Hitherto He had refrained from making known to them anything relative to His sufferings and death. In His conversation with Nicodemus He had said, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:14, 15. But the disciples did not hear this, and had they heard, would not have understood. But now they have been with Jesus, listening to His words, beholding His works, until, notwithstanding the humility of His surroundings, and the opposition of priests and people, they can join in the testimony of Peter, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Now the time has come for the veil that hides the future to be withdrawn. "From that time forth began Jesus to show unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day."

Hidtil havde han ladet være med at fortælle dem noget, der stod i forbindelse med hans lidelse og død. Under sin samtale med Nikodemus havde han sagt: "Ligesom Moses ophøjede slangen i ørkenen, sådan må Menneskesønnen ophøjes, for at enhver, som tror, skal have evigt liv i ham." Joh. 3,14-15. Men disciplene hørte ikke dette, og hvis de havde hørt det, ville de ikke have forstået det. Men nu havde de været sammen med Jesus, havde lyttet til hans ord og set hans undergerninger, indtil de på trods af hans ringe ydre forhold og præsternes og folkets modstand kunne slutte op om Peters vidnesbyrd: "Du er Kristus, den levende Guds Søn." Nu var tiden kommet, hvor sløret kunne drages bort fra fremtiden. "Fra den tid begyndte Jesus at give sine disciple til kende, at han skulle gå til Jerusalem og lide meget ondt af de ældste og ypperstepræsterne og de skriftkloge og dræbes, men opvækkes på den tredje dag."