Mark 8:31
And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Jesus, right after Peter's bold confession of Him as the Messiah, immediately shifts the focus to suffering and rejection. This isn't a secondary detail; the original Greek word translated as "must" emphasizes a divine necessity, framing His suffering not as a tragic accident but as the core of His Messianic mission from the very beginning.
Following Peter's declaration that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus immediately begins to instruct his disciples about his impending suffering and death. He tells them plainly that he must face rejection from the religious leaders, be killed, and then rise again after three days, marking a significant shift in the disciples' understanding of his mission. This teaching directly follows the private conversation with the disciples and prepares them for the costly reality of following him, a truth they are not yet ready to fully grasp.
We often think of the Messiah as a triumphant king. But Jesus introduces a shocking truth: suffering wasn't an optional extra, but a must for the Son of Man.
In Mark 8:31, Jesus uses the phrase 'must suffer.' This word 'must' is incredibly strong. It's not a suggestion, but a divine necessity rooted in God's plan.
Why the 'Must'?
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Mark 8:31 is available in the Sola app.
Imagine announcing your true identity, only to be immediately told that the very people you came to save will reject and kill you. That's the reality Jesus faced.
Jesus doesn't just mention suffering; He highlights being 'rejected.' This rejection comes from the very people who should have recognized and welcomed Him: 'the elders and the chief priests and the scribes.'
Thesting Rejection
After announcing suffering and death, Jesus immediately pivots to the ultimate victory. The story doesn't end with the cross; it explodes with resurrection!
The final phrase of this verse, 'and after three days rise again,' is the crucial counterpoint to the suffering and rejection. It’s the divine promise that anchors faith.
The Power of the Resurrection
Jesus makes it clear: the suffering and death were necessary, but the resurrection is the ultimate demonstration of God's power and the guarantee of His plan.
Understand the original words
huios tou anthropou · Greek Noun phrase
A title often used by Jesus to refer to Himself, drawing on the messianic figure in Daniel 7:13-14, emphasizing both His humanity and His divine authority.
pathein · Greek Verb
To undergo pain, distress, or death; in a theological context, it refers to the vicarious suffering of Christ on behalf of sinners.
apodokimasthēnai · Greek Verb
The act of refusing to accept or acknowledge someone's authority or identity; specifically applied to the religious leaders' rejection of Jesus as the Messiah.
anastēnai · Greek Verb
To rise from the dead; a central doctrine of the Christian faith signifying Christ's victory over sin, death, and the grave.
This passage marks a dramatic turning point where Jesus transitions from revealing his identity to revealing the nature of his mission: a path of suffering and rejection, not immediate earthly glory, directly challenging the disciples' expectations.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Galilean Ministry
Jesus conducts his public ministry in Galilee, attracting large crowds and performing miracles, leading to widespread popular belief that he might be the promised Messiah.
c. AD 30
Peter's Confession
During a journey north of Galilee, Peter boldly confesses Jesus as the Christ, a pivotal moment where Jesus' identity is affirmed by his closest followers.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus Predicts His Suffering
Immediately following Peter's confession, Jesus begins to teach his disciples that the Son of Man must suffer, be rejected, killed, and rise again.
c. AD 30
Jesus Rebukes Peter
Peter, unable to accept the idea of a suffering Messiah, rebukes Jesus, who in turn rebukes Peter sharply, calling him Satan for focusing on human concerns rather than God's.
c. AD 30
Jesus Teaches on Discipleship
Jesus then addresses all his disciples, teaching that following him requires self-denial, taking up one's cross, and losing one's life for his sake.
c. AD 30
Jesus Foretells Future Glory
Jesus assures his disciples that some among them will witness the coming of the kingdom of God in power before they taste death.
This Old Testament prophecy describes the suffering Servant of God who would be despised and rejected by people, directly foreshadowing the rejection Jesus speaks of in Mark 8:31.
Psalm 22:1The lament in this psalm, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?', echoes the cries of suffering and abandonment Jesus would experience, highlighting the depth of his anguish.
Zechariah 13:7This passage prophesies the striking of the shepherd and the scattering of the sheep, which Jesus alludes to when he speaks of being killed and his disciples fleeing.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4This New Testament summary of the gospel message directly mirrors Jesus' teaching about his death and resurrection, confirming its central importance.
Matthew 16:21This parallel passage in Matthew shows that Jesus began to reveal his suffering and death after Peter's confession, indicating a pivotal moment in his disciples' understanding.
expositorsMark 8:27-32: "And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?"
CHAPTER 8:27-32 (Mark 8:27-32)THE CONFESSION AND THE WARNING "And Jesus went forth, and His disciples, into the villages of Caesarea Philippi: and in the way He asked His disciples, saying unto them, Who do men say that I am? And they told Him, saying, John the Baptist: and others, Elijah; but others, One of the prophets.…
calvinMark 8:30-37: "And he charged them that they should tell no man of him."
- Then he charged his disciples [451] not to tell any one that he was Jesus the Christ. 21. From that time Jesus began to make known to his disciples, that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, and the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and be raised again on the third day. 22. And Peter, taking him aside, [452] began to rebuke him, saying, Lord, spare thyself; [453] this shall not h…
Jesus, right after Peter's bold confession of Him as the Messiah, immediately shifts the focus to suffering and rejection. This isn't a secondary detail; the original Greek word translated as "must" emphasizes a divine necessity, framing His suffering not as a tragic accident but as the core of His Messianic mission from the very beginning.
Following Peter's declaration that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus immediately begins to instruct his disciples about his impending suffering and death. He tells them plainly that he must face rejection from the religious leaders, be killed, and then rise again after three days, marking a significant shift in the disciples' understanding of his mission. This teaching directly follows the private conversation with the disciples and prepares them for the costly reality of following him, a truth they are not yet ready to fully grasp.
Following Peter's declaration that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus immediately begins to instruct his disciples about his impending suffering and death. He tells them plainly that he must face rejection from the religious leaders, be killed, and then rise again after three days, marking a significant shift in the disciples' understanding of his mission. This teaching directly follows the private conversation with the disciples and prepares them for the costly reality of following him, a truth they are not yet ready to fully grasp.
"And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again." — Jesus, right after Peter's bold confession of Him as the Messiah, immediately shifts the focus to suffering and rejection. This isn't a secondary detail; the original Greek word translated as "must"…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
