Jesus and his faithful band had begun their final journey to Jerusalem; it was the last trip that they would take together. Along the way Jesus told them again that he would be condemned to death by the authorities, he would die, but would be raised on the third day. It would happen to him on this very trip to Jerusalem, he said. This was the third time that Jesus had made this prophecy in the presence of his followers. Yet this time, according to Matthew, there was no reaction of shock or disbelief by the disciples, like there had been the other times that Jesus had foretold his death (Matthew 16:22; Matthew 17:23). Perhaps they were just becoming accustomed to living with such a horrible thought. Perhaps they were just becoming hardened. Or perhaps they were beginning to believe it.

Is …