Luke 18:31-34 Foreshadowing the Crucifixion
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: October 23, 2018 Luke 18:31-34
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.
(Understanding the Text) Jesus is speaking privately to the twelve here. How could they not understand? Did they stop listening after they heard that they were going to Jerusalem and that everything the prophets said would be accomplished? Did visions of kingship and glory dance around in their head blocking their comprehension of the next words? Jesus is very specific that He would be given over to the Gentiles, mocked, spit on, flogged, and killed. He also said that He would rise the third day. How could they not understand? Did they think that these negatives would happen sometime in the far future? Did they think that Jesus was just being a worrier? Robertson’s word pictures says “This saying was hid from them (ēn to rhēma touto kekrummenon ap’ autōn). Past perfect passive indicative (periphrastic), state of completion. It was a puzzling experience. No wonder that Luke tries three times to explain the continued failure of the apostles to understand Jesus. The words of Christ about his death ran counter to all their hopes and beliefs.”
MHCC says “They were so intent upon the prophecies which spake of Christ’s glory, that they overlooked those which spake of his sufferings. People run into mistakes, because they read their Bibles by halves, and are only for the smooth things. We are as backward to learn the proper lessons from the sufferings, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ, as the disciples were to what he told them as to those events; and for the same reason; self-love, and a desire of worldly objects, close our understandings.”
(Revelation of God) Jesus knew ahead of time exactly what would happen to Him physically in Jerusalem. Did He receive visions? Was it only based upon the prophecies of the scriptures? Did it just naturally unfold in His mind? On the other hand, based on what happened in Gethsemane, I don’t think He totally comprehended what would be happening on the spiritual plane as He was separated from the Father for the first time. This was a new and terrifying experience. The physical did not phase Jesus like it would me. He did not fear physically. Why? Maybe because He knew it was temporary and not important. Maybe He was so focused on something else that the physical dimmed in His senses.
Jesus knew that He would rise from the grave, but in Gethsemane, He could not see beyond the grave. He could only believe and trust in the prophecies that were in scripture and any reassurance that He had previously had while in prayer. I guess that is like when I feel rotten with a sinus headache, and I have to have faith that there is something more and better happening than what I feel.
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that I need to examine my own understandings. How many times have I listened to direct counsel and prophetic words and simply not heard the meaning of the words because of my own preconceptions and refusal to believe anything contrary to my desires? I need to humbly listen when God speaks so that I do not miss a message from Him. Open my ears, mind, and heart to listen, understand and accept Your messages.