Jesus’ promise of His resurrection before he entered Jerusalem must have puzzled the disciples. Luke 18:31 Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus said, “Listen, we’re going up to Jerusalem, where all the predictions of the prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true.[1] As Jesus takes the disciples aside to speak to them, there is urgency in his communication as He tells them to listen. This is the third time that Jesus told His disciples that he must die. He specifically points to the fact that prophecies of the Son of Man must come true.
Luke 18:32 He will be handed over to the Romans, and he will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon. 33 They will flog him with a whip and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.” 34 But they didn’t understand any of this. The significance of his words was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about.[2] For now, what Jesus said would not be fully comprehended. But it will become apparent after His death and resurrection.
God’s Plan Will Not be Stopped
In God’s sovereign will, nothing will stop His plan of dying for the sins of the world. God did this in a way that would fulfill the prophecies. Jesus promised the disciples He would not only die but be raised to life. When Jesus died on the cross, the disciples were still blind to what He was doing.
Only John was at the foot of the cross during the crucifixion, while the remaining disciples were in hiding, and Judas took his life. The despair the disciples experienced when Jesus died must have turned their world upside down. You can only imagine the spiritual warfare that sought to discourage the disciples.
Satan thought he had achieved a great victory when Jesus died, only to find out later it was a great defeat. God had the timing to reveal things to the disciples and continues to reveal things to us. This points to a larger picture than just the disciples.
Prophecy Points to Purpose
As we reflect on Jesus’ death and resurrection, we become aware that the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy points to the divine progression of His suffering. God had a divine plan for His Son that would unfold at the right time. Amid our struggles, we realize that God has a divine plan for us, and the Lord weaves our life experiences, good and bad, for our ultimate good. God is not caught off guard when we go through trials that sometimes overwhelm us.
Romans 8:28And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.[3] Only a loving God could turn our missteps or personal struggles into something that would benefit us. The promise and fulfillment of Jesus’ resurrection is the cornerstone of the Christian faith as He becomes our bridge to eternal life.
To learn more about Jesus’ promise of His Resurrection, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/the-power-of-promise
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.