Matthew 20:17-19 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time
17 Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, 18 “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death 19 and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!” Thursday, August 20 - Matthew 20:17-19 Yesterday’s devotion will help you understand why Jesus drops in a seemingly random prediction of his death at this point in Matthew’s Gospel. Why is it so hard for the first to “get in” the kingdom first? Because entry is through a cross! Crosses are not “sexy” or successful. A cross is not where you usually find the “first” and finest in life. They are usually sitting in positions of power or making lots of money. The first, finest and familiar in life wouldn’t dream of surrendering themselves to their enemies so that their enemies could do whatever they wanted. The first, finest and familiar fight back! They are winners! Yet, Jesus did not come to save only the first, finest, and the found. He also came to save the last, least, and lost. He came to make it crystal clear to everyone everywhere that God’s love is a free gift that is received by faith. No winners. Only losers who are given the free gift of forgiveness, freedom, salvation, redemption, justification and citizenship in the kingdom of heaven. Who knew that losing could sound so good?!