Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 20:17-19

"And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples apart, and on the way he said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests and scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him unto the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify: and the third day he shall be raised up." — Matthew 20:17-19 (ASV)

Marching up towards the guilty capital with resolute and vigorous step, Jesus outwalked the trembling disciples, who foresaw some dire tragedy would occur. They went with Him, and that was something, showing that, if timid, they were sincere. His words were true and significant: Behold, we go up to Jerusalem. He thought it wise to tell them again of the dark future which was now drawing very near, so He took the twelve disciples apart on the way.

That is the best communion when Jesus Himself takes us apart. He knows the most fitting seasons for fullest revelations. Possibly, in this, His human soul was seeking fellowship, but how little of it He found among His feeble followers! Lord, when You take me apart, prepare me for full communion, lest I miss a golden opportunity!

The heart of Jesus was full of His sacrifice. Mark how He dwells on the details from the beginning to the end of His sufferings, death, and resurrection. He uses very much the same terms as when they were in Galilee. We noticed that statement while reading in Matthew 17:22, and this is very like a repetition of it. It was a subject too grave to be presented with a variety of expressions.

He calls their attention to the fact that they were going up to Jerusalem, the place of sacrifice. The journey of His utmost grief was now beginning. The end was hastening on. What a pang shot through His heart as He said, The Son of man shall be betrayed! This He said in the hearing of the disciple who would act as the traitor. Did no remorse visit his base heart?

The twelve knew that Jesus had no more cruel foes than the chief priests and scribes, the men of the Sanhedrin. These, by a mock trial, would condemn him to death, but as they could not carry out the sentence themselves, they would deliver him to the Gentiles. How accurately the Lord traces the line of action! He omits none of the shameful details. He says that they would deliver Him to the Romans, to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him.

Here were three sharp swords. One scarcely knows which had the keenest edge. Our hearts ought to melt as we think of this threefold sorrow—scorn, cruelty, death. Our blessed Master, however, added a word which overpowered the bitterness of the death-draught. Here was the bright lining of the black cloud: The third day he shall rise again. This poured a flood of light on what otherwise would have been a sevenfold midnight.

Did our Lord dwell so intently on His passion, and should we not also? Yes, it should be our lifelong theme. They say, in this hour of defection, “Think of his life rather than of his death,” but we are not to be duped by them. We preach Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 1:23). God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 6:14).