FOR THE THIRD TIME …

Jesus and his disciples were headed to Jerusalem for Passover.

PASSOVER (from Passover website link)

In Hebrew, Passover is known as Pesach, which means “to pass over”, because G-d passed over the Jewish homes when killing the Egyptian firstborn on the very first Passover eve.  Pesach is a time of celebration and commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt.  Six hundred thousand adult males, plus many more women and children, left Egypt on that day and began the trek to Mount Sinai and their birth as G-d’s chosen people.

In ancient times, the observance included the sacrifice of the paschal lamb, which was roasted and eaten at the Seder on the first night of the holiday.  This was the case until the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in the 1st century.  Pesach is observed by avoiding leaven, and highlighted by the Seder meals that include four cups of wine, eating matzah and bitter herbs, and retelling the story of the Exodus. 

If you want to read more on the Passover, here is a good link:  https://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/871715/jewish/What-Is-Passover-Pesach.htm#What

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I do believe the disciples were hard of hearing or maybe hard of understanding.  Jesus had told them exactly what was going to happen. 

Matthew 16:21-23:  Jesus predicted his death and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.  “Never, Lord!” he said.  “This shall never happen to you!”  As we know, this did not go as Peter expected.  Jesus called him Satan! 

Matthew 17:22-23:  While in Galilee, Jesus again told them the Son of Man will be betrayed, killed, and on the third he will be raised to life.  The disciples were filled with grief.

He told them a third time in Matthew 20:17-19

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!”

This time the scripture does not say how the disciples reacted.  If you read the next few verses, you will see the disciples were more upset about a pushy mother trying to get her sons the best seats in heaven than they were over what Jesus had told them.  They did not understand.

Why was Jesus trying so hard to get them to understand?

Jesus knew what was going to happen to him, but he also knew what was going to happen to the disciples.  This means the answer is simple:  Jesus wanted them to be prepared. 

Jesus used words that can cause fear – betrayed, condemn, death, mocked, flogged, and crucified – BUT by using these words, the disciples realized Jesus knew exactly what was going to happen.  Jesus knew he would suffer.  The disciples saw that Jesus was not running from the suffering. 

Jesus used words that gave great hope and comfort –three days and raised to life.  These words helped the disciples realize suffering and death is not the end.  It is only the beginning of eternity.

Jesus explained, in Matthew 20:28:  “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many,”

Jesus knew exactly what was going to happen.

He has prepared his disciples for the suffering.

He has assured them of the resurrection.

He is approaching Jerusalem.