Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time
Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time
32 They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33 “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
The Request of James and John
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”
39 “We can,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Here at the beginning of the lesson we see the disciples still reacting to last weeks lesson. The first shall be last is not sitting well with them. This just reminds us how crazy a concept this is.
Then Jesus pulls them aside to teach just them.
I was thinking this past week about the fact that we have several times seen Jesus need to teach just the disciples. He needed time with just them. Why didn't he just try to teach everyone? It is important for us to spend time teaching our leaders, those ministering. Our focus should not only be evangelism, we also need teaching and enrichment of our members. This time is important.
So Jesus for a third time tells of his death.
What does this tell us about last weeks lesson, and what is yet to come in this weeks lesson?
He is trying to get them to understand that this is not the revolution they are hoping for. Not the earthly kingdom. This is very different. But they still don't understand.
Do we really understand either? Sometimes I think that maybe we have a similar idea. We have biblical prophesy and yet we still seem to forget that our role here on earth is to serve. To serve God, and that means to serve our fellow man. To sit in church and learn is important but that can't be "church." Church should be serving the community, helping the poor, ministering to the disenfranchised, all the while sharing the good news of Christ. That should be our main work. Our main work should not be Sabbath School and Church!
What about the second half of this lesson?
I will be honest. This lesson is exactly the same as last week, and the week before and the week before that.
What does that tell us?
Last week it was less obvious but still the same lesson. This week it is quite obvious.
So what are the lessons we have been learning?
Or what is THE LESSON?
Why the repetition?
Perhaps we need it too.
Comments
Post a Comment