The verse highlights that the Scriptures, now understood in light of the resurrection, revealed the necessity of Christ’s suffering and rising, not just that it would happen. This wasn't a plan B; it was the divinely ordained path from the beginning.
and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just revealed Himself to His disciples, proving His resurrection with physical evidence and opening their minds to understand the Scriptures. He is explaining that His suffering and death were not a tragic accident, but the necessary fulfillment of what the Old Testament prophets foretold about the Messiah. This sets the stage for His commission to them to preach repentance and forgiveness in His name.
Did Jesus have to suffer and die? Was his resurrection a surprise, or something foretold and even necessary?
This verse cuts straight to the heart of the Gospel message. Jesus, speaking to his disciples after his resurrection, emphasizes that his suffering and resurrection weren't accidental.
The Word 'Behoved'
Many ancient manuscripts read 'Thus it is written that the Christ should suffer.' This phrasing, along with older translations that use 'thus it behooved Christ to suffer,' highlights a profound truth: Jesus' path to the cross and his subsequent rising were not merely events that happened, but they had to happen. This 'necessity' wasn't forced upon God, but rather it was inherent in His plan for redemption. The suffering was the appointed means, and the resurrection on the third day was the divinely ordained outcome.
Fulfillment of Scripture
Jesus immediately grounds this necessity in 'Thus it is written.' This points to the Old Testament scriptures, which the disciples would soon understand in a new light. The Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms all pointed forward to a suffering Messiah who would ultimately triumph over death. This wasn't a contingency plan; it was the core of God's redemptive strategy from the beginning.
When Jesus is called 'the Christ,' it's more than just a name. What does this title reveal about his mission?
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Pay close attention to the definite article before 'Christ' in this verse: 'that the Christ should suffer.' This isn't just any person; it's the Anointed One, the Messiah, the promised King and Savior.
The Promised One
By referring to 'the Christ,' Jesus points to a specific, long-awaited figure prophesied throughout the Old Testament. This wasn't a generic title but referred to the unique Son of God, the fulfillment of all God's promises to Israel and the world.
A Suffering Messiah?
For many Jews at the time, the idea of 'the Christ' conjured images of a triumphant king, a political liberator. Jesus, however, reveals a different, more profound aspect of the Messiah's identity. The scriptures foretold not only his reign but also his suffering. This verse is a foundational explanation that the path to glory for 'the Christ' was through suffering and death, followed by resurrection.
Understand the original words
Christos · Greek Noun
The Greek term for the Hebrew 'Messiah,' referring to the Anointed One of God who fulfills the Old Testament prophecies regarding the redeemer of Israel. He is the central figure of the New Testament, embodying the roles of prophet, priest, and king.
metanoia · Greek Noun
The act of changing one's mind, heart, and direction. It involves a turning away from sin and a turning toward God, acknowledging Him as Lord and Savior.
aphesis · Greek Noun
The act of releasing, canceling, or pardoning a debt or penalty. In the Bible, it signifies the removal of the legal and spiritual burden of sin through the sacrifice of Jesus.
hamartia · Greek Noun
Moral failure or transgression against God's law. Sin encompasses both acts of disobedience and the inherent fallen nature of humanity that separates it from a holy God.
This verse lands at the pivotal moment of Jesus' resurrection appearances. His explanation anchors his suffering and rising in the Old Testament, demonstrating how God's plan, revealed in scripture over centuries, was unfolding precisely as written.
c. 1500 BC
The Law and Prophets Written
The foundational texts of the Old Testament, including the Law of Moses and the Prophets, are written and compiled. These scriptures contain prophecies and foreshadowings of a suffering Messiah, though their full meaning would only become clear later.
c. 30-33 AD— this verse
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth is crucified in Jerusalem and, according to Christian belief, rises from the dead on the third day. This event is the central fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah.
c. 30-33 AD
Jesus Appears to Disciples
In the days following his resurrection, Jesus appears to his disciples, including on the road to Emmaus and in Jerusalem. He commissions them and opens their understanding to the Scriptures.
c. 33 AD
Ascension of Jesus
Jesus ascends into heaven from the Mount of Olives, promising the coming of the Holy Spirit to empower his followers.
c. 33 AD
Pentecost and the Coming of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit descends upon the disciples in Jerusalem, empowering them to preach the Gospel. This marks the beginning of the church's mission.
c. 40-60 AD
Early Church Mission
The apostles and early Christians begin to spread the message of Jesus' suffering and resurrection throughout Judea, Samaria, and beyond, fulfilling Jesus' commission.
This foundational Old Testament passage directly foretells the suffering of the Servant of the Lord, which Jesus is now explaining as a fulfillment of Scripture.
Psalm 16:10This psalm speaks of the Messiah not being left in the grave, pointing to the resurrection that Jesus is confirming to his disciples.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4Paul reiterates the core gospel message, echoing Jesus' words here by stating that Christ died for our sins and was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures.
Acts 2:23In Peter's sermon, he directly references Jesus' suffering and resurrection as having been foreordained by God and carried out by human hands, aligning with Jesus' explanation.
Genesis 3:15Often called the 'protoevangelium' or first gospel, this verse in Genesis hints at a future 'seed' who would crush the serpent's head, a concept fulfilled through Christ's suffering and victory over death.
pooleLuke 24:46: "And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:"
All the Divine predictions are certain and infallible. The Jews did maliciously and freely prosecute our Saviour to death, and God did certainly foresee how their wills would be determined, and the event was accomplished accordingly.
vincentLuke 24:46: "And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:"
Thus it behovedThe best texts omit. Render, as Rev., thus it is written that the Christ should suffer.Christ (τὸν Χριστὸν)Note the article, the Christ, and see on Matthew 1:1.
The verse highlights that the Scriptures, now understood in light of the resurrection, revealed the necessity of Christ’s suffering and rising, not just that it would happen. This wasn't a plan B; it was the divinely ordained path from the beginning.
Jesus has just revealed Himself to His disciples, proving His resurrection with physical evidence and opening their minds to understand the Scriptures. He is explaining that His suffering and death were not a tragic accident, but the necessary fulfillment of what the Old Testament prophets foretold about the Messiah. This sets the stage for His commission to them to preach repentance and forgiveness in His name.
Jesus has just revealed Himself to His disciples, proving His resurrection with physical evidence and opening their minds to understand the Scriptures. He is explaining that His suffering and death were not a tragic accident, but the necessary fulfillment of what the Old Testament prophets foretold about the Messiah. This sets the stage for His commission to them to preach repentance and forgiveness in His name.
"and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem." — The verse highlights that the Scriptures, now understood in light of the resurrection, revealed the necessity of Christ’s suffering and rising, not just that it would happen. This wasn't a plan B;…
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Last reviewed October 2026
