As He Said He Would
“From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”
Matthew inserts this comment right after the section in his record of Jesus’ earthly ministry where Peter – under divine influence – acknowledges that Jesus is, “the Christ, the Son of the living God,” a fact that Jesus affirmed, but did not want to be advertised just then (see Mt 16:13-20). Unfortunately, Peter didn’t like the plan laid out by Jesus, and he rebuked Him (see verse 22); but that is another story for a different time. The point is, that Jesus told them ahead of time what was going to happen, and it did. It happened exactly as He said it would. Why is this important? Because everything we cling to and believe as Christians hinges on this fact.
Matthew records two more instances of Jesus directly telling His disciples of what was to come, as they made their way toward Jerusalem, all before what has become known as the “Triumphal Entry” which we just remembered and celebrated on Palm Sunday. Each time, Jesus gave more of the details.
“As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were greatly distressed.”
“And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.’”
And we know from the accounts recorded in all four of the gospels, that that is exactly what happened. One of Jesus’ closest followers (one of the twelve), Judas, betrayed Him into the hands of an angry mob, which included a Roman cohort sent by the chief priests, scribes, and elders (see Mt 26:47-56; Mk 14:43-52; Lk 22:47-53; Jn 18:2-12). They in turn brought Him before Annas, a high priest (Jn 18:13-24), and then on to Caiaphas, the then-current high priest, and the chief priests, scribes, and elders (Mt 26:57-68; Mk 14:53-65; Lk 22:54). From there, they brought Him before the Council (Sanhedrin) where it was decided that He should receive the death penalty (Mt 27:1; Mk 15:1; Lk 22:66-71). To execute that judgment, they brought Him before the Roman governor, Pilate, who reluctantly gave in to their demands, and Jesus was beaten, mocked, and scorned (Mt 27:2, 11-30; Mk 15:1b-19; Lk 23:1-25; Jn 18:39-19:16), and then crucified unto death (Mt 27:31-50; Mk 15:20-37; Lk 23:26-46; Jn 19:17-30). His death was confirmed (Jn 19:31-38). His dead body was placed in a well-guarded tomb (Mt 27:59-66; Mk 15:46-47; Lk 23:53-56). And as He had said, He was raised to life on the third day (Mt 28:1-8; Mk 16:1-8; Lk 24:1-12; Jn 20:1-10). He definitely died, and He definitely was raised on the third day, as He subsequently made many appearances to those who followed Him (Mt 28:9-20; Mk 16:9-18; Lk 24:49; Jn 20:11-31; Acts 1:3-8; 1Co 15:57).
Why is this important? Because it proves that Jesus is who He said He was. He is the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God, God Himself incarnate. Without even considering the incredible amount of Old Testament prophecy fulfilled in these events, the fact that Jesus’ own detailed predictions were so wholly and accurately fulfilled points to His deity, and therefore His trustworthiness. No one could possibly be more trustworthy than Jesus. He is not just 99.999% trustworthy, He is absolutely 100.000... (add as many zeroes as you want) % trustworthy. As a holy God, in fact, there can be no deceit in Him, not even a hint. He is so unlike us in that respect. As fallen human beings, we deceive each other all of the time – purposefully, or unwittingly. But not Jesus. Even in His human form, He never, ever sinned. If He had, His sacrifice on the cross would have been insufficient; and if His sacrifice would have been insufficient, He would not have been raised from the dead. But He was sinless, and His sacrifice was sufficient, and therefore He was raised from the dead. Hallelujah! That is why we celebrate His resurrection every year about this time. It means everything to the Christian!
All this is to say that we can completely trust every word that Jesus had to say! And he had some amazing things to say. And many of those things are recorded for us in the New Testament gospel accounts, and even today – two thousand years later – speak to us directly as the Holy Spirit quickens our spiritual understanding of them. Some are comforting promises, some are loving cautions, and yet others are clear warnings.
Following are just a very small sample of some of the direct things spoken by Jesus. What Christian believer could not help but be comforted and encouraged by these statements?
“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
“In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
“Jesus answered him, ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.’”
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’”
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
He even offers hope to those who are still lost and trying to find their way.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
And He doesn’t leave things “fuzzy” or ambiguous when it comes to salvation.
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
We have an awesome God! One who was willing to pay the ultimate price so that we could be reconciled to Him. He came to earth as one of us to reveal His character to us and guide us in the way we should live, and then to pay the penalty for our sins. And He has preserved His Word for us throughout the centuries, so that we may believe and be saved. So we should hang on every word He ever spoke, as recorded in the Scriptures, as being infallible, and completely trustworthy. Praise His holy Name!
Prayer:
Jesus, teach us to cherish every word You spoke; You have the words of life. Help us to fully believe and keep them, and live our lives accordingly. May we bask in Your promises and Your words of comfort; may we take heed of Your loving, cautionary exhortations; and may we walk in obedience to Your commands and not fall prey to the things You warn us about. And Lord, open the eyes of the lost and grant them the faith to believe You, for You alone are the way, the truth, and the life, and You alone are completely worthy of our trust and adoration.
Amen
