Character of Jesus 64

The Character of Jesus 64

Teaching about His Death

(Matthew 20:17 – 28, Mark 10:32 – 45, Luke 18:31 – 34

• Characteristic: Refusing to dumb it down
  • Using the Mark account with these additions:
    • Luke 18:31 adds to Mark 10:33, “and all the things having been written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.”
    • Matthew 20:20  The mother of James and John made the request noted in Mark 10:33 – 34. Perhaps she came first, then Jesus brought James and John into the conversation.  Her name was Salome (see Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40).
  • (32 – 34)  Jesus re-iterates the inevitable conclusion of His earthly ministry.
    • The details are remarkable: betrayal rather than capture, to the chief priests rather than the Romans, involving the Gentiles rather than stoning (albeit illegally, but they could have gotten in done), scourging, and resurrection.
    • He had told them before:
      • Matthew 16:21, Mark 8:31, Luke 9:22.  After this Peter rebuked Him.
      • Matthew 17:22, Mark 9:31, Luke 9:44. But they were afraid to ask questions.
    • The prophets wrote about this, so they should have known:
      • Isaiah 53:3 – 12
      • Daniel 9:26
      • Zechariah 13:7
    • What Jesus told them was not complex, just contrary to their expectations, so they had a hard time making sense of it.  Nevertheless, Jesus repeated the concept several times without making it more palatable.
  • (35 – 39)  James and John want to hold high positions in the new kingdom
    • Jesus asks if they are prepared for the hazards.  They think they are.
    • Jesus lets them know that such appointments are not His to make.
    • Jesus reminded them of the gravity and danger because they were thinking in terms of the honor.  Jesus did not shrink from talking about difficulties.
  • (40 – 45)  This squabble over leadership prompted Jesus to teach about the nature of leadership in the coming kingdom.
    • This leadership model has not and could not work outside the kingdom of God, so their confusion is understandable.
    • Jesus will repeat the concept at the last Passover (John 13).
• Application: Refusing to dumb it down
  • Does the modern church emphasize the evidence of predictions?
    • How has logic and evidence fallen from favor?
    • Has predictions about Jesus been overdone among some?
    • In what ways have we dumbed it down?
  • Do modern church leaders think in terms of position and authority?
    • What hardships should church leaders expect?
    • How are leaders put in place?
    • In what ways have we dumbed it down?