Because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.”
Sometimes it’s hard for us to fully grasp the mood of certain events and teachings in the Bible. This private moment shared by Jesus and his disciples is one such occasion. The disciples had been witnessing healings and miracles and had seen growing crowds gather to hear Jesus’ teaching. Yet, here was Jesus, telling them that his ministry would culminate in betrayal, death, and most strangely, resurrection.
The disciples were confused and disturbed. They expected their messiah to liberate their homeland from the occupying Romans, but here Jesus was predicting just the opposite outcome. While this is a great source of confusion to the disciples, is of great comfort to us, because we have heard the end of the story. By his betrayal into the hands of men, Jesus defeated greater enemies: sin and death. And with his promised resurrection, he has made a way for us to share in his victory.
