The Passion Narratives - the Road to the Cross

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The Passion Narratives: the Road to the Cross 03/03/2021

Derrick Harrison 3/3/2021

Jesus Prepares for his Death and Resurrection This is the first of several talks leading up to Easter, the cross and the resurrection.

Caesarea Philippi (Lk.9:18-22) Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ & Jesus predicts His death and resurrection The question: Jesus asked His 3 disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” and Peter’s immediate reply marked a watershed in the life and ministry of Jesus because Luke says that from that point on Jesus began to talk to His disciples about His death/resurrection (there are 3 passages where Jesus speaks of His coming death/crucifixion (Mk.8:31; 9:31; 10:32-34). I like Luke’s reference to Jesus’ prayer leading to the disciple’s revelation, “And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”

So, they answered and said, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again.”

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Peter answered and said, (Lk.9:18-21) “You are the Christ the Son of the living God” (Mat16:16).

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“And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day” (Mat.16:22).

Matthews’s account of Jesus’ words, give more detail about Peter’s confession and Jesus’ reply, Matthew also records Peter’s opposition to the fact that Jesus will be crucified, “Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You! But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” (Mat.16:22-23).

Six days later the transfiguration takes place when Jesus tells the disciples again, for a second time, that He will die and rise again, “Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.” But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying” (Lk.9:44-45).

Luke records a changed attitude in Jesus which was in some measure recognised by the disciples, “Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for New Life Radio – Talk No 21

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Him. But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?”

But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And they went to another village” (Lk.9:51-56).

Mark gives us even more information about the words of Jesus in His third confession about His future death, “Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed, they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again” (Mk.10:32-34).

Nevertheless, Luke’s account contributes to Jesus’ words, “Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. They will New Life Radio – Talk No 21

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scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.

But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken” (Lk.18:31-34).

In Matthew, Mark, and John these two events are closely linked together, because they are meant to be viewed as related to each other. Matthew writes, “After six days,” thus making a direct link with the previous event and so we proceed to Jesus’ transfiguration!

The Mountain of Jesus’ Transfiguration (Lk.9:28-36) Caesarea Philippi tells us who Jesus is – the Christ/Messiah, the Son of the living God and then Jesus tells His disciples He is going to die on a cross and rise again and now we see Jesus transfigured. The cross, the resurrection and the exaltation of Jesus are all there in Lk. ch.9. Luke also notes the fact that both occasions were preceded by Jesus praying. Following His prayer Peter declares His Messiahship and following His second season of praying Luke records that Jesus was transfigured before them.

The outcome of these two events was that Jesus’ focal point shifts to the cross and becomes central to His thinking and He begins to prepare His disciples for the cross by speaking about it to them.

It is 6 days later (Mat.17:1), that the transfiguration of Jesus takes place on a mountain with Peter, James, and John, “He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. And behold, two New Life Radio – Talk No 21

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men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His exodus which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him. Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— not knowing what he said.

While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone.

But they kept quiet and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen” (Lk.9:28-36).

The transfiguration was Father’s affirmation of Jesus to the 3 disciples, – “this is my Beloved Son, hear Him.” The transfiguration is directly linked with the event of Caesarea Philippi – the cross and the transfiguration point to death and exaltation. We get a glimpse into the glory of God which shines forth from Christ’s inner being. Jesus had laid aside Hs glory to come to earth as a man, but here we are reminded of who Jesus is. When He was at Caesarea, He taught about His cross, but He does not teach about His glory, but He speaks about His resurrection. Also, on this occasion, when Moses and Elijah are in conversation with Him, they talk about His EXODUS which He will accomplish at Jerusalem. The Exodus was the definitive event which defined salvation in the Old Testament, and this is how Jesus looks

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ahead at His crucifixion – it will be a great deliverance for all of the human race, a great victory and routing of the enemy.

Our next meeting with Jesus will be as He enters Jerusalem in triumph and so commences what is known as the Holy Week.

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