Jesus Leading The Way

³² They were now on the way up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were filled with awe, and the people following behind were overwhelmed with fear. Taking the Twelve disciples aside, Jesus once more began to describe everything that was about to happen to Him. ³³ “Listen,” He said, “we are going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence Him to die and hand Him over to the Romans. ³⁴ They will mock Him, spit on Him, flog Him with a whip, and kill Him, but after three days He will rise again.” Mark 10:32-34 (NLT)

Mark 10:32-34 with parallel references to Matthew 20:17-19 and Luke 18:31-34) reveals Jesus’ third and final Passion prediction. For the third time, Jesus announced His coming arrest, death, and resurrection in the Holy City of Jerusalem (see also Matthew 16:21-23; Matthew 17:22-23; Mark 8:31-33; Mark 9:31-32; Luke 9:22, 44-45). Jesus’ third Passion prediction also gives details of His coming mockery and mistreatment as well as the roles the Romans (Gentiles) would play in His trial and death (Mark 10:33-34; see also Mark 15:15; Luke 20:11; Luke 22:63; Luke 23:11, 36). Importantly, all three Passion predictions included His resurrection on the third day – He will rise again (see Mark 8:31; Mark 9:9; Mark 10:34)! However, Jesus’ message did not penetrate His disciples' hearts (see Luke 18:34).

Now, Jesus and His disciples were on the way to the Holy City of Jerusalem (Mark 10:32). Jesus was leading the way with His disciples and many others following behind (Mark 10:32). Mark 10:32 reminds Jesus’ followers that discipleship is always and ultimately faithfully following Jesus. Thus, discipleship is not only characterized by faithfulness within marriage (Mark 10:1-12), with children (Mark 10:13-16), and with possessions (Mark 10:17-31), but as demonstrated by blind Bartimaeus, by expressly “following Jesus” with Jesus leading the way (Mark 10:32, 52). Mark’s Gospel expressly reminds his readers that to know Jesus is to follow Him faithfully, even on the way of suffering.

Something in Jesus’ behavior and words made His disciples bothered, perplexed, and astonished and the crowd that followed afraid. Jesus’ disciples were filled with awe while the crowd was seized with fear (Mark 10:32). Somehow, the disciples and the crowd sensed Jesus’ coming crisis. Knowing their feelings, Jesus took His Twelve disciples aside from the crowd and He once more began describing in great detail all that was going to happen to Him when He arrived at Jerusalem (Mark 10:32; see also Matthew 20:17; Luke 18:31). Jesus told His disciples, “We are going up to Jerusalem . . ., and the Son of Man (Jesus’ favorite title for Himself) will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles (Romans), who will mock Him and spit on Him, flog Him and kill Him. Three days later He will rise.” (Mark 10:33-34, NIV; see also Matthew 20:18-19; see also Luke 18:31-34). Sadly, Jesus was betrayed by the chief priests and scribes (Mark 14:41, 43). These religious leaders condemned Jesus to death (Mark 14:64) and handed Him over to the Romans (Gentiles) (Mark 15:1), who mocked Him (Mark 15:29-30) and spit on Him (Mark 14:65; Mark 15:19) and flogged Him (Mark 15:15). Eventually, Jesus was killed (Mark 15:37). But, three days later, Jesus rose again (Mark 16:1-2).

Luke’s Gospel adds that Jesus’ disciples did not understand Jesus’ prediction of His coming death and resurrection (Luke 18:34). The disciples failed to grasp and understand the significance of Jesus’ prediction (Luke 18:34). Though Jesus’ original disciples were privileged insiders to Jesus’ teaching and significance (e.g. see Mark 4:11), only after the resurrection did they understood the full significance of His sacrificial death (John 2:22; see also Acts 2:22-24; Acts 4:10-12).

Jesus was not discouraged about the upcoming events in Jerusalem. Instead, He purposefully set out for Jerusalem to complete God’s mission to bring salvation (see Matthew 1:21; Luke 2:10-11; John 3:16-17; Titus 2:11-14; see also Isaiah 50:7; Luke 9:51). Despite popular expectations and hopes of new political power, Jesus knew He could only fulfill God’s mission as Messiah (Christ) by His sacrificial death and resurrection (Luke 24:6-7). However, Jesus’ disciples looked for an earthly Kingdom (see Matthew 20:20-28; Mark 10:35-37). Jesus pointed to a different emphasis in the prophets, that of Suffering Servant (Isaiah 52:13-53:12). During His public ministry, Jesus repeatedly foretold His coming suffering and death, which had to occur before His glorious resurrection and victory (e.g., see Matthew 16:21-27; Matthew 17:17:22-23; Matthew 20:18-19; Mark 2:20; Luke 5:35; Luke 9:22, 43-45; Luke 12:50; Luke 13:32-33; Luke 17:25; Luke 18:32; Luke 24:25-27, 44-46; John 2:19; 1 Peter 1:11). Some Old Testament predictions about what would happen to Jesus are found at Psalm 41:9 (betrayal); Psalm 22:16-18 and Isaiah 53:4-7 (crucifixion); and Psalm 16:10 (resurrection). Jesus foreknew His coming suffering, death, and resurrection were predicted by the Old Testament prophecies (Luke 18:31; see also e.g., Psalm 16:10; Psalm 22; Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 50:4-9; Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Daniel 9:26; Zechariah 9:9-10; Zechariah 13:7). God’s plan from the beginning was to graciously send His Son Jesus to earth to bring salvation to all who trust and obey Him (John 3:16-17; see also Genesis 3:15; Luke 24:25, 27, 32, 44; Acts 2:23; Acts 3:18; Acts 17:3; Acts 26:22–23).

⁸ That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. ⁹ Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, ¹⁰ but the angel reassured them. “Do not be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. ¹¹ The Savior — yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! Luke 2:8-11 (NLT)

References

Disciple's Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible, 1988).

Faithlife Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2012).

King James Version Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1988).

Life Application Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005).

The Apologetics Study Bible: Understanding Why You Believe (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2012).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).

Edwards, James R. The Gospel According to Mark (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2002).

Loyd, Melton, Ph.D., Professor of New Testament. Due West Campus: Erskine Theological Seminary, 2015.

Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary – New Testament (Victor Books, 1989).