Mark 8:31 - He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Mark 8:31" mean?
Mark 8:31 is a pivotal verse in the Gospel of Mark, marking a turning point in Jesus' ministry. It reveals, for the first time explicitly, Jesus' impending suffering, death, and resurrection. Let's break it down:
"He began to teach them...": This implies that this wasn't a one-off statement but the beginning of a new emphasis in Jesus' teaching. Up until this point, Jesus had focused on his miracles, his authority, and the coming of the Kingdom of God. Now, he's shifting the focus to the path that leads to that Kingdom, which involves suffering.
"...that the Son of Man must suffer many things...": "Son of Man" is a title Jesus frequently used for himself. It has complex roots in the Old Testament, connecting to both human frailty (emphasizing his humanity) and divine power (referencing Daniel 7:13-14, where the Son of Man receives dominion, glory, and a kingdom). The phrase "must suffer" highlights the necessity of suffering in Jesus' mission. It suggests divine purpose and a pre-ordained plan.
"...and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes...": This identifies the specific groups within the Jewish leadership who will be responsible for his rejection and death.
Elders: Leading laymen in the community, often involved in the Sanhedrin (the Jewish ruling council).
Chief priests: Members of the priestly aristocracy, often Sadducees, with significant political and religious power, especially regarding the Temple.
Scribes: Experts in the Jewish law, who interpreted and applied it. They came from different groups, including the Pharisees.
Together, these groups represent the established religious and political authorities of the time. Jesus is predicting that these authorities will not accept him and will, in fact, actively oppose him.
"...and be killed...": This is the stark and direct prediction of his death.
"...and after three days rise again.": This is the crucial element of hope and redemption. Jesus' death is not the end of the story. His resurrection is the ultimate victory over sin and death, validating his claims and fulfilling Old Testament prophecies. The phrase "after three days" is a common way to refer to a short period, with some interpreting it literally and others more figuratively.
In essence, this verse communicates the following key ideas:
Jesus' suffering and death are not accidental but a necessary part of God's plan.
Jesus' rejection will come from the established religious authorities.
Jesus' resurrection is essential to the fulfillment of his mission and the establishment of the Kingdom of God.
This verse is a turning point because it challenges the disciples' (and the readers') expectations of what the Messiah would be like. They likely expected a conquering king who would overthrow Roman rule, not a suffering servant who would be rejected and killed. This prediction of suffering is immediately followed by Peter rebuking Jesus, demonstrating how difficult it was for the disciples to grasp this concept.
Mark 8:31 - He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
What does "Mark 8:31" mean?
Mark 8:31 is a pivotal verse in the Gospel of Mark, marking a turning point in Jesus' ministry. It reveals, for the first time explicitly, Jesus' impending suffering, death, and resurrection. Let's break it down:
"He began to teach them...": This implies that this wasn't a one-off statement but the beginning of a new emphasis in Jesus' teaching. Up until this point, Jesus had focused on his miracles, his authority, and the coming of the Kingdom of God. Now, he's shifting the focus to the path that leads to that Kingdom, which involves suffering.
"...that the Son of Man must suffer many things...": "Son of Man" is a title Jesus frequently used for himself. It has complex roots in the Old Testament, connecting to both human frailty (emphasizing his humanity) and divine power (referencing Daniel 7:13-14, where the Son of Man receives dominion, glory, and a kingdom). The phrase "must suffer" highlights the necessity of suffering in Jesus' mission. It suggests divine purpose and a pre-ordained plan.
"...and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes...": This identifies the specific groups within the Jewish leadership who will be responsible for his rejection and death.
Elders: Leading laymen in the community, often involved in the Sanhedrin (the Jewish ruling council).
Chief priests: Members of the priestly aristocracy, often Sadducees, with significant political and religious power, especially regarding the Temple.
Scribes: Experts in the Jewish law, who interpreted and applied it. They came from different groups, including the Pharisees.
Together, these groups represent the established religious and political authorities of the time. Jesus is predicting that these authorities will not accept him and will, in fact, actively oppose him.
"...and be killed...": This is the stark and direct prediction of his death.
"...and after three days rise again.": This is the crucial element of hope and redemption. Jesus' death is not the end of the story. His resurrection is the ultimate victory over sin and death, validating his claims and fulfilling Old Testament prophecies. The phrase "after three days" is a common way to refer to a short period, with some interpreting it literally and others more figuratively.
In essence, this verse communicates the following key ideas:
Jesus' suffering and death are not accidental but a necessary part of God's plan.
Jesus' rejection will come from the established religious authorities.
Jesus' resurrection is essential to the fulfillment of his mission and the establishment of the Kingdom of God.
This verse is a turning point because it challenges the disciples' (and the readers') expectations of what the Messiah would be like. They likely expected a conquering king who would overthrow Roman rule, not a suffering servant who would be rejected and killed. This prediction of suffering is immediately followed by Peter rebuking Jesus, demonstrating how difficult it was for the disciples to grasp this concept.