2 “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
This is one of the clearest statements to Jesus’ disciples about Jesus upcoming crucifixion. Just as surely as the Passover is two days away, so also my death by crucifixion is right after that. This truth is not hidden in a mystical text, or told using a metaphor or parable. Jesus states it very plainly, very openly. He has told of his crucifixion before. Sometimes He used those less direct means. Now He says it in a very straight forward manner. And even with this straight forward manner, His disciples still miss it. Just as some try to dismiss Hell as a reality, even so, some try to dismiss the crucifixion and resurrection. If the resurrection does not happen, all of Christian truth falls apart. And without the reality of Jesus’ death by crucifixion there would be no need for a resurrection. If Jesus does not become the Passover Lamb, then His death is just like tens of millions of other deaths at the hands of a cruel ruler. His death is nothing more than a political execution performed to maintain power in the hands of a few. Some people receive unjust punishment. Many people receive just punishment. Jesus was innocent. We are not. He died in our place. He deserved to live. We deserve to die. He got death. We get life.
The Arnold Journey 