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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mar_9:30-32
30From there they went out and began to go through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know about it. 31For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, "The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later." 32But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.
Mar_9:30 "began to go through Galilee" This is still the setting of leaving the Mountain of Transfiguration and moving south through Galilee. Jesus wanted to personally speak to as many people as possible.
▣ "He did not want anyone to know about it" This is another aspect of Jesus' desire not to be known as a healer or miracle worker because the press of the crowds seeking physical help made it impossible for Him to teach and preach.
Mar_9:31 "Son of Man" See note at Mar_8:38 c.
▣ "is to be delivered" This is a present passive indicative. The term means "to hand over to the authorities." This was the third time that Jesus had clearly revealed to the disciples what would happen in Jerusalem (cf. Mar_8:31; Mar_9:12).
▣ "'He will rise'" See Special Topic at Mar_8:31.
▣ "three days" In Jewish recording of time, it was probably about 30-38 hours (i.e., a brief time on Friday before twilight, all of Saturday, and part of Sunday before dawn). This time period is linked to Jonah's experience several times (cf. Mat_12:39-40; Mat_16:3; Luk_11:29-32).
Mar_9:32 "they did not understand" This is a recurrent theme in the Synoptic Gospels. Luke's Gospel reveals the situation clearly.
1. the disciples did not understand (Luk_2:50; Luk_9:45; Luk_18:34)
2. they should have because Jesus' words were interpreted for them (Luk_8:10)
3. Jesus opened the minds of the disciples (Luk_24:45)
They were as blind as the crowds until Jesus' words and the Spirit's inspiration opened their closed minds and hearts to the truth of the new covenant. The fallen human mind cannot understand except by the help of the Spirit and even then it is a slow growing process from salvation to sanctification.