Crucifixion Foreseen

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Crucifixion Foreseen

Crucifixion Foreseen
Matt. 26:1-2

1 And [kai] it came to pass [ginomai] , when [hote] Jesus [Iesous] had finished [teleo] all [pas] these [toutous] sayings [logos] , he said [epo] unto his [autos] disciples [mathetes] ,
2 Ye know [eido] that [hoti] after [meta] two [duo] days [hemera] is [ginomai] the feast of the passover [pascha] , and [kai] the Son [huios] of man [anthropos] is betrayed [paradidomi] to [eis] be crucified [stauroo] . KJV-Interlinear

1 And it came about that when Jesus had finished all these words, He said to His disciples, 2 'You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is to be delivered up for crucifixion.' NASB

The Cross is the central and focal point of all of history. It is the central theme of the Bible - Jesus Christ being the principle subject of the entire Bible.

Without the Cross there would be no Christianity, for our faith is based on the divine plan of God which looks to the work of Christ and not to the works of mankind.

From the very beginning of human history, Adam and Eve failed in life, in the Garden, and were evicted out of a perfect environment. They begin their life in clothes of animal skins (Gods principle of substitutionary sacrifice). The skins came from animals who were once alive and now that Adam and Eve were wearing the skins, we conclude that the animals had died. Since they were use to eating of the fruits of the trees and such, then we again conclude that they were taught the principles of animal sacrifice in order to teach the work of Christ on the Cross.

Abel followed with his acceptable sacrifice. Cain's sacrifice was rejected. Noah was delivered from certain destruction by the ark. Abraham was instructed to sacrifice his 'only son,' something that we know must have been a very difficult decision for him. However, when asked by his wife, 'Where are you going?' Abraham told her that they (Abraham and his son) were going to make a sacrifice per Gods instructions, and that they would 'both' return. Abraham did not know all of the details of this command of God, but Abraham had extreme faith that God would bring them 'both' back safe. A trapped ram was used as a substitutionary sacrifice for the boy, but the son was teaching the principle of God, giving His only begotten Son as a substitutionary sacrifice for mankind. This of course is taught from the life of Abraham who is looked to by a couple of religions (Islam and Judaism) as the father of their religions, yet they ignore the principles of the Son of God and the sacrifice that His Son must make.

The deliverance of the Israelites, Gods chosen people and nation, from the slavery of the Egyptians (sin and death). The Levitical offerings in their entirety. Boaz as Ruth's redeemer. John the Baptist recognizing the 'Lamb of God.' The lamb being that animal which is typically a sacrificial animal.

All of these and many more examples from the Old Testament, speak to the inevitable First Advent and sacrifice of Christ on the Cross.

God is perfect, and just. Since mankind transgressed against God, mankind left the presence of God. Man cannot approach God unless his transgressions are dealt with. Since man cannot survive the punishment demanded of God, for his sins and failures in life, then in order to survive, mankind needs someone else to take their place, someone who can survive the punishment demanded of God. That someone else is Jesus Christ of whom the entire Bible speaks. From Genesis to Revelation there is but one Savior, one Lord, one God, one means of salvation, and that one is Jesus Christ to whom we all must look to for our eternal future.

Jesus has been performing many miracles for about three years now. He has taught the principles of doctrine and especially salvation, but now He brings all the disciples back to reality. In less than a day, He will be arrested, put on trial six times (six trials) and then crucified on the cross - before the Passover begins. No criminal who is executed on the cross is allowed to remain there when the Passover Feast begins. Passover begins on the evening of Wednesday at sunset. Passover day is Thursday - two days away from the day on which Jesus was speaking. It is now Tuesday afternoon. Perhaps late in the afternoon.

In this chapter of Matthew, the intrigue, the plotting, and the conspiracy of the day are going to be revealed in their most intensified stage. In His final day, after many months of miraculous proofs of His identity, there were still those who, enslaved by their own arrogance, deemed Him an enemy to their way of life, rather than a savior.

No response by the disciples is recorded here. We can presume that the disciples were somewhat dumbfounded into silence. Not knowing what to say. They were only hours ago looking at the Temple structure and pointing it out with pride in their words, as to its grandness. Only to be told that the Temple would be torn down with great violence. Now, they are told that Jesus was going to be crucified in just a little while (hours away - literally) and before the Feast (day) begins, just two days away.