Jesus often refers to himself in scripture as the “Son of man,” although the disciples did not understand what he was talking about.  “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of man will be fulfilled.  They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him.  On the third day he will rise again.” (Luke 18:31-33)

Luke goes on to say, “The disciples did not understand any of this.” (Luke 18:34)

Twenty-one centuries later, we as Christians have the benefit of scripture, the writings of the church fathers, and the teaching of the church to realize that Jesus was talking about himself.  For the disciples, it was not so clear.  So, when Jesus tells them that the Son of man will be delivered up to the Gentiles, mocked, scourged and killed, but rise on the third day, they did not understand him. 

As we approach the next two weeks, let us remember the humanity of Jesus who willingly endured being brutally beaten, forced to carry the instrument of his death, and nailed to a cross to die an agonizing death.  All this he did for us, to offer a path for us to seek forgiveness for our sins and our inclination to sin.

Thank you, Lord Jesus!