Before the Cross
EASTER • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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From then on Jesus began to point out to his disciples that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day.
INTRO—
INTRO—
[[EASTER— “By the way, saying Easter is fine.” [The paschal celebration (not, most likely, a co-opting of pagan celebrations to ‘Christianize’ them)]]]
Just like it’s “OK,” in fact ‘fine’ (more than fine, actually) to focus on the cross — like the conversation Rhonda and I had with the camp hosts while at Lake Dardanelle.
JESUS & THE CROSS…
Jesus BEFORE the Cross (today)
Jesus ON the Cross (April 06 & 13)
Jesus AFTER the Cross (Easter Sunday)
**Three times in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke…Jesus focuses on his most immediate disciples and directly tells them what is going to happen to him[[…Easter Week & The Cross…& why it will happen!]]
[[Questions of when did he first do this, why, what did Jesus say?]]
[Matthew 16.21-23] First Time
[Matthew 16.21-23] First Time
This first prediction comes on the heels of Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Messiah (Matthew 16.16). [North of Galilee; Caesarea-Philippi; North; MAP SLIDE]
“From then on Jesus began to point out to his disciples” [A point in Jesus’ earthy ministry about 2 years & 6 months in.]
Once Peter confesses his understanding of Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus focuses with the disciples on what that means, involves…
[THE PREDICTION] Matthew 16:21 “From then on Jesus began to point out to his disciples that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day.”
Luke 9:22 “saying, “It is necessary that the Son of Man suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day.””
“…that it was necessary…” (Luke 9.22 quote — “IS…”)
Necessary — has to happen; must; required
[THE RESPONSE] Matthew 16:22 “Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, “Oh no, Lord! This will never happen to you!””
Bold…but: Matthew 16:23 “Jesus turned and told Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns but human concerns.”” …
[Mark 9.30-32] Second Time
[Mark 9.30-32] Second Time
This second prediction comes after the Mount of Transfiguration and the deliverance of a demon possessed son (Mark 9.2-13; 14-28). [In Galilee; Capernaum; MAP SLIDE]
Mark 9:30 “Then they left that place and made their way through Galilee, but he did not want anyone to know it.” [A point in Jesus’ earthly ministry just a few weeks after his first prediction of the Cross (27.5-30.5 months in).]
[THE PREDICTION] Mark 9:31 “For he was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after he is killed, he will rise three days later.””
He would end up in the hands of the elders, et al., from a betrayal!
Betrayed — handed over; given over; delivered over
[THE RESPONSE] Mark 9:32 “But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask him.”
Confusion possibly coming from the experience of the Mount of Transfiguration?…also because of the correction Peter received after the first prediction…
[Matthew 20.17-21] Third (Final) Time
[Matthew 20.17-21] Third (Final) Time
This third—and final prediction in the Synoptics—comes after the encounter with the Rich Young Ruler and the Parable of the Vineyard Workers (Matthew 19.16-30; 20.1-16) [In Perea; East of Jericho & the Jordan River; South; MAP SLIDE]
Matthew 20:17 “While going up to Jerusalem, Jesus took the twelve disciples aside privately and said to them on the way,” [A point in Jesus’ earthly ministry just a few weeks before the Triumphal Entry (34-35.5 months in).]
[THE PREDICTION] Matthew 20:18–19 ““See, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death. They will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked, flogged, and crucified, and on the third day he will be raised.””
Furtherer detail…Gentiles included; mocked, flogged, & crucified. Jesus knew—quite specifically.
[THE RESPONSE] Matthew 20:20–21 “Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons approached him with her sons. She knelt down to ask him for something. “What do you want?” he asked her. “Promise,” she said to him, “that these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right and the other on your left, in your kingdom.””
Nothing immediately indicated from his disciples (may still have been in a ‘I’m not saying anything. You gonna?’ mode).
Pretty Immediately: Seemingly incongruous actions on James, John, & their Mom in light of what Jesus has just said. …
CONCL—
CONCL—
The ‘next scenes’ following these predictions from Jesus—involve…calling his followers to take up their cross…to not argue over who is the greatest among them…and to not jockey for a seat with him (to right & left).
Ultimately, Jesus concludes these statements about the Cross, weeks and months before he was to be crucified, by showing the reason—the necessity—by saying:
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.””
[[Mark 10:45 “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.””]]
INVITATION:
Salvation
Listening (plan; promise)
Living (purpose; preservation)
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.”
