1555 - Sabbath School - 31.Oct Mon

A Preface to the Cross

What were the reactions of the disciples to Jesus’ predictions

of His own sufferings and death, and what should their reactions

teach us about the dangers of misunderstanding Scripture?

Matt. 16:21–23

Matt. 17:22, 23; Mark 9:30–32; Luke 9:44, 45

Luke 18:31–34

Jesus was born to die, and He lived to die. Every step that He took

brought Him closer to His great atoning sacrifice on the cross of

Calvary. Fully conscious of His mission, He did not allow anyone

or anything to distract Him from it. In reality, “His whole life was a

preface to His death on the cross.”—Ellen G. White, Fundamentals of

Christian Education, p. 382.

In the last year of His earthly ministry, Jesus spoke more and more

explicitly to His disciples about His forthcoming death. But they

seemed unable and unwilling to accept the reality of His statements.

Filled with false notions about the role of the Messiah, the last thing

that they had expected was for Him, Jesus, especially as the Messiah,

to die. In short, their false theology led them into needless pain and

suffering.

Already to Nicodemus, Jesus had declared, “ ‘And as Moses lifted

up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted

up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal

life’ ” (John 3:14, 15, NKJV). While in Caesarea Philippi, Jesus told

His disciples that He had to “ ‘go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things

from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be

raised the third day’ ” (Matt. 16:21, NKJV). Passing privately through

Galilee (Mark 9:30–32) and during His final journey to Jerusalem

(Luke 18:31–34), Jesus spoke again to His disciples about His death

and resurrection. Because it was not what they wanted to hear, they

didn’t listen. How easy it is for us to do the same.

People, especially God’s chosen people, had false concepts regard-

ing the first coming of the Messiah. What are some of the false

concepts out there today regarding the second coming of Jesus?