The Prediction of the Passion: Mark 10:32-34

Introduce

We come to the third and final prediction of the passion. In Mark 8:31, Jesus taught us that his passion was necessary. In Mark 9:31, Jesus taught us that his passion was certain. In our text, Jesus teaches us that his passion was deliberate. The question Jesus answers for His disciples and us is as follows. What did Jesus come to do? You probably already know the answer. Regardless the answer will become clear as I survey, explain, and apply the story. There are four aspects of this story I want you to consider.

Retell

To start, consider the reluctance of Jesus’ followers (32a-d).

Jesus and his followers had been on a journey for some time. This journey was not aimless. They were heading somewhere. Our story begins with Jesus and His followers “on the road, going up to Jerusalem and Jesus was walking ahead of them.” They were going up to Jerusalem which is on a hill. The scene suggests that Jesus had a certain look to Him. His eyes were intense. His mind focused. His walk deliberate. His pace calculated. He was a man on a mission. His followers, however, were not so certain.

The middle of verse 32 says, “And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid.” The disciple’s were amazed, maybe even astonished, by the deliberate advance of their master. Those who followed, a larger group beyond the twelve, were afraid. Why? Going to the political and religious center of Israel with Jesus was risky business. Politicians were suspicious of this miracle working preacher who some thought to be the promised messianic King. Religious leaders hated and desired to kill Him. Jesus’ presence in Jerusalem will likely bring scorn and danger to all who enter with Him. It would be like walking into a lion’s den with raw meat tied around your neck. Who wouldn’t be reluctant? Well, Jesus, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

You have considered the reluctance of Jesus’ followers.

Next, consider the resolve of Jesus Himself (32e-33a)

Look at the end of verse 32 and the beginning of verse 33, “And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem.’” Jesus, as I mentioned earlier had already predicted His passion. The disciples, however, like young children needed to be told the same thing over and over again. It is not that they may go up to Jerusalem. They are going their. Jesus desires to go their. He is going there on purpose. He goes there knowing what would happen to Him.

As Jesus himself says elsewhere, “No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father” (John 10:18). In other words, Jesus had resolved to go Jerusalem and endure what would happen to Him there.

You have considered the reluctance of Jesus’ followers and the resolve of Jesus.

Now, consider the ruthlessness of Jesus’ enemies (33b-34c)

Follow along with me beginning in verse 33 where we left off. “And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him.” Stop there. There are six elements of Jesus’ humiliation listed here.

He, the Son of Man, would be betrayed into the hands of religious leaders. We see this happen in Mark 14:33. Mark has already informed us that Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, and thus, one of Jesus’ closest friends would betray Him. Very little stings more than to be betrayed by those whom we love more. Jesus knew this, yet He was determined to endure it.

He would be condemned to death. We see this happen in Mark 14:55-64. Mark has already told us that the religious authorities were planning to kill Jesus. Jesus knew this, yet He was determined to endure it.

He would be handed over to the Gentiles. We see this happen in Mark 15:1. He would not only be betrayed by His disciple. He would be betrayed by His kinsman into the hands of those they deemed enemies. Jesus knew this, yet He was determined to endure it.

He would be mocked and spit on by them. We see this happen in Mark 15:16-20. These pagans would mock Him with a royal robe and a crown of thorns they would press into his temple. They would pretend to worship him, spit on him, and strip him naked. They would humiliate Him for all to see. Jesus knew this, yet He was determined to endure it.

He would be flogged. We see this happen in Mark 15:15. Two men would take turns with scourges whipping each side of his bare back. A scourge had a short wooden handle with several strands of leather attached to it. Embedded in this leather were jagged peaces of metal and pointed bits of bone. Each lash of the scourges would tear and pound his back into what resembled ground meat. Jesus knew this, yet He was determined to endure it.

He would be killed, or crucified as Matthew’s account says. We see this happen in Mark 15:24, 37. After being whipped by the scourges, He would be forced to cary his cross to the place in which He would be nailed through the hands and ankles. He would suffocate to death bloodied and naked in front of everyone, including His own mother. Jesus knew this, yet He was determined to endure it.

Jesus enemies were going to be ruthless and He would die in Jerusalem. He knew it, yet He was determined to endure it.

You have considered the reluctance of Jesus’ followers, the resolve of Jesus Himself, and the ruthless ness of Jesus’ enemies.

Lastly, consider the reality of Jesus’ resurrection (34d).

Yes, Jesus came to die. He determined to endure all the sufferings that He would face. However, His and our story would not end with his being betrayed, condemned, mocked, flogged, and murdered. No, read the end of verse 34: “And after three days he will rise.” The Son of man would stand in triumph over sin, death, and Satan as the one who died and rose again.

He determined to go to Jerusalem and to die for the sins of His people, knowing that on the third day, Sunday, He would rise from the grave to never die again. He would rise as the firstborn from the dead. His humiliation would end in His exaltation and the exaltation of all who are united to Him by faith. His resurrection and exaltation were as certain to happen as His suffering, dying, and humiliation. As Isaiah prophesied that the Lord’s servant would suffer and be cut off from the living, He also prophesied that the same servant would see His people and the Lord will prolong His days (Isaiah 52:13-53:12).

