TEXT [Commentary]

12. Jesus predicts his death again (10:32-34; cf. Matt 20:17-19; Luke 18:31-33)

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’re 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.”

NOTES

10:32 to Jerusalem. As in Luke 9:51–19:44, Jesus is portrayed as being on a journey to Jerusalem, where his suffering awaited. This is the first time in Mark that Jerusalem is clearly noted as Jesus’ destination.

awe . . . fear. These notes about the emotions of the disciples and the crowds add an air of drama to the journey. There is a sense that this will not be a normal trip to Jerusalem; it is possible that the people even sensed the divine presence with Jesus (Evans 2001:108).

10:33 hand him over to the Romans. Lit., “hand him over to the Gentiles” (cf. NLT mg). This is the one prediction that notes a handing over to the Gentiles.

COMMENTARY [Text]

This is the third major section in which Jesus predicts what will happen to him in Jerusalem (8:31-33; 9:30-32). This prediction highlights both the Jewish and the Roman involvement, including the mocking, spitting, and beating Jesus will suffer (Lane 1974:375; for their fulfillment in Mark 14–16, see Evans 2001:106). These details are unique to this prediction; only his death and resurrection are noted in the earlier versions. The account of the disciples’ and crowds’ emotion during Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem is followed by details that prepare us for the monumental events that will take place there, the significance of which his audience did not yet appreciate.

First, Jesus stated that the Son of Man would be handed over to the chief priests and scribes. The Jewish leaders would decide his fate by sentencing him to death and delivering him to the “Gentiles,” which in this context refers to the Roman leadership of Pilate. Then, Jesus predicted the details of his suffering: “They will mock him, spit on him, flog him with a whip, and kill him.” He followed this with a prediction of his resurrection: “but after three days he will rise again.” Jesus would be dishonored, beaten, and put to death. France (2002:413) notes the Isaianic roots of this language (Isa 50:6; 53:3, 5, 8-9, 12; also Ps 22:7). This death would not be the end, however; there would be a resurrection. No one reacted to Jesus’ prediction at this time. As with Jesus’ earlier predictions, the disciples still did not understand these remarks about his death and resurrection. Their reaction to his arrest, death, and burial would continue to display their confusion over this issue, but Jesus’ resurrection would finally open their ears.