Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 9:22

"saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up." — Luke 9:22 (ASV)

This statement is known as the first passion prediction. Although there had been foreshadowings of a dark fate for Jesus—Simeon’s prediction (2:35) and Jesus’ statement about the bridegroom (5:35)—here in Jesus’ words is the first explicit recitation in Luke of the sequence of events at the close of his life. The entire following teaching on discipleship requires some basic understanding of the Passion and, indeed, of the Crucifixion, since Jesus mentions the Cross (v.23). The use of the term “Son of Man” in vv.22, 26 is understandable, assuming (1) that Jesus used it frequently, (2) that he used it especially in connection with his passion (see comment on Mk 8:31), and (3) that the occurrence of the term in Mt 16:14 is not editorial but reflects Jesus’ actual use of it in his initial question to the disciples.