17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, 18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, 19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again. (Matthew 20:17-19 KJV)
Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time
This is the third time that Christ gave his disciples notice of his approaching sufferings; he was not going up to Jerusalem just to celebrate the Passover, but also to offer himself as the great Passover sacrifice; both had to happen at Jerusalem: the Passover had to be kept there (Deuteronomy 12:5), and a prophet had to perish there, because the great Sanhedrin sat there as judges in such cases (Luke 13:33).
He took the twelve disciples aside while on the way. This was one of those things told to them in secret, but which they were later to speak openly (Matthew 10:27). His secret was with them, as his friends. It was a hard message, and if anyone could bear it, they could. Since they would be more directly exposed to danger with him, it was necessary for them to know in advance so they could be prepared. It wasn’t suitable to speak about this publicly yet,
- Because some who were only mildly supportive of him might have turned away; the offense of the cross would have scared them off.
- Because those who were passionately supportive of him might have taken up arms to defend him, possibly causing an uproar (Matthew 26:5), which would have been blamed on him if he had announced it publicly beforehand. Such actions were completely contrary to the nature of his kingdom, which is not of this world, and he never supported anything that might prevent his sufferings. This conversation didn’t happen in a synagogue or a house, but along the road as they traveled, reminding us that during walks or travels with friends, we should engage in good, edifying conversations (see Deuteronomy 16:7).
In Matthew 20:18–19, he gives the prediction itself.
He is more specific here than before. He had said earlier (Matthew 16:21-23) that he would suffer many things and be killed; and (Matthew 17:22-23) that he would be betrayed into the hands of men, and they would kill him. But here he adds that he will be condemned and handed over to the Gentiles, who will mock him, scourge him, and crucify him. These are terrifying details, and the clear foresight of them would shake an ordinary resolve. Yet, as foretold about him (Isaiah 42:4), he did not falter or lose heart. Instead, the more clearly he saw his sufferings, the more willingly he embraced them.
He says he will suffer at the hands of the chief priests and scribes, and adds that they will hand him over to the Gentiles, making it clear. The chief priests and scribes didn’t have the authority to execute him, and crucifixion wasn’t a Jewish method of execution. Christ suffered from the malice of both Jews and Gentiles because he came to save both; both played a role in his death because he was to reconcile both through his cross (Ephesians 2:16).
As before, he also mentions his resurrection and glory along with his death and sufferings: The third day he will rise again. He consistently includes this, (1) to encourage himself in his sufferings and face them with joy. He endured the cross for the joy ahead; he foresaw his resurrection on the third day. He would be glorified immediately (John 13:32). The reward was not only certain but near. (2) To comfort and encourage his disciples, who would be devastated by his sufferings. (3) To guide us, in all our present sufferings, to maintain a faithful hope in the glory to come, to focus on unseen, eternal things, enabling us to view current afflictions as light and temporary.