How many times did Jesus predict His death?

In verse 32 the time has come for His last journey to Jerusalem. They were "in the way," but He was before them. They did follow, but evidently not too willingly. It seems this was the same occasion when they objected to Him that the Jews had only recently sought to stone Him (John 10:8). For this reason they were amazed that He would return so soon. Though they followed, they were afraid. As to their fears of His being killed, He does not allay these, but tells them emphatically that this will indeed take place, but that He would rise again on the third day. In chapter 8:31, in chapter 9:9 and in chapter 9:31 He had sought to prepare them for this, but they could not take it in; and even in this case, though they feared for His life, they seemed unable to believe His plain words that He would be delivered to the Gentiles by the chief priests, mocked, scourged, spit upon and killed; and the third day rise again. When a teacher repeats a lesson four times over at varying intervals, students usually remember it, but pre-occupation with natural thoughts can too easily blind us to spiritual truth of far more importance.

We notice first of all the last prediction of His death. This is the fourth time He predicts His death in this Gospel. He not only predicts the manner of His death, but now also the time; He is to be crucified at the time of the Passover. All this manifests His Deity. He knew all beforehand. Let none think that all that which was before Him dawned upon Him gradually; He knew every one of the sufferings and all that which was now to come upon His holy head. But what calmness breathes in these words, in which He predicted His coming crucifixion! There is no anxiety, no concern about anything, but to do the will of Him that sent Him and to give Himself as the true passover Lamb.

Jesus was now on His way to Jerusalem for the last time, and He once more pressed upon His disciples His approaching death and resurrection. As far as the record of this Gospel is concerned, this is the fourth time He did so since His great prediction as to building His Church, in Matt. 16. Here there is a wealth of detail in few words. He predicts His betrayal by Judas, His condemnation by the Sanhedrim, His being delivered by them to Pilate and his soldiers, the mocking, the scourging, the crucifixion, and finally His resurrection — all in the compass of two verses.

Thus teaching as He journeyed on, going up to Jerusalem with the Twelve, the Lord led the way, going before them all. Mark notices this, and acquaints us with the feelings of the disciples: "They were amazed, and as they followed they were afraid" (32). The Lord had just spoken of persecution to be expected, yet He steadfastly went forward to Jerusalem. The disciples were afraid as He now for the third time, and more in detail, announced His rejection and death at the hands of both the Jews and the Gentiles. But, as before, He also foretold His resurrection on the third day: "After three days He shall rise again."

On to Jerusalem. Third announcement of His death and Resurrection. Verses 32-34

But were they willing to leave all for His sake? As the Servant now at the close of His ministry went up to Jerusalem they were amazed at His calmness and determination to go to the place, where death awaited Him, according to His own predictions. They were afraid of their own lives as they followed Him. The Servant went before them in the lead; the frightened group came behind. The third prediction of His death is the completest.

Of these the Lord spoke often to His disciples when unbelief became more and more pronounced. "From that time Jesus began to show to his disciples that he must go away [being then near Caesarea-Philippi] to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief-priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised" (Matt. 16:21). Then after the transfiguration, while they abode in Galilee, He said to them, "The Son of man is about to be given up into men's hands, and they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised up" (Matt. 17:22-23). Again, in Matt. 20:17-19, He took the Twelve apart, and said, "Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man will be given up to the chief-priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death; and they will give him up to the Gentiles, to mock and to scourge, and to crucify, and the third day he shall rise again." Compare Acts 2:22-23, 36; Acts 3:13-15; Acts 4:10; Acts 5:30-31.

The Son of Man's Rejection. — Suffering, persecution, loss, for the kingdom of God's sake — why should that be? The secret of it is plainly stated. The Son of man, whose day of power is coming, had first to suffer rejection and death. Of this the Lord again warns them. He had spoken of it before His transfiguration (9:22), foretelling His rejection by the Jews — namely, by the elders, chief priests, and scribes — and the consequence of that — His death. He again mentioned it after His transfiguration (9:44), acquainting the disciples with the fact that men — i.e., Gentiles — would have part in the guilt of His death. He had foretold, too, where it was that He should die, viz., Jerusalem, the centre of Judaism (13:33). Now He communicated to the disciples, but privately, as Matthew tells us (20:17), that the crisis was approaching, for He was on His way up to Jerusalem to suffer and to die. "Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For He shall be delivered to the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on and they shall scourge Him, and put Him to death; and the third day He shall rise again." The details are amplified on this occasion, yet "they understood," we read, "none of these things, and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken" (Luke 18:31-34).

Now He is on the way to the Cross, and once again He takes the twelve apart by themselves in the way, to give them the third recorded lesson as to His rejection and death; and to prepare them for what must now be to them the shattering of all their hopes. For even yet their eyes and hearts were filled with visions of an immediate earthly reign, and to secure first places there, James and John endeavour to forestall the others.

For the third time while in Galilee Jesus forewarned His disciples as to His death, adding the fact of His resurrection. Matthew's comment is, "They were exceeding sorry," which shows that they were more impressed by the tidings of His death than His resurrection. That is something which lies outside man's natural experience and they failed to apprehend it. The incident which closes this chapter shows that Peter only thought of his Master as a good Jew, who paid all His dues, and was anxious that all others should see Him in this light. When he would have spoken of it, Jesus anticipated him with a question which showed that such as Peter were children of the kingdom, and hence in due course they would be free from this tribute for the service of the temple. Still the moment had not quite come for this, and no occasion of stumbling was to be given, so by a remarkable miracle the Lord provided the exact sum needed for two payments, and in wonderful grace He associated Peter with Himself. The coin was to be handed over "for Me and thee." This was surely a token of the way in which saints as children of the kingdom were presently to be associated with Himself.

The second announcement of His death. Verses 30-32

Passing again through Galilee He announced His death and resurrection the second time. They understood not and were afraid to ask Him. The cross was foreign to them. Other thoughts occupied their hearts.