Mark 9:31
for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus uses the present tense "is delivered" not because it's happening right then, but to show how absolutely certain this future event is in God's plan, as if it were already decided and on its way. The phrase "after that he is killed" emphasizes that his resurrection is dependent on his death, not separate from it, highlighting the crucial link between the sacrifice and the victory.
Jesus had just demonstrated His power by casting out a demon, but His disciples were still grappling with His identity and the true nature of His kingdom, especially after a recent dispute among them about who was the greatest. As they continued their journey through Galilee, Jesus intentionally sought privacy to teach them a difficult truth: His impending suffering, death, and resurrection, a message they struggled to comprehend.
Jesus uses a unique tense when talking about his coming death. What does this reveal about how he saw his future?
Notice how Jesus says, 'The Son of Man is delivered into the hands of men.' The Greek word for 'is delivered' (paradidōtai) is in the present tense. This isn't just a future event for Jesus; it's something he experienced as a present reality in his mind and heart, even before it physically happened. It highlights his determined purpose and the certainty of God's plan unfolding. This wasn't a passive resignation but an active embracing of God's will, already 'being plotted' and determined.
Why the Present Tense?
The disciples heard Jesus predict his death, but they didn't grasp it. Why was their understanding so blocked?
Despite Jesus's clear words – 'they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise' – the disciples 'understood not the saying, and were afraid to ask him.' Their minds were clouded not by lack of intelligence, but by the weight of their own expectations and the shock of his words.
The Disciples' Struggle:
Understand the original words
huios tou anthropou · Greek Noun Phrase
A messianic title derived from Daniel 7:13-14, referring to the one who receives authority from God. It emphasizes both the humanity of Jesus and His divine, heavenly origin and role as the suffering, dying, and risen Savior.
paradidotai · Greek Verb
In the context of the Passion, this indicates the divine providence of God allowing Jesus to be handed over to human authorities to be put to death, fulfilling the plan of salvation. It implies betrayal by Judas, abandonment by friends, and submission to the will of the Father.
anastēsetai · Greek Verb
To come back to life after physical death. In the New Testament, it refers to Jesus' bodily resurrection by the power of God, which serves as the foundation of the Christian faith and the guarantee of the believer's future resurrection.
Jesus' repeated predictions of his death and resurrection were delivered during a specific period of his ministry, as he and his disciples were traveling through Galilee and heading towards Jerusalem. This timeline highlights how these profound teachings, though misunderstood by his followers, were part of a deliberate plan to prepare them for the inevitable events of the Passion week.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Galilean Ministry
Jesus spent significant time teaching and performing miracles in Galilee, gathering a following of disciples. During this period, he began to predict his coming suffering and death.
c. AD 30
Transfiguration Event
Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a mountain where he was transfigured, speaking with Moses and Elijah. This event further prepared his inner circle for his divine nature and coming suffering.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Teaching on Humility
Following the Transfiguration and a failed exorcism by his disciples, Jesus focused on teaching them about humility and the true nature of greatness in the Kingdom of God.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus' Prediction of Death and Resurrection
During a period of private teaching while traveling through Galilee, Jesus explicitly told his disciples that he would be delivered up, killed, and rise again after three days.
This passage vividly describes the Messiah as despised and rejected, a man of sorrows who would be handed over, which directly foreshadows Jesus' own words about being delivered into the hands of men.
Psalm 22:1The cry 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' from this Psalm was uttered by Jesus on the cross, reflecting the profound sense of abandonment he would experience when 'killed,' as he foretold.
Hosea 6:2This verse speaks of God reviving us after two days and raising us up on the third day, directly mirroring Jesus' prediction of his own resurrection after three days.
Daniel 9:26This prophecy foretells that the Anointed One will be cut off but not for himself, and speaks of a future destruction, aligning with the prediction of the Son of Man being killed and the ensuing events.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4Paul reiterates the core of Jesus' message here, stating that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and rose again on the third day, confirming the foundational truth of Jesus' prediction.
expositorsMark 9:28-37: "And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?"
CHAPTER 9:28-37 (Mark 9:28-37)JESUS AND THE DISCIPLES "And when He was come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, saying, We could not cast it out. And He said unto them, This kind can come out by nothing, save by prayer. And they went forth from thence, and passed through Galilee; and He would not that any man should know it. For He taught His disciples, and said…
calvinMark 9:30-36: "And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it."
- And while they remained in Galilee, Jesus said to them, The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men: 23. And they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again. And they were deeply grieved.
Matthew 18:1-5
- At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2. And Jesus, having called a little child to him, p…
Jesus uses the present tense "is delivered" not because it's happening right then, but to show how absolutely certain this future event is in God's plan, as if it were already decided and on its way. The phrase "after that he is killed" emphasizes that his resurrection is dependent on his death, not separate from it, highlighting the crucial link between the sacrifice and the victory.
Jesus had just demonstrated His power by casting out a demon, but His disciples were still grappling with His identity and the true nature of His kingdom, especially after a recent dispute among them about who was the greatest. As they continued their journey through Galilee, Jesus intentionally sought privacy to teach them a difficult truth: His impending suffering, death, and resurrection, a message they struggled to comprehend.
Jesus had just demonstrated His power by casting out a demon, but His disciples were still grappling with His identity and the true nature of His kingdom, especially after a recent dispute among them about who was the greatest. As they continued their journey through Galilee, Jesus intentionally sought privacy to teach them a difficult truth: His impending suffering, death, and resurrection, a message they struggled to comprehend.
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This isn't just about their failure; it’s a stark reminder of how our own preconceived ideas and emotional responses can prevent us from truly understanding God's purposes, especially when they involve suffering or challenges.
mathētas · Greek Noun
One who learns from a master, specifically a follower of Jesus Christ. A disciple is characterized by adherence to Jesus' teachings, imitation of His life, and total commitment to His mission.
c. AD 30
Journey Towards Jerusalem
Jesus and his disciples began their final journey towards Jerusalem, where the predicted events of his passion would unfold. This journey was marked by Jesus' continued teaching and the disciples' misunderstanding.
c. AD 30
Palm Sunday Entry into Jerusalem
Jesus made a triumphant entry into Jerusalem, fulfilling prophecy, but this public event was overshadowed by his private predictions of suffering and death.
"for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”" — Jesus uses the present tense "is delivered" not because it's happening right then, but to show how absolutely certain this future event is in God's plan, as if it were already decided and on its way.…
