275 Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection

In this episode we look at the thirteen times Jesus refers to His upcoming death and resurrection and discover the disciples and those listening just did not understand what He was saying. At least they could not take it in because when it happened they were devastated rather than encouraging each other to hang in there until the third day when He would be resurrected. They believed what their Bible said - that the Messiah would never die. It was hard for them to believe Jesus instead of their Bible. As today it is hard to believe what Jesus said when it seems to contradict what we believe the Old Testament says. The journey continues.

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SHOW NOTES

Jesus Predicts his Death and Resurrection

There are 13 instances of Jesus announcing in covert and overt ways that he knew he would have to endure rejection, abandonment, betrayal, torture and execution at our hands.

It is challenging to realize that a perfect person communicates with devoted friends and

they cannot grasp what he is telling them. This problem is helpful for understanding why

there are misunderstandings with the inspiration and revelation process. A perfect God

with perfect ability and perfect intent cannot always be grasped by the recipients of his

communication. The recipients misunderstand the communication and do not interpret

the message correctly. It is also written down incorrectly. All this is part of the negative

consequences of sin. Hebrews 1:1-3

We return to Jesus’ predictions. They are gathered under covert predictions, overt or majorpredictions and the final predictions during passion week.

1. Covert or Symbolic Predictions

Before the explicit Passion predictions, Jesus used veiled language, metaphors, or signs

pointing to his death and resurrection:

1a. The Temple as His Body: 27-30 C.E. When asked for a sign after clearing the temple,

Jesus speaks of destroying "this temple" and raising it up in three days, referring to his body.

John 2:18–22 NLT But the Jewish leaders demanded, “What are you doing? If God

gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.” 19 “All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 “What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?” 21 But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.

1b. The Sign of Jonah: 29-30 C.E.

In response to the scribes and Pharisees asking for a

miraculous sign, Jesus points to the prophet Jonah, stating that just as Jonah was in the

belly of the great fish for three days and nights, the Son of Man would be in the heart of the earth.

Matthew 12:38-40 NIV “some Pharisees and teachers of the law demanded a

miraculous sign from Jesus. He responded, “A wicked and adulterous generation

asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as

Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man

will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Also 16:4)Jesus interprets this sign as follows.

Luke 11:30 NLT What happened to him (Jonah) was a sign to the people of Nineveh

that God had sent him. What happens to the Son of Man will be a sign to these

people that he was sent by God.

In other words, the people of Nineveh knew of the miraculous saving of Jonah from

drowning. Perhaps the gastric juices of the fish had bleached his skin. This gave Jonah’s

message credibility or authority over the Ninevites and they repented. In the same way

Jesus’ resurrection from the dead would give him the credentials or authority to forgive sin and many would then believe, including priests.

Acts 6:7 NLT So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers

greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.

1c. The Son of Man Lifted Up (The Bronze Serpent): 27-28 C.E.

Drawing on the Old Testament story of Moses lifting up the bronze serpent in the wilderness, Jesus compares it to his future crucifixion.

John 3:14–15 NLT And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the

wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in

him will have eternal life.[

John 8:28 NLT So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross,

then you will understand that I am he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the

Father taught me.

John 12:32–34 NLT And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to

myself.” 33 He said this to indicate how he was going to die. 34 The crowd responded, “We understood from Scripture[a] that the Messiah would

live forever. How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man,

anyway?”

1d. Jesus states that he will suffer in the same way that John the Baptist had suffered.

Matthew 17:12 NLT But I tell you, Elijah has already come, but he wasn’t recognized, and they chose to abuse him. And in the same way they will also make

the Son of Man suffer.”

2a. The First Major Prediction: Following Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ,

Jesus explains that the Son of Man must su_er, be rejected, killed, and rise after three days.Matthew 16:21 NLT 29 C.E. From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would su_er many terrible things

at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He

would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead. (Mark 8:31,

Luke 9:22)

2b. The Second Major Prediction: 29 C.E.

While traveling through Galilee, Jesus repeats the prophecy that he will be delivered into the hands of men and killed, and will rise on the third day.

Matthew 17:22–23 NLT After they gathered again in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The

Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. 23 He will be killed,

but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” And the disciples were filled

with grief. (Mark 9:30–32, Luke 9:43–45)

2c. The Third Major Prediction: 30 C.E.

As they walk the road to Jerusalem just before the

final week, Jesus gives his most detailed prediction, mentioning the betrayal to the chief

priests, condemnation to death, handing over to the Gentiles (Romans), mocking, flogging, crucifixion, and rising on the third day.

Matthew 20:17–19 NLT As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve

disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. 18 “Listen,”

he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man[a] will be betrayed to the

leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die.

19 Then they will hand him over to the Romans[b] to be mocked, flogged with a whip,

and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” (Mark 10:32–34,

Luke 18:31–33)

3. Final Predictions

As the events of Holy Week unfold, Jesus continues to reference his impending death and its purpose:

3a. The Grain of Wheat: 30 C.E.

