...With Unfaltering Step Toward the Cross!

Tomb, thou shalt not hold Him longer;
Death is strong, but Life is stronger;
Stronger than the dark, the light;
Stronger than the wrong, the right;
Faith and Hope triumphant say,
Christ will rise on Easter Day.
-Phillips Brooks

On three separate occasions, Jesus predicted His passion and resurrection. I will list them as follows:

a. In the region of Caesarea Philippi, He emphasized the necessity (Mark 8:31).
b. While traveling through Galilee, He stressed the certainty (Mark 9:31).
c. Now on the road to Jerusalem, He describes it in greater detail (Mark 10:32-34).

If you have ever faced an impending ordeal, you know the anticipation itself adds to the trial, anxiety and stress of knowing what it is to come. As we remember what Jesus did to save us, do not overlook the burden of knowing in advance what He would suffer, and what helped Him to endure.

Let's take a closer look, beginning with the setting. This took place on the road to Jerusalem as they (Jesus and the disciples) were making their way from beyond the Jordan via Jericho (Mark 10:1,46). This was Jesus' last trip to Jerusalem.

Interestingly, there was an order, or sequence in which they all walked. First, was Jesus taking the lead (Mark 10:32). Then there were the disciples following closely behind (Mark 10:32). Finally, were the people who a little further behind (Mark 10:32).

They also carried with them certain attitudes as they walked. Jesus walked with steadfast determination (cf. Luke 9:51). The disciples filled with awe, perhaps by Jesus' determination (Mark 10:32). And, the people werecoverwhelmed with fear, perhaps knowing the danger Jesus and His followers faced in Jerusalem (Mark 10:32; cf. John 9:22; 11:8,57).

At some point, Jesus takes the twelve apostles aside and begins to tell them what will happen to Him. What a conversation that would have been! Beginning with the prediction that...

1) He will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes (Mark 10:33). He was referring to the Sanhedrin, the Supreme Court of the Jews. This was fulfilled in Mark 14:41-46).

2) He will be condemned to death and delivered to the Gentiles (Mark 10:33). He was referring to the Romans, who alone had the authority to put him to death (cf. John 18:31). This was fulfilled in Mark 14:55-64.

3) He will be mocked, treated with contempt, and ridiculed (Mark 10:34). This meant to imitate with mockery and derision. This was fulfilled in Mark 15:16-20,29-32).

4) He will be scourged. In other words, to be whipped, and punished severely (Mark 10:34). "Under the Roman method of 'scourging,' the person was stripped and tied in a bending posture to a pillar, or stretched on a frame. The "scourge" was made of leather thongs, weighted with sharp pieces of bone or lead, which tore the flesh of both the back and the breast" - Vine. This was fulfilled in Mark 15:15.

5) He will be spit on with saliva or phlegm. This would be done with anger or contempt (Mark 10:34). This was fulfilled in Mark 14:65; 15:19).

6) He will be killed. Death would follow His mockery and torture (Mark 10:34). Jesus knew the manner of death: crucifixion! (cf. Matthew 20:19). This was fulfilled in Mark 15:24,37).

7) He will rise on the third day. Jesus was resurrected from the dead (Mark 10:34). This was foretold very early in His ministry (cf. John 2:19-22). It was fulfilled in Mark 16:1-7).

In closing, when Jesus predicted His passion and resurrection the first time, Peter took Jesus aside and rebuked Him (Mark 8:31-33). The second time, the disciples did not understand and refused to ask Him (Mark 9:31-32). The third time, there is no dispute (though they may have still been confused)

What strikes me about these three predictions, is that it reveals that Jesus knew what would happen to Him! The stress and anxiety from anticipation only added to His
suffering for us!

How was Jesus able to press on, knowing what was to come? The writer to the Hebrews reveals the answer (cf. Hebrews 12:2). He encourages us to "consider Him...lest you become weary and discouraged" (Hebrews 12:3).

Dear readers, let's not only consider how He died, but also consider that He faced knowing what awaited Him. As Erdman wrote..."Let us pause to gaze on that face and form, the Son of God, going with unfaltering step toward the Cross! Does it not awaken us to new heroism, as we follow; does it not awaken new love as we see how voluntary was His death for us; yet do we not wonder at the meaning and the mystery of that death?"

Let's pray:

Almighty and ever-living God,
give us new strength
from the courage of Christ our shepherd,
and lead us to join the saints in heaven,
where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

May God bless you always!

Jeanine