Bible Verses of the Week

Jesus Predicts His Death

25 But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (NLT, Matthew 20:25–28)

22 And [Jesus] said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” (NIV, Luke 9:22)

23 Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor. (NRSV, John 12:23–26)

Jesus came into the world to serve humankind. He demonstrated by His miracles that He was the Son of God. He taught us how to live holy lives. He willingly gave His life to save us from our sins. In these verses Jesus was preparing His disciples for the time when He would no longer be in the world in bodily form and they would have to take over His mission.