The Old Testament spoke about the Messiah to come, it spoke about One who would suffer, and die, Psalm 22:12-21 / Zechariah 12:10-14. The prophets spoke about the Messiah being raised back to life, Psalm 16:10 / Psalm 22:22-21. The prophets clearly said the One to come would suffer, would die and be resurrected, Isaiah 53:10-11.
Throughout Jesus’ ministry, He shared little hints with those listening about His death, burial and resurrection, Matthew 12:40 / Matthew 16:4 / Luke 11:29-32 / John 2:18-22 / John 12:7-8 / John 13:33 / John 14:25.
However, those listening, including His disciples, didn’t really understand that He was referring to Himself. They didn’t understand that He would die, He would be buried, and He would rise from the grave.
Jesus knew how important these events were going to be for His followers, and so, there were at least three times where Jesus clearly spoke about His death, burial and resurrection to those closest to Him, His disciples.
Jesus’ teaching to His disciples up to this point was mainly about His identity, but in Mark 8:31, Jesus’ teaching ministry changes. He now focuses on His upcoming death, burial and resurrection, Matthew 16:12 / Mark 8:31 / Luke 9:22 / Luke 18:31-33 / Luke 23:46 / Luke 24:46 / Matthew 16:21 / Matthew 17:22.
After Peter’s great confession, Jesus now turns His face to Jerusalem, and He goes on to warn His disciples about how He was going to be rejected and crucified, Matthew 17:9 / Matthew 17:12 / Matthew 17:22-23 / Matthew 20:18-19 / Matthew 27:63.
Jesus wanted to prepare His disciples for the tragedy that was nearing. He warned them that He would be betrayed into men’s hands and be killed, but encouraged them by announcing that three days later He would rise again, Matthew 16:12 / Mark 8:31 / Luke 9:22.
The disciples didn’t understand. Why? Because the concept of an afterlife was foreign to them, it was Jesus who brought life and immortality to light, 2 Timothy 1:10.
Mark tells us later that they were afraid to ask Him about it, Mark 9:32. Why were they afraid to ask Him about it? They didn’t understand the purpose of Christ’s death, and when Jesus spoke of His death, the subject didn’t bring them any comfort, John 16:6 / John 19:30.
It’s obvious that Peter was horrified. He couldn’t imagine the Lord being killed, and so, he began to correct Jesus, telling Him that this would never happen! Mark 8:31-37 / Luke 9:22-25.
‘Peter took him aside’, Matthew 16:22 / Mark 8:32, means Peter literally grabbed Jesus, trying to protect Him. Then Jesus sternly rebuked Peter, Matthew 16:23 / Mark 8:33.
It’s interesting to note that Jesus doesn’t rebuke Peter but Satan; it’s obvious that Satan was trying to use Peter to distract Jesus from His mission, Genesis 3:15 / 1 John 3:8. Peter was tempting Jesus not to suffer. Temptations are often strongest when they come through people, we are close to. So, Jesus flatly rejected Peter’s advice.
Isn’t it strange that one minute Peter proclaimed Jesus to be the Christ, the next, he was calling Jesus aside to inform Him that He was mistaken! If Jesus was truly the Christ, Peter had no business arguing with Him, nor do we.
Jesus wanted to prepare His disciples for the tragedy that was nearing. He warned them that He would be betrayed into men’s hands and be killed, but encouraged them by announcing that three days later He would rise again. The disciples didn’t understand. Why? As we saw above, the concept of an afterlife was foreign to them, 2 Timothy 1:10.
Mark tells us they were afraid to ask Him about it, Mark 9:32. Why were they afraid to ask Him about it? They didn’t understand the purpose of Christ’s death, and when Jesus spoke of His death, the subject didn’t bring them any comfort, John 16:6 / John 19:30.
For the third time, Jesus warned the disciples about what was going to happen when they got to Jerusalem. On the road to Jerusalem, Jesus prepared the disciples for what was about to happen in all their lives, Mark 10:32 / Matthew 10:17 / Luke 18:31.
He tells the disciples that in Jerusalem, He would be delivered over to the chief priests and teachers of the law, and it would be them who would condemn Him to death, Isaiah 53 / Matthew 20:18-19 / Mark 10:33 / Luke 18:32.
Jesus knows exactly what is going to happen to Him, Matthew 16:21 / Matthew 17:22-23. He knows that He will be handed over to the Sanhedrin, Matthew 26:15, and He knows He would be handed over to the Gentiles, Mark 10:32-33 / Matthew 17:22-23 / Luke 18:32, that is, the Romans, to be mocked, spat upon, flogged and crucified, Matthew 27:2 / Acts 2:23 / Acts 3:13-15 / Acts 4:27 / Acts 21:11.
Jesus knows He suffers all the humiliation of a common criminal. Flogging was a means of a whip, which was made up of broken bones or sharp stones that were tied at the end binding of numerous strips of leather.
He talked here about His death and resurrection, Matthew 20:18-19 / Mark 10:33-34 / Luke 18:32. The good news is that Jesus also knows that He will rise again on the third day, Mark 10:34 / 1 Corinthians 15:1-5, despite His disciples being saddened by Jesus even speaking about His death, Matthew 16:21-28 / Luke 9:22 / Luke 18:31 / Luke 24:46.
In Luke’s account, notice that the disciples didn’t understand what Jesus meant by His word because it was hidden from them, Luke 18:34.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘It was not hidden in that Jesus did not want them to understand. It was hidden because of their reluctance to accept it.’
The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus are paramount to the Christian faith, John 3:16-18 / John 3:36 / 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 / Ephesians 2:1-10. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is called good news because it provides forgiveness of sins, restores fellowship with God, gives hope in death, and promises eternal life.
Surely, as Christians, we want others to receive all these blessings. Surely, as Christians, we want to share that good news with others, Matthew 28:19-20 / Mark 16:15-16.