Mark 10:32-34 32And they were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them, and they were amazed, but those who were following were afraid. And after taking the twelve again, he began to tell them the things that were about to happen to him, 33“See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles 34and they will mock him and spit on him and flog and kill him, and after three days he will rise.”
The group was getting closer to Jerusalem, which meant suffering, death, and resurrection. It was symbolic for Jesus to walk ahead of his disciples on this journey. He was setting the future agenda by his example of being willing to give his life for the salvation of the world. The disciples did not understand this at the time of this journey but would later reflect on it and come to understand the mystery of this revelation of divine love. To be a disciple requires following Jesus on the way and living in the pattern of humility and self-sacrifice he showed.
The disciples’ response to the events was a mix of amazement and fear. The verb tenses in these verses are imperfect, which highlights the ongoing journey aspect but also the continued struggle of the disciples. The text is not clear who was amazed and afraid, or if the crowds were the ones afraid. These two words fit well the pattern the twelve disciples have shown in Mark’s Gospel thus far. They were amazed at all the miracles Jesus performed and the power of his teaching. They were often left without words or arguments. They were also afraid because Jesus had presented them with ideas they could not comprehend and impressions they could not control. Their preconceived ideas about messiahship and discipleship did not fit what Jesus was revealing to them. Those who look deeply into Mark’s Gospel will find a Jesus who cannot be categorized or controlled. He is the cosmic Son of God, promised Messiah, and Master Teacher.
Jesus knew their struggles and fears, and so gently tells them again what to expect in the coming days. This was the third and final passion prediction Jesus gave of his impending suffering, death, and resurrection (see 8:31 and 9:31). The third prediction is the most descriptive of the three and gives vivid details of what Jesus faced in Jerusalem. The disciples did not understand the implications of what he said because of their ideas of glory, power, and position and their hopes for the restoration of Israel. Jesus would experience terrible persecution, injustice, and shame. It took time for the apostles and other early disciples to understand the salvific and atoning significance of his suffering. Resurrection made no sense to them at this time but would later be the foundation of their faith. The connection of the call of discipleship to Jesus’ own journey to the cross must not be missed. He not only set the pattern for us but, through his real-life suffering, opened the way for us to experience God’s resurrection power spiritually and someday bodily.
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