A Preface to the Cross
What were the reactions of the disciples to Jesus’ predictions
of His own sufferings and death, and what should their reactions
teach us about the dangers of misunderstanding Scripture?
Matt. 16:21–23
Matt. 17:22, 23; Mark 9:30–32; Luke 9:44, 45
Luke 18:31–34
Jesus was born to die, and He lived to die. Every step that He took
brought Him closer to His great atoning sacrifice on the cross of
Calvary. Fully conscious of His mission, He did not allow anyone
or anything to distract Him from it. In reality, “His whole life was a
preface to His death on the cross.”—Ellen G. White, Fundamentals of
Christian Education, p. 382.
In the last year of His earthly ministry, Jesus spoke more and more
explicitly to His disciples about His forthcoming death. But they
seemed unable and unwilling to accept the reality of His statements.
Filled with false notions about the role of the Messiah, the last thing
that they had expected was for Him, Jesus, especially as the Messiah,
to die. In short, their false theology led them into needless pain and
suffering.
Already to Nicodemus, Jesus had declared, “ ‘And as Moses lifted
up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted
up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal
life’ ” (John 3:14, 15, NKJV). While in Caesarea Philippi, Jesus told
His disciples that He had to “ ‘go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things
from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be
raised the third day’ ” (Matt. 16:21, NKJV). Passing privately through
Galilee (Mark 9:30–32) and during His final journey to Jerusalem
(Luke 18:31–34), Jesus spoke again to His disciples about His death
and resurrection. Because it was not what they wanted to hear, they
didn’t listen. How easy it is for us to do the same.
People, especially God’s chosen people, had false concepts regard-
ing the first coming of the Messiah. What are some of the false
concepts out there today regarding the second coming of Jesus?
