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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mar_10:32-34
32They were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking on ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were fearful. And again He took the twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him, 33saying, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles. 34They will mock Him and spit on Him, and scourge Him and kill Him, and three days later He will rise again."
Mar_10:32 "on the road" In the OT the metaphor of a way or path was used to describe the godly life (cf. Psa_23:3; Psa_32:8; Psa_50:23; Psa_119:1; Psa_139:3; Pro_2:12-15; Pro_4:18; Pro_12:28; Pro_15:24). It also describes John the Baptist's ministry of preparing "the way of the Lord" (cf. Isaiah 40). In Acts the earliest title for the church was "the Way" (cf. Act_9:2; Act_19:9; Act_19:23; Act_22:4; Act_22:14; Act_22:22).
Mark seems to structure his Gospel around this biblical metaphor of lifestyle faith (cf. Mar_1:2-3; Mar_8:27; Mar_9:33-34; Mar_10:32; Mar_10:52). Jesus was on a pilgrimage to the cross (cf. Mar_10:45).
▣ "Jesus was walking on ahead of them" This could refer to the Apostolic group or a band of pilgrims heading for the feast in Jerusalem.
▣ "they were amazed, and those who followed were fearful" This phrase must be related to Jesus' three previous prophecies about His suffering and death in Jerusalem at the hands of the Jewish and Roman leaders. Jesus knew what faced Him there and yet He moved toward it with speed and confidence. They may have been worried about how His suffering and death would affect them!
▣ "He took the twelve aside" This is the fourth prediction of Jesus' suffering and death (cf. Mar_8:31; Mar_9:12; Mar_9:31). This is the most detailed of Jesus' predictions. He knew exactly what lay before Him (cf. Mar_10:45). The disciples still could not comprehend its purpose and necessity (cf. Mar_9:32; Luk_9:45; Luk_18:34).
▣ "began to tell them what was going to happen to Him" Most of the verbs in Mar_10:32 are imperfects, which refer to repeated action. I think this also refers to Jesus' repeated prophecy about His suffering; therefore, "began" is the wrong translation of this imperfect (cf. TEV).
In one sense Jesus was revealing His power and authority by knowing the future and having control over His own death and resurrection (cf. Joh_10:17-18).
Mar_10:33 "'Son of Man'" See note at Mar_8:38 c.
▣ "will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes" This was a descriptive phrase for the Sanhedrin (cf. Mar_14:43 ff) which was the supreme court for the Jews, although in the first century it had only limited authority. See Special Topic at Mar_12:13.
Jesus predicted the reaction of the Sanhedrin. Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem and His cleansing of the Temple sealed His fate. The first act infuriated the Pharisees and the second act infuriated the Sadducees.
▣ "will hand Him over to the Gentiles" This referred to the Roman army of occupation (cf. Mar_15:1). The Sanhedrin did not have the power of capital punishment; only the Roman government did.
Mar_10:34 "They will mock Him" This was fulfilled by the Roman soldiers in Mar_15:16-20. Mark does not record Jesus' trial before Herod Antipas (cf. Luke 23).
▣ "spit on Him" This was an OT sign of contempt (cf. Num_12:14; Deu_25:9; Job_17:6; Job_30:10; Isa_50:6). Roman soldiers took out their hatred of all Jews and their exclusivistic ways on Jesus (cf. Mar_14:65).
▣ "scourge" Scourging was a common practice before crucifixion (cf. Mar_15:15). A person's hands were tied to a low stake. A soldier used a whip made with pieces of rock, metal, or bone tied to the ends of leather strips about two feet long to beat the prisoner across the back. The action of the whip tore open the body cavity and knocked out the teeth and even the eyes. Many prisoners died from this beating alone. It was a brutal beating (cf. Isa_52:14).
▣ "and three days later" This is literally "after three days." This time period probably relates to Jonah's experience (cf. Mat_12:39-41; Mat_16:4; Mat_16:21; Luk_11:39; Luk_11:32). It is even mentioned by Paul in his summary of the gospel in 1Co_15:4.
Jesus used this "third day" prophecy in connection with two events: (1) His resurrection from Hades (cf. Mar_8:31; Mar_9:31; Mar_10:34), but also (2) His building of a new temple (cf. Mar_14:58; Mar_15:29; Joh_2:19; Act_6:14).
There is a Greek manuscript variant connected to this phrase. In the parallels (Mat_20:19 and Luk_18:33) there is the phrase "on the third day." This is found here in Mark in MSS A and W. However, Mark's characteristic phrasing found in Mar_8:31; Mar_9:31 is "after three days," which occurs in MSS à , B, C, D, and L.
▣ "He will rise again" This is a future middle indicative. It focuses on Jesus raising Himself (cf. Joh_10:17-18). Most of the passages on the resurrection of Christ are passive voice, focusing on God the Father as the agent of the resurrection showing His acceptance of Jesus' sacrifice. In one sense all of the Trinity is involved in Jesus' resurrection (i.e., the Spirit in Rom_8:11). See Special Topic: Resurrection at Mar_8:31