Read Matthew 20:17–19
Questions from the Scripture text: Where was Jesus going now (v17, cf. 19:1)? Whom did He take aside along the way? To do what? What command does He give at the beginning of v18? Who are going where? What is His identity? What will happen to Him first? Then what will the chief priests and scribes judge about Him? To whom will they deliver Him (v19)? What three things will they do to Him? What will He do on what day?
How are we to think about the cross? Matthew 20:17–19 prepares us for the sermon in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Jesus Himself shows us His glory and salvation, as He leads us in contemplating His cross.
Jesus takes you aside.
He commands you to behold. To pay attention. To consider. To meditate.
He points out His and your union in His atoning work.
He points out the glory of His Person.
He points out the humility of His work.
He turns us away from hope in men, or mindless esteeming of their words and works.
He commands the rightly condemned to consider His own condemnation.
He suffers all that we deserve, not only condemnation but mocking, punishment, and curse.
He models for us how to do our own suffering, albeit less than His own.
He prepares us to see the completeness of His work, that He rises even though He had our sin upon Him.
He prepares us to see the perfection of His power, that death cannot hold Him.
He prepares us to see Him Himself as God’s great sign to us.
He tells all of this in advance, so that we will see Him Himself as the sign (which is also indicated by the number, the third day, recalling how Jonah himself was the sign to the Ninevites).
How does Christ take you aside to mediate upon His death and resurrection? How often do you do these things? How are you responding to the greatness of His glory? What things did He suffer for you? How are you sure that this was effective?
Sample prayer: Lord, we thank You and praise You for humbling Yourself to the death of the cross, for our sakes. Give us to meditate often upon it. And having been loved much and forgiven much, make us to love You much. Make us to meditate upon Your resurrection with joy, confidence, and adoration, we ask in Your Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP22A “My God, My God” or TPH352 “Man of Sorrows”
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