What if someone told you exactly what would happen to them days before it took place — including suffering, death, and victory afterward? In Matthew 20, Jesus does exactly that. This moment reminds us that nothing about the cross was accidental. Jesus knew what was coming, and He willingly walked toward it because of His love for us.
Throughout the Bible, Jesus performed miracles that amazed the crowds. He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, and even raised the dead. Yet one of the most incredible parts of His ministry was His ability to foretell future events with perfect accuracy.
In this passage, we see Jesus tells the future once again as He prepares for His final journey to Jerusalem leading up to Palm Sunday and Easter.
Jesus Tells About His Death the Third Time
As Jesus and His disciples traveled toward Jerusalem, He spoke to the twelve privately. What He shared with them was both heartbreaking and hopeful.
“As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way He said to them,
‘Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death,
and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up.’”
Matthew 20:17-19
This is the third time in the Gospel of Matthew that Jesus predicts His death and resurrection. He openly explained what would happen to Him long before the events took place.
That truth matters because it shows us something important: Jesus was not trapped by circumstances. He willingly gave His life to save sinners.
Why Did Jesus Predict His Death 3 Times?
Many wonder why Jesus repeated this message several times to His disciples. The answer becomes clearer when we look at the bigger picture of His mission.
Jesus knew the cross would shock and discourage His followers. By warning them ahead of time, He prepared them for what was coming. Later, after the resurrection, they would remember His words and understand that God’s plan had been fulfilled exactly as promised.
The Old Testament had already pointed forward to the suffering Messiah centuries earlier. You can explore several of those amazing prophecies in this study on Old Testament prophecies about Christ.
Even so, the disciples struggled to understand what Jesus meant. They still expected an earthly kingdom and political victory.
The Disciples Saw the Present — Not the Bigger Plan
Today, we read Matthew 20 with the benefit of hindsight. We already know the outcome of the Easter story. We know Jesus would die on the cross and rise again three days later.
But the disciples were living through these moments in real time.
They heard Jesus speak about suffering and death, yet they still hoped He would establish an earthly kingdom immediately. Because of that, they focused more on positions of honor than on the meaning of the cross.
In fact, shortly after this conversation, the disciples argued about who would be greatest in the kingdom. They were thinking about power and status while Jesus was preparing to sacrifice Himself for the sins of the world.
Understanding the Resurrection Changed Everything
After Jesus died and rose again, the disciples finally understood what He had been telling them all along. The resurrection transformed their fear into bold faith.
They came to fully believe these life-changing truths:
- Christ lived.
- Christ died for our sins.
- Christ rose again on the third day.
- Jesus opened the way to eternal life for everyone who believes in Him.
The message of Matthew 20 still remains just as true today. Jesus knew exactly what awaited Him in Jerusalem, yet He continued forward because of His great love for humanity.
“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15:13
That is the heart of the Gospel.
If you would like to continue learning more about faith, grace, and salvation through Christ, visit Making Christ Known for additional Bible studies and encouragement.
Or, to learn more about receiving the love and life-changing experience of Jesus Christ, please take a moment to see the first steps.
In Christ,
Bob
*Verses from New American Standard Bible (NASB).
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