Knowing The Word in Luke 18:31-34, Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time

As they traveled toward Jerusalem, Jesus has been teaching the twelve from the prophets that God’s purposes, not man’s, will be accomplished in Jerusalem. The Jewish leaders will hand Jesus over to the Roman authorities, who will kill him. Yet, his death will be a hidden victory for humanity, even though it appears to be a total defeat. Jesus’ teaching was too difficult for them to understand on the other side of the cross and they did not understand. Or, did God keep them in the dark for his greater purposes?

31 And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. 33 And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” 34 But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who for our redemption willed to be born, and on the cross to die the most shameful of deaths, by your death and passion deliver us from all sins and penalties, and by your holy cross bring us, miserable sinners, to that place where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end.

Pope Innocent III, c. 1161-1216