The text of Mark 10:32-34 states the beginning of the final stage of Jesus’s life as he began his journey to Jerusalem where he would be crucified.
“Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: ‘Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again’”
As Jesus had already spoken to them twice about His eventual death, no doubt his determination to go directly to the source of his opposition (Jerusalem) was both amazing (“they were amazed”) and troubling (“they were afraid”) to His disciples. For a third time Jesus declares His impending death, this time to the twelve as He took them aside.
What is wonderful in this passage is how accurately Jesus described what would happen to Him. In the next chapter, Jesus’ entry into the city is described in triumphant terms, but it would not be long before He was betrayed, and the tide would turn. Concerning these final events:
“The Son of Man will be betrayed (delivered) to the chief priests and to the scribes” (This accurately describes the events of Jesus’ betrayal by Judas, and his arrest in the Garden. (cf. 14:10-11, 43-50).
“and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles.” The Jewish leaders held a mock trial, and condemned Jesus to death. They delivered Him to Pilate, the Roman authority of the day. The execution orders came from the governor. (14:53-65; 15:1).
“and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him.” All of these things happened at Jesus crucifixion. He was scourged (15:15); He was mocked and spat upon (15:16-20); and finally, He was executed (15:21-31).
“And the third day He will rise again.” Thanks be to God, Jesus is our resurrected Savior. What men sought to destroy, God determined to be the redemption of all mankind. Just as Jesus prophesied, He was resurrected on the third day! (16:1-8). As Peter proclaimed, “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36).
