“The Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise” (Mark 10:33-34 ESV).
As Jesus led his disciples up to Jerusalem, he told them that he was going up there to be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes who would condemn him to death and turn him over to the Gentiles for execution. Yet on the third day, he would rise again. The disciples were both amazed and afraid as they followed Jesus up to Jerusalem. “Amazed” perhaps by the determination that Jesus showed in going up to Jerusalem, knowing what manner of death awaited him. “Afraid” no doubt that what he predicted would come to pass not only for him, but for them too.
What they didn’t seem to notice at the time was the last phrase of Christ’s prediction, namely, that he would rise again on the third day. Perhaps as unthinkable as his crucifixion was, his rising from the grave was even more so. They had witnessed Jesus raising Lazarus from the tomb after being dead four days. But this was different. It’s as if they were deaf to this part of Christ’s claim.
However, Christ’s enemies, who were deaf to his claims of divinity, remembered his claims of resurrection. They even asked Pilate to post a guard (Matt. 27:62-67). On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead just as he had said. Neither his disciples’ doubts, nor the Jewish leaders’ requested Roman guard could keep him down.
Jesus was crucified, buried and rose again on the third day just as he had said. These are the gospel facts. How have you responded to the truth of this historical event?
PRAYER: Dear Father, we have believed the gospel. You raised Your Son Jesus from the grave just as He predicted. He suffered and died for our sins. He took our death, our sin, and our separation, so that we might by faith obtain His life, righteousness and Sonship. O what a wonderful Savior is He! Thank You Lord for our salvation. In Jesus’ name, amen.