Matthew 20:17-19 | Revelation 5 | Gospels in Lent Track: John 9-10
We’re on the way to Jerusalem. In Matthew, we only read of Jesus going to Jerusalem once. He’s headed there now.
As he goes, he tells the disciples again that the Son of Man (Human One) will die and raised on the third day.
At what point did Jesus know he was going to die? This isn’t the most important question of the day, but you might wonder about it. It’s such a daunting destination so it’s remarkable to think about him continuing on a path he knew would end this way. If we’d only 1/100th of such a faith.
So really, when do you think he knew? Was he a kid? …a teenager? Did he figure it out as he came into public ministry? Or is he discerning what he knew would happen even as he goes to Jerusalem with his disciples?
It doesn’t matter nearly as much as that he did know.
And he kept going.
Matthew 20:17-19
As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the Twelve aside by themselves on the road. He told them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Human One will be handed over to the chief priests and legal experts. They will condemn him to death. They will hand him over to the Gentiles to be ridiculed, tortured, and crucified. But he will be raised on the third day.”
Revelation 5
Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one seated on the throne. It had writing on the front and the back, and it was sealed with seven seals. I saw a powerful angel, who proclaimed in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or look inside it. So I began to weep and weep, because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look inside it. Then one of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Look! The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has emerged victorious so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Then, in between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, I saw a Lamb, standing as if it had been slain. It had seven horns and seven eyes, which are God’s seven spirits, sent out into the whole earth. He came forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one seated on the throne. When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each held a harp and gold bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. They took up a new song, saying,
“You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals,
because you were slain,
and by your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe, language, people, and nation.
You made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they will rule on earth.”
Then I looked, and I heard the sound of many angels surrounding the throne, the living creatures, and the elders. They numbered in the millions—thousands upon thousands. They said in a loud voice,
“Worthy is the slaughtered Lamb
to receive power, wealth, wisdom, and might,
and honor, glory, and blessing.”
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea—I heard everything everywhere say,
“Blessing, honor, glory, and power
belong to the one seated on the throne
and to the Lamb
forever and always.”
Then the four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshipped.
Prayer
God,
Today is Monday. Thank you for a new work week!
Lord, give me breath today, spirit of Your Spirit, life of your giving. As I exhale throughout the day, may the same life flow from me into what I do and say. Raise me up to your good will for myself, my family, all the people around me, and your beautiful creation.
I know everything today won’t go perfectly, but help me to live toward your perfect love within it all.
By your Spirit and in Christ,
Amen.