Reading the Gospels Together Passion Predictions – Part 1 We find ourselves on the brink of entering into what scholars often refer to as the Passion Narrative – the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Before we do that there is one more indirect point of contact that we need to consider. In their own ways, each of the four gospel writers tell their readers that Jesus spoke of his coming death and resurrection during the course of his public ministry. In this section we will need to consider Mark 8:31-33, 9:30-32, and 10:32-34; Matthew 16:21-28, 17:22-23, and 20:17-19; Luke 9:21-27, 9:43-45, and 18:31-34; and John 3:14, 6:66-71, 7:32-36, 8:21-30, 10:11-18, and 12:20-36. We have already noticed how Mark has created a very tight and skillfully crafted narrative that centers on a three-fold prediction on the part of Jesus that he must go to Jerusalem where he will be handed over to the religious authorities, be killed and on the third day be raised from the dead. This is all part of Mark’s attempt to tell his readers about Jesus’ attempt to help his disciples learn of his destiny as the Crucified Messiah. It is also a part of Mark’s persistent march of Jesus from the farthest north point of Galilee toward his death in Jerusalem. In each of these three passages Jesus says essentially the same thing. In the first Peter provides the correct response to the question of Jesus’ identity as the Messiah – however, Peter also does not understand that the Messiah must die and so he protests. In fact, all three “passion predictions” are followed by misunderstanding on the part of those who hear. The main point for our consideration at this time is to understand that Mark wants his readers to know that Jesus did predict that he would die and be raised from the dead. Matthew follows Mark very closely and requires no further comment at this point. As far as the content of the “passion predictions” is concerned, Luke also follows Mark quite closely; however, Luke does add so much information into his story that he essentially unravels Mark’s tight narrative and the emphasis is no longer on the persistent march to Jerusalem and the misunderstanding of the disciples regarding Jesus’ predictions. But for our purposes here it is enough to note that Luke also wants his readers to know that Jesus did predict his coming death and resurrection during his public ministry prior to his arrival in Jerusalem. So we can summarize that Mark, Matthew, and Luke speak with one voice regarding the “passion predictions” of Jesus.