There are at least three incidences reported in the bible of Jesus predicting his death. In reality there may have been more.
Overview
Clear prediction – Perceiving the victory
Hasty retaliation – Accepting God’s will
Stern correction – Prioritizing God’s concerns
Blind declination – Preparing for the worst
Are we prepared?
Discussion
Bible Passage
Matt 16.21-23; 17.22-23; 20.17-19; Mark 8:31-33; Mark 9.30-32; Mark 10.32-34;Luke 9:22, 43b-45; 18.31-34
Matthew 16:21 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, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Bible Passage
Matthew 17:22 When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. 23 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief.
Location
The three recorded incidents of Jesus predecting his own death are on different locations. He is moving towards the place of crucifixion.
First time – location – villages around Caesarea Philippi
Second time – location – Galilee
Third time – on the way to Jerusalem
Location
Clear prediction
In distinct words, Christ explains to the disciples that he will be tortured and killed in Jerusalem and will be raised the third day.
While He can see the past, present and future, He, God Himself, allows himself in the hands of cruel men to fulfil God’s purposes.
Victor not victim
Though He appeared to be a victim, He was in fact the victor – always.
Do we feel helpless in the face of injustice?
Do we feel unfairly maligned?
Have we been taken advantage of?
Victor not victim
Though He appeared to be a victim, He was in fact the victor – always.
Do we feel helpless in the face of injustice?
Do we feel unfairly maligned?
Have we been taken advantage of?
Messiah, son of God
Victor not victim
As long as we ensure there is no wrong at our end, we can face every situation with the face of victory.
Somewhere the great Hand of God is orchestrating good out of the worst imaginable situation.
The Disciple’s Response
Luke 9:45 But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.
Luke 18:34 34 The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.
Matthew 17:23 ..And the disciples were filled with grief.
Hasty Retaliation
Peter responded with an oxymoron – “Never, Lord”
No, is bad enough, it was a “never”.
He could not even imagine his loving master being tortured in the hands of the wicked.
We would have felt the same.
Hasty Retaliation
Accepting God’s will
Can we accept God’s will, however hard?
Are we hearing God’s voice or pretending He is telling us what we want to hear.
Faith is all about taking Him at His word and saying, “ok, how do I prepare myself best for this?”.
Stern Correction
Jesus’ retort indicated
Peter was letting Satan use him
He was being a stumbling block
He was letting human concerns overrule God’s concerns
Prioritizing God’s concerns
It appears Peter was speaking on the best interest of Christ.
We too can be instruments of Satan if we are not receptive and obedient to God’s voice.
It’s easy to get carried away by human needs and concerns but there are times they clash with God’s concerns.
Blind Declination
The disciples were not ready to accept the fact of Christ’s death.
It was hidden from them.
When we are in denial, the light evades us.
Blind Declination
Blind Declination
When we are not ready to accept God’s best purposes, they may be hidden from us.
We need to ask God to keep us ready to receive the light at all times.
Preparing for the worst
If the disciples had not been in denial, they could have been better to support Jesus and themselves in the event of his capture and death.
They ran into confusion and fled.
They slept instead of praying in Christ’s most tormented hour. They missed following God’s instruction to “listen to Jesus”.
But the power of the resurrection overruled all.
Preparing for the worst
Are we prepared?
Are we prepared to walk into our times of trial like Jesus did?
Or are we in denial and confusion as the disciples did?
The power of the resurrection can overrule the worst criticism and opposition.
Faith helps us smile calmly through any storm
and walk in victory.
Discussion
1.Reflect on the situations when you have said “never Lord”. What was the outcome?
2.Share examples your life when human concerns have overruled God’s concerns. Have you benefitted?
3.Share examples of instances where you were 1. prepared in crisis and 2. unprepared in crisis? What do you learn?