New Testament · Gospel

Mark 9:31

Coming Down the Mountain

because He was teaching His disciples. He told them, “The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after three days He will rise.” Mark 9:31 · Berean Standard Bible
What It Means

Mark 9:31, in plain English

Jesus told them, 'The Son of Man will be handed over to people who will kill Him, and after three days He will rise.' He was preparing them for the hardest thing they'd ever face.

Why it's here

Jesus didn't hide what was coming. He shared the truth with those He loved, even though it was painful, because He wanted them to be ready.

Who's speaking

Jesus speaks plainly about His coming death and resurrection.

Where it sits in the story

Again, Jesus laid out what was ahead — betrayal, death, and resurrection. He kept repeating it because He knew they needed to hear it more than once before they could begin to understand.

A Closer Look

The scholarly reading

The second Passion prediction uses 'delivered into the hands of men' (paradidotai eis cheiras anthropon), introducing the concept of betrayal (paradidomi) alongside suffering, death, and resurrection after three days.

Language and setting

This prediction is more concise than the first (8:31) but adds the theme of betrayal/being handed over, possibly alluding to Judas and to divine sovereignty over the process.

Voice

Jesus teaches His disciples about His coming death and resurrection.

Significance

For the second time, Jesus explicitly tells His disciples He will be handed over, killed, and raised. The repetition underscores both the certainty of these events and the disciples' difficulty in accepting them.

In context

Mark 9:29–33

29Jesus answered, “This kind cannot come out, except by prayer.”

30Going on from there, they passed through Galilee. But Jesus did not want anyone to know,

31because He was teaching His disciples. He told them, “The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after three days He will rise.”

32But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

33Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus was in the house, He asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”

Read all of Mark 9 — Dazzling glory on the mountaintop gives way to a demon-possessed boy at the bottom. The disciples can't handle either scene.

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