8:31–9:1 This passage completes the scene begun in 8:27–30, gives us the first of three predictions by Jesus of his impending suffering and death (cf. 9:30–32; 10:32–34), and sets the terms for discipleship as a following of him even to death. We must understand that in ancient Judaism there was no concept that the Messiah would suffer the sort of horrible fate that Jesus describes in 8:31. Thus Peter’s response in 8:32 is in one sense fully understandable. All definitions of the nature and function of Messiah must be subsumed to the reality that God’s Christ, Jesus, was obedient, undergoing bitter suffering and death in accordance with the plan of God. To ignore or downplay this is to be on the side of erroneous human thought and against God’s will. Indeed, it is to be under the sway of S…