Matthew 20:17–19 is a passage where Jesus foretells His death.
Jesus never flinched from the cross. When Jesus foretold His death, He walked toward it.
In this third and most detailed prophecy of His death, Jesus doesn’t just tell His disciples what’s coming—He shows them that courage means knowing what’s ahead and staying faithful anyway.
Matthew 20:17–19 (NASB 2020)
17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way He said to them, 18 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, 19 and they will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and flog and crucify, and on the third day He will be raised up.”
Who Was Jesus Speaking To?
- The twelve disciples, His closest followers
- All future followers who would face suffering for their faith
What Happened?
- Jesus and His disciples were heading to Jerusalem
- He pulled them aside privately
- Foretelling His brutal death, Jesus mentioned mocking, flogging, crucifixion, and resurrection
- He named the Jewish leaders and Gentiles as the ones who would do it
This was the third time Jesus predicted His death, but this time, the clarity was undeniable.
The Mood: Serious, Sobering, Focused
Jesus is not sorrowful here—He’s resolute.
- He is laser-focused on His purpose
- The disciples likely felt troubled or confused
- Yet Jesus walks toward suffering, not away from it
The Principle: Prophetic Clarity Leads to Purposeful Courage
- Despite knowing the details of His impending death, Jesus remained steadfast.
- Suffering didn’t shake His resolve to save
- His courage fuels our confidence
- When we understand what God has spoken, we can walk in bold obedience
Audience Response (Then)
- The disciples likely didn’t fully understand yet
- Later, they would remember His words as proof that He was in control
- This moment became a foundation of their faith after the resurrection
What This Means for Us in 2025
In a time when fear often leads people to shrink back:
- Jesus teaches us to face hard things with faith
- Prophetic clarity should lead to bold obedience
- We can walk into storms because we trust the One who walked into the cross
Action Steps for Today
- Read Jesus’ words with fresh eyes—they are courage fuel
- Write down what God has shown you so you can walk forward in confidence
- Practice courage daily in small decisions
- Prepare for hardship by focusing on the resurrection promise
- Trust God with your pain—He can redeem it just as He did the cross
Final Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for walking courageously toward the cross. Thank You for showing us what faithful obedience looks like. Give me the courage to walk the path You’ve called me to, even when it involves pain. Remind me of the resurrection promise on the other side. Amen.
True courage isn’t the absence of suffering—it’s obedience despite it.
