still confused about Jesus’ true purpose because of what they were taught about and believed the Messiah would be. Sometimes our preconceived notions can block the true projection of what we’re meant to believe. Our biases and belief structure can cause us to have tunnel vision on what we’re taught, our traditions, our history, etc. The fact of the matter is that Jesus is RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE DISCIPLES but still don’t recognize the true magnitude of the disciples. What’s right in front of you that’s being blocked by your biases?

Matthew 17:22-23

NASB	NLT	VOICE
22 And while they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be handed over to men;	22 After they gathered again in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies.	22 Jesus and the disciples came to Galilee. The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.
23 and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.” And they were deeply grieved.	23 He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” And the disciples were filled with grief.	23 They will kill Him, and the third day, He will be resurrected, vindicated, newly alive

Once again, Jesus predicts his own death and resurrection. In this prophecy, the disciples stopped listening after Jesus said he would die. They didn’t understand WHY Jesus was willing to go a place where death was inevitable. The disciples couldn’t wrap their many around this until the time of Pentecost (read Acts 2). They couldn’t believe that Jesus’ death and resurrection was actually the launch party of the Kingdom of God. Sometimes understanding Christians and the Bible is confusing, frustrating, and disappointed. Do not be upset. The disciples spent three years with him, saw his miracles, heard his teachings – AND STILL DIDN’T UNDERSTAND. Yet even in their understanding, they believed. There are things of this world that we will not understand. People that will do things outside of our belief. Events that will take place that baffle us. Yet, we have a Savior that has rescued and is rescuing his world. In ways we’ll never understand, using people we’d never think of, doing things that we would never.

Luke 9:22

NASB	NLT	VOICE
22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised on the third day.”	22 “The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things,” he said. “He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”	22 The Son of Man must suffer intensely. He must be rejected by the religious establishment – the elders, the chief priests, the religious scholars. Then He will be killed. And then, one the third day He will be raised.

Jesus is teaching more clearly and specifically what the disciples could expect from the Kingdom so that they wouldn’t be surprised when these things happened. Yet, they would understand that Jesus would return in great glory to set up his eternal Kingdom. In Luke’s translation, we now describe an understanding. Yet the understanding is just about the return. We still don’t understand the hurt, the pain, the bullying, and the abuse he will go through. So much of Christian teachings focus on getting through the battles we face to get to the other side. We don’t often sit in to the fact that these battles will hurt. They will cause us anxiety. They will cause us panic and fear. They could cause us to end relationships or current jobs. They could cause us to move outside of our comfort zone. Yet, we teach consistently how to focus on the end goal. Stay present in the moment and remember that we serve an almighty Savior that is walking alongside us in the battle. He fights for us and shields us from the enemy.

Acts 2:23

NASB	NLT	VOICE
23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.	23 But God knew what would, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.	23 This man, Jesus, who came into your hands by God’s sure plan and advanced knowledge, you nailed to a cross and killed in collaboration with lawless outsiders.

Everything that happened to Jesus was under God’s control. His plans were never disrupted by the Roman government or the Jewish officials. This was especially comforting to those facing oppression during the time of the early Christian Church. “Why would God do that to Jesus?” I don’t believe God wanted to. God had it all perfect and it lasted all of Genesis 1 and 2. Then his creation fell into the temptation of the evil forces of the universe (which God also created to offer balance and equality to the creation). God saw that happened (which he knew was a possibility) and then re-worked a path a to lead to an ultimate union and relationship between he and his creation. The more creation fell apart, the more re-wired paths that needed to happen. God doesn’t create the evil things. There’s an allowance that happens, but the results of the evil that permeates is often our fault or are consequences of our own actions. God didn’t kill his own son, but he knew he would have to be the sacrifice to make people understand the magnitude of what this sacrificial offering represented.

Next slice of manna: Manna for the Mind #195