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 8:9

8:9 There were about four thousand ⁵  who ate. ⁶  Then he dismissed them. ⁷ 

Mark 8:30-31

8:30 Then ⁸  he warned them not to tell anyone about him. ⁹ 

First Prediction of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection

8:31 Then ¹⁰  Jesus ¹¹  began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer ¹²  many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, ¹³  and be killed, and after three days rise again.

[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.

[8:9]  ⁵ sn The parallel in Matt 15:32-39 notes that the four thousand were only men, a point not made explicit in Mark.

[8:9]  ⁶ tn The words “who ate” are not in the Greek text but have been supplied for clarity.

[8:9]  ⁷ sn Mark 8:1-10. Many commentators, on the basis of similarities between this account of the feeding of the multitude (8:1-10) and that in 6:30-44, have argued that there is only one event referred to in both passages. While there are similarities in language and in the response of the disciples, there are also noticeable differences, including the different number present on each occasion (i.e., 5,000 in chap. 6 and 4,000 here). In the final analysis, the fact that Jesus refers to two distinct feedings in 8:18-20 settles the issue; this passage represents another very similar incident to that recorded in 6:30-44.

[8:30]  ⁸ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “Then” to indicate the conclusion of the episode.

[8:30]  ⁹ sn Mark 8:27-10:52. The entire section 8:27-10:52 is built around three passion predictions of Jesus (8:31; 9:31; 10:33). These predictions form the structure of the section, the content for the section (Jesus’ suffering, death, and the meaning of genuine discipleship) and the mood of the section (i.e., a somber mood). What is interesting is that after each passion prediction, Mark records both the misunderstanding of the disciples and then Jesus’ teaching on the nature of his death and what genuine discipleship is all about: (1) denying oneself (8:34-38); (2) humility and serving (9:33-37); (3) suffering, humble service, and not lording it over people (10:35-45). For further discussion of the structure of the passage, see W. L. Lane, Mark (NICNT), 292-94.

[8:31]  ¹⁰ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[8:31]  ¹¹ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[8:31]  ¹² 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]  ¹³ tn Or “and the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 1:22.