22 And while they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men; 23 and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.” And they were deeply grieved.
Regrouping with his disciples back in Galilee, His ministry staging area, Jesus continued preparing them for their advance into the neighboring province of Judea, and in particular the city of Jerusalem. He speaks of His betrayal, execution and resurrection, events which were not just inevitable, but part of the divine plan all along (see Acts 2:22-24). His words here are much the same as He spoke earlier in Matthew 16:21, after Peter resisted with his famous, “No, Lord” oxymoron. Now, however, resistance is replaced with extreme grief.
The Greek word for “grieved” here is used later to describe the disciples’ reaction when Jesus revealed that one of them was a traitor – each grieved that Jesus might think he was the one (Matthew 26:22). The Lord used this same word to describe Himself during his struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death…” (26:38 ).
Strong words to convey strong feelings. Although there would still be further resistance coming, the disciples’ response to this “news” was more in line with Jesus’ feelings. They were beginning to share in Christ’s suffering, which was ultimately the precursor to the hope of resurrection. Indeed, this became an important theme in the ministry of the apostles. Peter probably remembered well this experience when he wrote to his scattered readers, “To the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation” (1 Peter 4:13). The memory of both the vision on the Mount of Transfiguration and Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances left an exciting hope he wanted to pass on to others.
Paul intimates a similar thought, “For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ” (2 Cor 1:5). This hope eclipses all suffering here on earth, “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison” (2 Cor 4:17). He so embraces this concept that he even desires to “…know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Phil 3:10). One wonders if Paul’s reference to being “untimely born” (1 Cor 15:8) included missing out on the immediate sharing of Christ’s sufferings as He went through them, as the twelve apostles did.
Lord, help me to not only accept the difficulties You have allowed in my life, but help me embrace them as opportunities to share in Your suffering.
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