Transition

You have considered the reluctance of Jesus’ followers, the resolve of Jesus Himself, the ruthlessness of Jesus’ enemies, and the reality of Jesus’ resurrection. So I ask the question I asked at the beginning: What did Jesus come to do? According to our text, Jesus came to die and rise again. That is the main point of the text and my sermon, Jesus came to die and rise again. In case you doubt my answer to the question, Jesus says why He came in Mark 10:45: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” With this truth in mind, I will offer two applications.

Apply

1. Jesus came to die and rise again, so trust in Him

The disciples and the wider group of followers, struggled to trust in Jesus. The enemies of Jesus obviously didn’t trust in Him. Instead they sought to defeat and be rid of Him. However, even in what they thought would defeat Him, Jesus was victorious.

Jesus throughout Mark beckons people to to hear Him, see Him, and come to and trust in Him like a child. He is also beckoning each one of you. As Jesus once said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). Or as Jesus said elsewhere, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”

Christian, Jesus has saved you from sin, death, judgement, and the devil. Jesus has ransomed you and rose again. He will also raise you from the dead when He returns. You have been saved by grace through faith. You have not been saved by faith. Faith is an empty hand that receives a gift. It is passive in this respect. Indeed, faith is worked in you by the Holy Spirit in the work of regeneration or the new birth. That said, faith can be weak and small.

The Scriptures tell us how we might strengthen it, namely our observance of the ordinary means of grace. These ordinary means include the ministry of the Word, Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and prayer. You are giving yourselves to the first one now. You are currently under the ministry of the Word listen in faith and your faith will grow stronger through the working of the Holy Spirit.

Have you been baptized? If so, reflect on your baptize that symbolizes your union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. If not, get baptized.

Many of you have not partaken of the Lord’s Supper in years because you don’t come to church on Sunday evenings. In doing this, you are abstaining from one of the means God has promised to bless for the strengthening of your faith. Is your faith weak, cold, or small? Do you trust in Jesus? If yes, then partake of the ordinary means of grace.

Unbeliever, apart from trusting in Christ or placing your faith in Him, you are not only tempted by Satan, but one of His children and subjects. You are his disciple. You will suffer the same end as him. Jesus is the stronger man and serpent slaying King. He has already bound Satan and is expanding His reign over the minds and hearts of people through the preaching of the gospel.

Unbeliever, the Christ has come, suffered, died, rose, and ascended to heaven. He will return and finish what He established in His first coming. He will save His people from final judgement and lead them into the glory of the eternal rest. If you reject Him, then you will not enter His rest, but face His judgement for all eternity. What will it be? Trust in Christ for forgiveness of sins and eternal life or reject Him for eternal judgement and the second death? I hope you trust in Jesus. 

Jesus came to die and rise again, so trust in Him.

2. Jesus came to die and rise again, so live like Him

a. Live like Him with resolute obedience

Jesus came to obey the will of the one who sent Him even unto death. You also should do this. Resolve in gratitude to obey the will of your God and Father. Resolve in gratitude to obey the will of your Lord and Redeemer. Resolve in gratitude to obey the will of your Gift and Helper. Preach Christ and obey His commandments. It may cost you riches, comfort, friends, family, and even your life, but in Christ you gain all these and more.

Paul promises those who desire to live a godly life will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12). Peter says you shouldn’t surprise when you suffer for Jesus (1 Peter 4:12). Jesus teaches those who follow Him will be hated like Him (Mark 13:13).

Regardless, Christian and Vista Baptist Church, you must resolve to obey your God: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus says that those who love Him, obey His commandments. If you willfully and unrepentantly disobey His commandments, then you don’t love Him! You are a counterfeit, a hypocrite, and a liar. Trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins and repent, or perish.

b. Live like Him with humble service

Jesus came to serve and not be served. In the same way, you likewise should seek to serve and not be served. Jesus though He was God didn’t count equality with God as a thing to be grasped. He took on the form of a servant. He endured suffering and death. You should imitate Him. Imitate Him by counting others more highly than yourselves. Crucify your preferences. Remember your weaknesses. Yes, Jesus came to die for us. Let us die to ourselves and reckon ourselves dead to sin and live to God and to serve.

c. Live like Him with abiding hope

Jesus didn’t only die. He rose again. We who trust in Him will suffer and live like Him. However, we will also rise like Him. Christians will share not only in Christ humiliation, but also His exaltation. You have hope because of Jesus. Death and the Devil will not triumph over you. Jesus will free you from the grave. He will place you on the New Earth. He will wipe every tear from your face and everyone of your enemies will be vanquished. You have hope. Therefore, live like Jesus. The motivation for godly living is gratitude. Christian, you have every reason for gratitude.

You have forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7).

You have communion with God (1 John 1:3).

You have fellowship with one another (1 John 1:3).

You have hope of eternal life (John 3:16).

Thus, go and live like your precious savior, who came to die and rise again.

Conclude

Jesus came to die came to die and rise again. This truth was necessary (Mark 8:31), certain (Mark 9:31), and deliberate (Mark 10:33-34). This truth calls you to respond by trusting in Jesus and living like Jesus. You saw this truth when you considered the reluctance of Jesus’ followers, the resolve of Jesus Himself, the ruthlessness of Jesus’ enemies, and the reality of Jesus’ resurrection. May God by His Spirit help you to trust in and and live like His Son Jesus. Let’s pray.