In Matthew, Mark, and Luke our Lord speaks of his impending death by crucifixion repeatedly and with certainty. It was in the script – "the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms" (Luke 24:44) – that he was to die a violent death, and it was his mission to follow the script. If one takes Mark in particular, he will find three clearly defined occasions in which Jesus tells his disciples of his approaching passion and crucifixion. It is in fact given as the reason for their "going up to Jerusalem" – to die.

The third prophecy of the passion in Mark 10:32-34 is especially informative: "They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking on ahead of them; they were in a daze, and those who followed were apprehensive. Once more taking the Twelve aside he began to tell them what was going to happen, ‘Now we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man is about to be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes. They will condemn him to death and turn him over to the gentiles, who will mock him and spit at him and scourge him and put him to death; and after three days he will rise again.’" (New Jerusalem)

Even on his way to die Jesus walks ahead of them! They may have been in a daze and apprehensive because they were confused about what was going on. They viewed him as a Messiah King soon to enjoy triumph, and yet time and again he spoke of dying like a criminal. Once more he takes his disciples aside – indicating the presence of others – and explains what is going on as if talking to children, counting fingers: (1) going to Jerusalem; (2) handed over to Jewish leaders who will condemn him to death; (3) turned over to Gentile authorities; (4) they will mock him, spit at him, scourge him, kill him; (5) rise third day.

How could it be any plainer? And yet, as Luke 18:34 tells this same story, the disciples just couldn’t get it: "But they could make nothing of this; what he said was very obscure to them, they did not understand what he was telling them." It may have been that their expectation of the Messiah was so radically different from what Jesus was saying, that it was too much for them to comprehend.

But the impulsive Peter must have understood all too well what Jesus was saying, at least on one occasion, for according to Matthew 16:22, he takes Jesus aside and rebukes him for making such a dire prediction. "Heaven preserve you, Lord, this must not happen to you," Peter said. The Lord’s response reveals how seriously he took the task before him: "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because you are not thinking as God thinks, but as human beings do."

James and John were among rhose who didn’t get it, for even while Jesus was trying to explain what would happen in Jerusalem, they made an incredible request, one that angered the other apostles. They wanted to sit at Jesus’ right and left hand in his kingdom!

This ill-begotten request led Jesus to speak of his passion in still other graphic terms: "You don’t know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I shall drink, and be baptized with the baptism with which I shall be baptized?" He goes on to say in this context, teaching his followers about discipleship, "For the Son of Man himself came not to be served but to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:17).

In this stunning statement Jesus not only understands that he is to die, but the reason for his death is now clear. He is to die for others. And he finally, after his resurrection at least, refers to his death as necessary: "Then he said to them, ‘You foolish men! So slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have said! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer before entering into his glory?’ Then starting with Moses and going through all the prophets, he explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures that were about himself" (Luke 24:25-27).

These several references make it clear that our Lord understood all along that he had come to die and to give his life for others, and that it was necessary that he do this, mandated by Scripture. This being the case, how are to explain what appears to be uncertainty and equivocation once he is in Gethsemane and in the shadow of the Cross? Does he not now behave as if death might be averted?

While Luke records only one instance, Mark and Matthew have Jesus leaving his disciples three times to pray – about a stone’s throw away – and he prays the same thing each time, over and over: " As Mark 14:35 has it: "And going a little further he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible that this hour might pass him by."

Did Jesus really believe that "the cup" that he was to drink could be refused, and that "the hour" might pass him by?

His repeated prayer strongly indicates this: "Abba, Father! For you everything is possible. Take this cup away from me. But let it be as you, not I, would have it." Mark says he prayed this again and again, saying the same words.

In view of all the evidence, we can only conclude that Jesus was praying for an "Out" that he knew was impossible. Even as he prayed that the cup might be taken from him, he knew he had to drink it. The horror of the Cross was so intense and his anxiety was so overwhelming – "even unto death" -- that he prayed to avoid what he knew could not be avoided. It is reflective of his humanity. It is like one facing life-threatening surgery, who might pray, "Lord, do I really have to go through this?" when she knows she has no choice.

If then Jesus knew all along in his earthly ministry that he was to die and do so sacrificially – "the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world," as John heralded him – when did he first know it? Luke tells us that as a growing boy, "The child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him," (2:40). But this does not mean that he then knew that he was the Son of Man that was to give his life as a ransom for others.

Luke also tells us of his visit to Jerusalem when 12 years old, and how he got lost from his family. After three days he was found in the temple and was rebuked by his mother, "Son, why have you done this to us? Look, your father and I have sought you anxiously." In response young Jesus made a stunning statement, "Did you not know I must be about my father’s business" (Lk. 2:49)?

While this surprising statement reveals that at an early age Jesus felt a unique relationship to God, it does not suggest that he had begun to see himself as a suffering Messiah. That while in the temple he listened to and questioned the rabbis, and that "all who heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers" reveals both erudition and spiritual depth, it hardly indicates that he foresaw his violent destiny.

But we can justly surmise that since he had such insights when only 12, he must have over the next 18 years grown in awareness of who he was. As he worked on in his shop into his late 20s – repairing wagon wheels? – he would hear from travelers stories about a strange preacher in Judea called the Baptist. He was preaching about a new reign of God and of the coming Messiah.

It was his call, one that he had been awaiting. On his way from his home in Galilee to the river Jordan in Judea to be baptized of John – and thus be initiated into this new reign of God – he must have had some consciousness of who he was, even if not yet confirmed. He may not at that time have had a vision of his death on the Cross, but he likely understood that in embracing the new reign of God he faced violence. He may well have realized then what he would soon be proclaiming, "The kingdom of Heaven has been subjected to violence and the violent are taking it by storm" (Matthew 10:11).

The turning point was his baptism. There any doubts he may have had were removed. At his baptism he was not only declared to be the Son of God, but also the suffering servant of Isaiah. Our Lord now knew that he was who the Baptist had just said he was – the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. The Cross was now in clear focus. He now knew he was the one the prophet spoke of –- "The Lord has laid on him the iniquities of us all" (Isaiah 53:6).

                                                                (To Be Continued)