For He taught His disciples, saying to them, “The Son of man will be handed over to [evil] men and they will kill Him, and three days after He dies He will rise up again.”
From that time onward Jesus began to explain to His disciples that He would have to go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the [Jewish] elders, leading priests, and experts in the Law of Moses; [that He would then] be killed and [yet] raised up on the third day.
Even so, the Son of man did not come to be served [by others] but to be the servant [of others], and to sacrifice His life as a ransom price to purchase many people [i.e., back from Satan].”
“You know that the Passover Festival will be celebrated in two more days [Note: This was the annual Jewish festival commemorating Israel’s deliverance from Egyptian bondage under Moses’ leadership], and the Son of man will be turned over to be crucified.”
Jesus then began teaching them that the Son of man must suffer very much, be rejected by the [Jewish] elders, leading priests, and experts in the Law of Moses and be killed, but rise again [from the dead] after three days.
Jesus answered them, “Elijah truly will come first and restore all things [i.e., to their proper perspective concerning the Messiah]. And it is [also] written [in the Scriptures] about the Son of man, that He would suffer very much and be rejected.
Was it not necessary for the Christ [i.e., God’s specially chosen one] to suffer these things, and [then] to enter His glorious state [with the Father]?”
No one is taking it away from me, but I am giving it up voluntarily. I have the right to give it up and I have the right to take it back again. I received the commandment to do this from my Father.”
If we endure [i.e., remain faithful through suffering], we will also rule with Him [i.e., both here and hereafter]. If we deny Him, He will also deny us. [See Matt. 10:33].