Jesus predicts his own death

As we begin the season of Lent, our hearts are turned toward the work of salvation that Jesus provided for us while on the cross. 

Jesus knew what awaited him in Jerusalem and that his death was imminent. He knew that his mission was to die for the sins of the world and he willingly laid down his life for all mankind. Jesus tried to prepare his followers for what was to happen, but they had hoped that he had come to redeem the Jewish people and didn't understand the bigger picture. 

Jesus knew and believed what the Old Testament prophets had said about his death. Isaiah predicted that the Messiah would be rejected, tried and condemned, struck and spat upon. The Psalms predicted that the Messiah would be rejected, betrayed, mocked, insulted and crucified. (See scripture references at the end of this blog).

He predicted his death to his followers several times in scripture.

After Peter recognized that Jesus was the Christ, the long-awaited Messiah, Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

"From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life." Matthew 16:21

As Jesus explained to his followers about the kingdom of God. He told them that the kingdom of God was within them.

"Then he said to his disciples, 'The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. Men will tell you, There he is! or Here he is! Do not go running off after them. For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation." Luke 17:22-25

"Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, 'We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!'." Matthew 20:17-19

"He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

But Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. 'Get behind me, Satan!' he said. 'You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men'." Mark 8:31-33

As they were passing through Galilee, Jesus spoke to his disciples, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him and after three days he will rise." But the disciples did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. Mark 9:31-32

"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. 'We are going up to Jerusalem,' he said, 'and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise'." Mark 10:32-34

"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 handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, 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

Even though the disciples were told what was to take place, they didn't understand. We are blessed to have their eye-witness testimonies of what actually took place recorded for us in the Bible. 

As we approach the season of resurrection, keep in mind the words of Christ to his followers. He had foreknowledge of what was to happen to him and yet he didn't back down. He alone is worthy of praise!

Prophetic scripture: Isaiah 53:1,3; Psalm 118:22; Psalm 41:9; Isaiah 53:8; Isaiah 50:6; Psalm 22:7,8; Psalm 22:14-17 and Psalm 16:10.