Matthew 20:17-19

At The Heart Of Christianity Is The Death Of Christ Matthew 20:17-19: We are allowed to walk along with Jesus and His disciples as they make their way to Jerusalem. Along the way Jesus talked about His betrayal, suffering and death. "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn His to death." (Matthew 20:18) Jesus knew what awaited Him at Jerusalem. He would be, "mocked and scourged and crucified and the third day he would rise again." (Matthew 20:19)

The details Jesus provided concerning His resurrection must have given both comfort and encouragement to the disciples. Without the death of Jesus for our sins we would be in a hopeless and helpless spiritual state. We must come to know and appreciate the words of 1 John 1:7. "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." The betrayal, suffering and death of Jesus should make us aware of the role that God's grace played in our salvation.