He Wanted to Give His Life, He Wanted to Save Us

Reading: Luke 18:31-34 (NASB)
Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again.” But the disciples understood none of these things, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said. [NASB1995®]

Our Lord announces here, for the third time, the destiny to which he is directed: Betrayal, ridicule, torture, death and resurrection. Luke collects two previous similar announcements (Luke 9:22, 43-45). Let us ponder some questions as we read this passage.
God is the one in control: Jesus reminds His disciples that what is about to happen has already been announced by the prophets. And he has come to fulfill it. He knows the fate that awaits him in Jerusalem. Jesus knows that he must experience rejection, pain, torture, contempt and death. He is willing to do anything, because He loves us, and because He knows that it is the way in which sin and death will be destroyed. It is the way in which the abyss between us and the Father can be crossed.
The Jesus who walks to Jerusalem, towards the encounter of the cross, walks with determination and confidence. His confidence is that he is fulfilling the Father’s will, that his death is the definitive payment for our sins, and that his victory and resurrection are the true victory…

Something that we have to remember: Luke emphasizes that it is not possible for the disciples to understand what Jesus is telling them. It will not be until everything passes, until they see the risen Christ and receive the promised Holy Spirit, that they will fully understand.
In some sense we are different and similar to them. Different because we know today that what Jesus says in this passage was fulfilled, as predicted. He suffered, was humiliated, died… but rose again. Similar because there are events that we do not fully understand and even confuse us.
Our confidence is knowing that just how the Lord did everything that He promised in the past, He will continue to fulfill His promises. His promises are faithful.

MEDITATE: All that Jesus said, all that Jesus did points to what is about to happen: His sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection. That has been God’s plan since before the foundation of the world. Let us therefore trust him who does all things

Translation By: Emily Stader

Sebastián Winkler (169)

Sebastián Winkler lives in General Pinto, a small town in the interior of Argentina, and serves the Lord in the Baptist Church of his city as a teacher of Bible studies. He is a Professor of Literature, he likes music, reading and sharing the Bible with others.
He is married to Karina they have two daughters named Julia and Emilia.
He is the main author in his blog: engraciaysabiduria.com (in spanish)