Matt. 16:21-2821From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. 24Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 27For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. 28Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. (Matthew 16:21‑28).
JESUS knew everything that would happen, and He knew that He must soon die. He used to tell His secrets to His disciples. So He took them to a place by themselves and said, ‘I shall soon leave you. Wicked people will take Me and bind Me with ropes and beat Me and laugh at Me and nail Me to a cross, but I shall soon be alive again.’
The disciples could not bear to hear Jesus talk of dying, for they loved Him very much. They all looked very sad, and Peter said, ‘Thou shalt not die’. But Jesus said, ‘I must die to save sinners, and to please My Father.’ The Father had desired Jesus to die, and He would not disobey His Father.
Most of the people who wished to kill Jesus, lived in a city called Jerusalem. Jesus used to go to Jerusalem very often, and He used to preach there.
Why did some people hate Jesus?
Because He told them of their wickedness. He used to say to them, ‘You do not love God, who is My Father, but you are proud and vain. You wish to kill Me. You tell lies. You are unkind to poor people. You pretend to love God, but while you are saying your prayers, you are thinking how good you are. Your hearts are full of wickedness. You are the children of the devil.’
Jesus wished them to turn from their wickedness. He was sorry to see that they hated His Father, and that they would not turn from their wicked ways.
The wicked people were angry with Jesus. They said that God was not His Father. But Jesus said, ‘He is My Father, and I came down from heaven, where He lives, and I shall go back to Him some day.’
At last the people took up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus did not choose to die yet, so He easily got away and went to a place where they could not find Him. He stayed there with His disciples for some time.
Questions
Did Jesus know that the wicked people would soon kill Him?
Who did Jesus tell that He would die?
Were they sorry?
Why did many people hate Jesus?
Who is the father of liars?
How did the wicked people try to kill Jesus?
Did Jesus let them kill Him?
Why did He hide in a place far away?
Where Jesus came from, and where He went:
A verse from the Bible for you to learn. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. John 16:2828I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. (John 16:28).