Mark 8:31

First Prediction of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection

8:31 Then ¹  Jesus ²  began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer ³  many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, ⁴  and be killed, and after three days rise again.

Mark 8:34

Following Jesus

8:34 Then ⁵  Jesus ⁶  called the crowd, along with his disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to become my follower, ⁷  he must deny ⁸  himself, take up his cross, ⁹  and follow me.

[8:31]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[8:31]  ² tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[8:31]  ³ sn The necessity that the Son of Man suffer is the particular point that needed emphasis, since for many 1st century Jews the Messiah was a glorious and powerful figure, not a suffering one.

[8:31]  ⁴ tn Or “and the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 1:22.

[8:34]  ⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[8:34]  ⁶ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[8:34]  ⁷ tn Grk “to follow after me.”

[8:34]  ⁸ tn This translation better expresses the force of the Greek third person imperative than the traditional “let him deny,” which could be understood as merely permissive.

[8:34]  ⁹ sn To bear the cross means to accept the rejection of the world for turning to Jesus and following him. Discipleship involves a death that is like a crucifixion; see Gal 6:14.