One commentator noted that this particular prediction by Jesus had an “ominous” effect. Thus, the great distress of his disciples.

While it is true that the powers and principalities are at work through all the means of this present world, as menacing and dark as that appears, I don’t believe Jesus would have us live in dread and defeat.

However, this is what we tend to do. Just like his disciples, we hear the hard news of captivity and death but we are unable to see through that to the resurrection and life that follows. We just don’t believe, and so we are in great distress at the horrors of the fallen world and how they would consume us. This is just like us.

It’s time to start looking beyond that to who Jesus Christ really is, the Son of God, that he faced the absolute worst, and that he is risen to life, having defeated all the dark supernatural and worldly powers that have come against him and his people—the tomb is empty!