Luke 18:31 - He took the twelve aside, and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed.
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What does "Luke 18:31" mean?
This verse, Luke 18:31, is a key moment in the Gospel of Luke where Jesus explicitly foreshadows his upcoming suffering, death, and resurrection in Jerusalem. Let's break down its meaning:
"He took the twelve aside...": Jesus is speaking privately and directly to his closest disciples. This emphasizes the importance of the message he is about to deliver. It suggests he wants them to understand what is coming, even though they will still struggle to grasp its full implications.
"...Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem...": Jerusalem is the religious and political center of Judaism. It's the location of the Temple, the seat of power for the Sanhedrin, and the place where major decisions were made. Going to Jerusalem is a deliberate act that will place Jesus in direct confrontation with the established authorities. Importantly, it will bring him to the center of the prophecies he's about to mention.
"...and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed.": This is the crucial statement. Jesus is referring to the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah (whom he refers to as "the Son of Man"). These prophecies foretold the Messiah's suffering, rejection, death, and ultimately, his glorification. By saying these things "will be completed," Jesus is indicating that he is the fulfillment of those prophecies. He is claiming his destiny is intertwined with the prophetic texts.
"The Son of Man": This is a title Jesus frequently uses to refer to himself. It has both earthly and heavenly connotations, linking him to humanity and divine authority.
In summary, the verse means:
Jesus is telling his disciples that they are about to travel to Jerusalem where he will fulfill the prophecies in the Old Testament that spoke of the Messiah's suffering, death, and resurrection. He is acknowledging that he is the Son of Man, the one prophesied about, and that his fate is to fulfill those prophecies in Jerusalem.
Significance:
Foreshadowing: This is a powerful example of Jesus foreshadowing his own suffering and death. It highlights that his journey to Jerusalem is not accidental, but a deliberate act to fulfill God's plan.
Messianic Claim: It reinforces Jesus' claim to be the Messiah, the one prophesied to come and redeem Israel (and ultimately, humanity).
Theological Importance: The verse underscores the importance of the Old Testament prophecies in understanding the life and mission of Jesus. It emphasizes the continuity between the Old and New Testaments.
Discipleship: Despite this clear warning, the disciples struggle to understand what Jesus is telling them, as the verses that follow in Luke 18 make clear. This highlights the difficulty even the closest followers had in comprehending Jesus' mission and the nature of his kingdom.
Luke 18:31 - He took the twelve aside, and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed.
What does "Luke 18:31" mean?
This verse, Luke 18:31, is a key moment in the Gospel of Luke where Jesus explicitly foreshadows his upcoming suffering, death, and resurrection in Jerusalem. Let's break down its meaning:
"He took the twelve aside...": Jesus is speaking privately and directly to his closest disciples. This emphasizes the importance of the message he is about to deliver. It suggests he wants them to understand what is coming, even though they will still struggle to grasp its full implications.
"...Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem...": Jerusalem is the religious and political center of Judaism. It's the location of the Temple, the seat of power for the Sanhedrin, and the place where major decisions were made. Going to Jerusalem is a deliberate act that will place Jesus in direct confrontation with the established authorities. Importantly, it will bring him to the center of the prophecies he's about to mention.
"...and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed.": This is the crucial statement. Jesus is referring to the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah (whom he refers to as "the Son of Man"). These prophecies foretold the Messiah's suffering, rejection, death, and ultimately, his glorification. By saying these things "will be completed," Jesus is indicating that he is the fulfillment of those prophecies. He is claiming his destiny is intertwined with the prophetic texts.
"The Son of Man": This is a title Jesus frequently uses to refer to himself. It has both earthly and heavenly connotations, linking him to humanity and divine authority.
In summary, the verse means:
Jesus is telling his disciples that they are about to travel to Jerusalem where he will fulfill the prophecies in the Old Testament that spoke of the Messiah's suffering, death, and resurrection. He is acknowledging that he is the Son of Man, the one prophesied about, and that his fate is to fulfill those prophecies in Jerusalem.
Significance:
Foreshadowing: This is a powerful example of Jesus foreshadowing his own suffering and death. It highlights that his journey to Jerusalem is not accidental, but a deliberate act to fulfill God's plan.
Messianic Claim: It reinforces Jesus' claim to be the Messiah, the one prophesied to come and redeem Israel (and ultimately, humanity).
Theological Importance: The verse underscores the importance of the Old Testament prophecies in understanding the life and mission of Jesus. It emphasizes the continuity between the Old and New Testaments.
Discipleship: Despite this clear warning, the disciples struggle to understand what Jesus is telling them, as the verses that follow in Luke 18 make clear. This highlights the difficulty even the closest followers had in comprehending Jesus' mission and the nature of his kingdom.