Jesus Predicts His Death

Luke 18:31-34 (New International Version)

Jesus Again Predicts His Death

³¹Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. ³²He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. ³³On the third day he will rise again."

³⁴The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

Background and Biblical Commentary-type Information

Here Jesus addresses the Twelve. Throughout the entire journey he has stressed that he will suffer, and throughout the entire journey the disciples have struggled to understand how this can be. The Old Testament indicated that suffering would occur in Jerusalem. Which Scriptures are in view is debated. Daniel 7 is not really a good possibility, since the Son of Man's suffering is not referred to in that passage. Daniel 7 serves only as the eventual background to the Son of Man title, a connection Jesus explicitly reveals in Luke 21:27. The suffering imagery must come from another set of texts. Jesus seems to be combining various motifs. The suffering servant is a major theme of this teaching (Is 50:6; 52:13--53:12). Another key may well be the "deuteronomistic" critique which describes continual national unfaithfulness and suggests that a prophet will not suffer outside of Jerusalem (Lk 13:31-35). In addition, opposition to Messiah may play a role (Ps 2; Lk 24:44-49; Acts 4:24-28).

In moving to specifics, Jesus does not discuss the chief priests and scribes. Rather, he highlights the handing over of Jesus to the Gentiles. The text does not specify whether the handing over is part of a divine permission (reading a theological passive) or is a subtle way to depict national unfaithfulness. But the appeal to scriptural realization means this is not an either-or question. God will permit the nation to hand over the Messiah. The act reflects its hardness of heart (Acts 2:22-24). Jesus will be mocked. The fulfillment comes in Luke 22:63-71 and 23:11, 36, where Jesus is subjected to the ridicule of proud scoffers (Bertram 1972:306).

Jesus will be flogged, die and be raised. This was either the dreaded verberatio or the less severe fustigata. Usually before crucifixion, verberatio was used; for discipline fustigata was applied. The criminal was flogged until blood was drawn (Suetonius Claudius 34 and Domitian 11; Hengel 1977; Sherwin-White 1963:27-28).

All this detail does not enlighten the disciples. The point about their lack of comprehension does not mean that they do not understand his words, but that they cannot grasp how this will fulfill Scripture or how Messiah could suffer. They just cannot see how fulfillment can come this way. The unveiling occurs in 24:13-49.

Reflective Interpretation

Jesus has the ability to see the future, and his goal on earth was to die for all mankind, so that their sins can be forgiven. Why the disciples didn't realise this I don't know why.

Also, this shows that Jesus is very brave, as talking about one's death is not an easy thing, especially since he knew that his death was very near.