March 17

From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. — Matt 16:21 BSB

It’s always difficult to talk to friends about our suffering or death.

It must have been hard for Jesus to tell His disciples, in the midst of their excitement and hope, what He was about to endure. He knew it would disappoint and sadden them, but it was time for them to understand the true nature of His Messiahship. All their hopes for the Messiah involved Him becoming a great King and establishing a vast empire.

The word “must” in Jesus’ announcement is crucial—He must suffer. This was the path laid out for the Messiah in the Old Testament. He wasn’t going to follow human ideas of greatness and glory. His way of blessing the world was through giving Himself for it.

There could be no redemption for humanity without atonement, and only the Son of God could make that atonement. We must never forget that the cross was an essential part of Christ’s work as Savior.