Jesus had already twice announced His forthcoming crucifixion (Mark 8:31, 9:30-31). So why was Jesus now going to Jerusalem - marching into the jaws of death?  This was no reluctant passive acceptance of a plan forced upon Him; He was active in taking the lead (Isaiah 50:7).  As He led the way, the disciples were astonished at this apparently fool-hardy journey, and the group who travelled with them were afraid.  For a third time, He spelled out what was going to happen ... but this time gives the precise details of His suffering to come, and also the triumph of His rising again.

The simmering hostility of the religious elite had been evident for some time, although their opposition had always melted away in the face of the crowds' support for Jesus (Mark 14:1-2). Sometimes violence was very near, but His accusers were restrained (John 8:58-59).  This time it would be different, said Jesus.  And it was the right time.  Previously Jesus had said that His time had not yet come.  Now it had.  It was to be the time of His choosing; the Passover, when the Lamb of God would take away the sins of the world (John 1:29).   The venue for His mock trial, despicable abusive flogging and cruel execution, and the players in this tragic drama, had already been chosen by the Lord (Acts 2:23).  His own role was to be literally crucial.  This was to be the apex of His confrontation with Satan, bringing in salvation to all who trust in Christ (John 3:14).  But all the disciples could see was the end of their hopes; the end of their Friend and Master (John 14:16).   

Using eight future verbs, Jesus gave His trainee apostles a blow by blow account of what would happen.  He did not want wishful thinking to sanitize the prospect of what would be a truly horrible experience. Unlike us, who like to numb the suffering, Jesus was clear before any of it happened, that He would take it all, full strength; and when the time came, He even refused the drugged wine vinegar (Mark 15:23).  It was necessary for sins to be forgiven.  And it was essential that the apostles should be able to teach that Jesus knew the full details of what would happen before it did (Acts 4:27-28).  He was in control; it was all in the plan ... and that is why He led the way into the fury that would engulf Him.  It was no accident!

Perhaps this might encourage us to pause in our busy lives.  If we belong to Christ, it is only because we have benefited from such a great sacrifice (1 Peter 1:3).  The disciples needed to be prepared for His intentional death; and we need to be grateful for it as the prime reason for our heartfelt worship.  We must be prepared to proclaim it, intentionally.  Being public about the death and resurrection of Jesus may well be accompanied by fear as people despise us for Christ's sake.  But the outcome is the salvation of souls to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 2:1-5).