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Christ Again Foretells His Passion. Mat_20:17-19
v. 17. And Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples apart in the way and said unto them,
v. 18. Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn Him to death,
v. 19. and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify Him; and the third day He shall rise again.
This is Christ's third prediction concerning His Passion. The first time He had stated only in a general way that He would suffer many things, chapter 16:21. In the second prophecy His betrayal and delivery into the hands of men had been spoken of chapter 17:22. Here the sufferings are enumerated in detail; here the men that would be guilty of the atrocious behavior against Him are named. Jesus had set His face steadfastly to journey to Jerusalem. The journey occupied some time, but never once did He falter. He had been in Bethany with His friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, Joh_11:38-44. He had then retired for a time to Ephraim, near Bethel, Joh_11:54. He now made ready to go to Jerusalem, to the Passover festival, with His disciples, who were amazed and afraid. Mar_10:32. For this reason, Jesus made an effort to make them see the necessity of His coming Passion, according to the words of the prophets. He took the Twelve alone, by themselves, in order to be altogether undisturbed, and then He made this third announcement. They were going up to Jerusalem, the holy city of the Jews, not only because it was situated on a hill, high above the surrounding country, but also because, in the eyes of the Israelites, it was the most elevated, the most sublime city in the world. He names the men that would carry out the damnable design, the chief priests and the scribes. He states in what way it will be done: He will be sentenced to death. But the sentence of death will not be carried out by the murderers, since Gentile people, Gentile soldiers, would deride and scourge and crucify Him. In spite of all this, however, He would finally triumph. He would rise again on the third day. He is the omniscient Son of God, true God Himself, who is willingly going forward into suffering and death. This fact gave to His work of redemption its great value.