Observe, 1. The wisdom of our Saviour, in acquainting his disciples with the near approach of his death and sufferings. This he did for several reasons:

1. To let them understand that he was really God, (as they had just before confessed him to be) by his foreknowing, and foretelling things to come.

2. To convince them of their error, in apprehending that his kingdom was of this world, and that he was to reign here as. temporal prince.

3. To prevent their being offended at his sufferings, and to prepare them for their own, that they might not shrink at them, nor sink under them.

Observe, 2. The persons foretold by Christ, that should be the bloody actors in the tragedy of his death; namely, the rulers and chief priests; it was the poor that received Christ, and embraced the gospel; it was the great ones of the world that rejected him, and set him at nought; and the rulers both in church and state condemned and crucified him.

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Old Testament