16:21–23 From that time on marks a new stage in Jesus’ revelation of himself to his disciples. They had acknowledged his messiahship, but now they must be prepared to follow a Messiah who would go to Jerusalem and suffer at the hands of the orthodox religious establishment. There he would be put to death, but after three days he would rise again. In verse 21 we have the first definite prediction of the passion (cf. 17:22–23 and 20:18–19 for the two other predictions in Matthew). When Jesus says that he must go to Jerusalem, he is saying that this course of action is determined by God’s will expressed in Scripture. It is the divine intention that the Messiah be put to death. Opposition comes from the elders (respected community leaders), chief priests (primarily Sadducees), and teachers of …