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Series Title: Final Approach
Sermon Title: Jesus Predicts His Death
Sermon Scripture: Luke 18:31-34
Key Point: “Jesus tells the disciples of His impending death, but encourages them with news of His resurrection.”

Something to think about:

Misunderstanding is a part of life. When we don’t know what someone’s intent is, or what they really mean, we make certain assumptions that may be way off from the truth. Sometimes, however, when we misunderstand (or don’t understand) something or someone, we just completely tune out and move on. As we continue in our series today on Jesus’ final approach to Jerusalem, we come upon a scene where Jesus tells the disciples one last time – and in great detail – that He will die soon at the hands of the Romans, and for reasons unknown to us, they didn’t understand because the significance of His words were hidden from them. Let’s take a closer look:

The key point this morning is this:

Key Point: “Jesus tells the disciples of His impending death, but encourages them with news of His resurrection.”

Here are the vital parts of this passage:

· His _____.

Luke 18:31-33a (NLT), 31 Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus said, “Listen, we’re going up to Jerusalem, where all the predictions of the prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true. 32 He will be handed over to the Romans,* and he will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon. 33 They will flog him with a whip and kill him, …



*18:32 Greek the Gentiles.

· His message of _____________________.

Luke 18:33b (NLT), … but on the third day he will rise again.”

· Their lack of _____________________.

Luke 18:34 (NLT) But they didn’t understand any of this. The significance of his words was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about.

Something to take home:

The home of Paul Laurence Dunbar, noted poet, is open to the public in Dayton, Ohio. When Dunbar died, his mother left his room exactly as it was on the day of his death. At the desk of this brilliant man was his final poem, handwritten on a pad.

After his mother died, her friends discovered that Paul Laurence Dunbar's last poem had been lost forever. Because his mother had made his room into a shrine and not moved anything, the sun had bleached the ink in which the poem was written until it was invisible. The poem was gone.

If we stay in mourning, we lose so much of life.[1]

There are way too many people in the church who live like they’re in mourning when, in all reality, we have every reason to hope for an amazing future.

Jesus pulled no punches in telling the disciples that He was going to be handed over to the Romans, mocked, treated shamefully, spat upon, flogged with a whip, and ultimately killed. And yes, there is great sorrow and mourning over this fact. However, the story didn’t end there. Jesus told them that three days after his death, He would rise again. Though the cross is a sobering reality of what GOD was willing to do to secure our salvation, the resurrection is the shining achievement and the capstone of that plan of redemption for humanity. For all who believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

We must not be blinded to the reality of Jesus’ death and resurrection but embrace them completely. For in them (and in Him) lies the hope of eternal life.

Key Point: “Jesus tells the disciples of His impending death, but encourages them with news of His resurrection.”


[1] Henry Simon, Belleville, Illinois.

Read Luke 18:31-34.

What does Jesus tell the disciples is about to happen?Why do you suppose Jesus tells them this, and in such great detail?

Notice, that Jesus doesn’t say that the Romans will arrest Him, but that He will be “handed over” to the Romans.What is the significance of this?

How did what Jesus predicted that day actually come true (consider the following:Luke 22:47-53; 23:9-25; Matthew 27:27-31; 27:39-44; 28:1-10)?
What was the reaction of the disciples to Jesus’ prediction of his arrest, beating, death, and resurrection (v. 34)?

Why do you suppose the significance of Jesus’ words on this subject was “hidden from them” so that they “failed to grasp what He was talking about”?

Have you ever considered what your response would be to Jesus’ prediction in this same setting?Take a few moments and put yourself in the disciples’s shoes (or sandals), and contemplate how you would have heard Jesus’ words and what you would have said or done.

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