Using agricultural imagery just before the Passover, Jesus explains that a grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die to produce many seeds.

John 12:23–26 NLT Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter

into his glory. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and

dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest

of new lives. 25 Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing

for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. 26 Anyone who wants to serve me mustfollow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

3b. The Anointing at Bethany: April 30 C.E.

When Mary anoints Jesus with expensive perfume, Jesus defends her action by stating she has kept it for the day of his burial.

Matthew 26:10–13 NLT But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman

for doing such a good thing to me? 11 You will always have the poor among you, but

you will not always have me. 12 She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my

body for burial. 13 I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached

throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”(Mark

14:6–9)

John 12:7 NLT Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my

burial.

Mary had no idea that this is what she was doing. Jesus repurposed her action into an

amazing recognition of what was about to happen.

3c. The Last Supper: April 30 C.E.

During the Passover meal, Jesus institutes the Eucharist, explicitly connecting the bread and wine to his body given and blood shed for the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 26:26–28 NLT As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it.

Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it,

for this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, 28 for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant[a] between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. (Mark 14:22–24, Luke 22:19–20)

3d. The Shepherd Struck: Following the Last Supper, Jesus quotes the prophet Zechariah

9:9, predicting that the shepherd will be struck and the sheep scattered, but adds that after he has risen, he will go ahead of them to Galilee.

Matthew 26:31–32 NLT On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert

me. For the Scriptures say,

‘God will strike the Shepherd,

and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

32 But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and

meet you there.” (Mark 14:27–28)

3e. The Road to Emmaus dialogue

The last reference records the meeting of Jesus with two disciples on the road to Emmaus. These two devoted, sincere followers still do not grasp what has happened. Even the best of us is slow to grasp the imagination of God and his methods of loving us. (Luke 24:35-49).

Which scriptures did Jesus open the meaning of? At least the following: Isaiah 52:13–53:12

(crucifixion), Zechariah 9:9 (donkey), 13:7 (struck), Psalm 22 (crucifixion) Psalm 16:10 (no

corruption), Jonah 2 (Deliverance from death). This revelation of Jesus to the disciples is

what prepared them to receive the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

5. Does Thomas’ Statement not indicate that the Disciple’s understood Jesus was going to die by Crucifixion?

Thomas’ Statement

John 11:16 16 Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go,

too—and die with Jesus.”

The context of this statement by Thomas is as follows.

John 11:7-16 Finally, he (Jesus) said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.”

8 But his disciples objected. “Rabbi,” they said, “only a few days ago the people in

Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again?”

9 Jesus replied, “There are twelve hours of daylight every day. During the day people

can walk safely. They can see because they have the light of this world. 10 But at night

there is danger of stumbling because they have no light.” 11 Then he said, “Our friend

Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.”

12 The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!” 13 They thought

Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died.

14 So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t

there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”

16 Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go, too—and die

with Jesus.”

The context of Thomases statement is that he is willing to go to Judea where some of the

leaders have attempted to stone Jesus recently. It is not in the context of what Jesus has

been communicating to the disciples about his crucifixion and resurrection.

6. Why the Disciples had difficulty grasping Jesus Predictions of his Death

Here are some reasons why the disciples could not grasp what Jesus was saying about his impending death.

1. They had seen Jesus evade death or arrest on several occasions. It would have been

natural for them to console themselves that he would repeat this strange ability he had to disappear or walk through a crowd.

2. The theology of the time understood from the promises that David’s throne would last

forever and that Messiah was the son of David that would set up David’s throne again and it would never end. This was in line with Isaiah’s eschatology that Messiah would enlarge Isreal, as Solomon did, until it finally embraced the whole world. There was no destruction of the heavens and earth as John the Revelator understood the eschaton but an evolution of God’s rule under Messiah.

3. That Messiah would live forever was a popular concept held by the common people as

illustrated by the crowd’s response to Jesus as recorded by John.

John 12:34 NLT The crowd responded, “We understood from Scripture that the

Messiah would live forever. How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is

this Son of Man, anyway?”

4. In the image dream of Daniel 2 the stone which destroys all kingdoms fills the whole

earth and lasts forever. The source of this miraculous transformation of the earth into an

everlasting kingdom was the Messiah. The conclusion was that he would live forever

because the kingdom lasted forever.

7. The Agency in Jesus’ Death

In all his predictions, covert or overt, Jesus never implicates God as being responsible for

his death. The agency is always human. We can trace the devil’s inspiration or possession

of men in this deicide from the words of Jesus. “He was a lair and a murderer from the

beginning” (John 8:44) and “the thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy” (John 10:10).

Conclusion

We, in turn, must attempt to recognize that we also have traditions and misunderstandings which lead to the same dullness of understanding when comprehending the Word of God.

This is why serious insightful study and honest introspection are required to understand

God’s will for mankind at any point in history.

Ian Hartley, November 2026.