Single lesson
Jesus Again Predicts His Death
Matthew 17:22–23; Mark 9:30–32; Luke 9:43–45
Jesus told his disciples something very important more than once. In these verses, he says clearly that he will be handed over, killed, and then rise again, while his disciples struggle to understand and respond.
Before you teach
These verses come from Matthew, Mark, and Luke. In Galilee, Jesus speaks to his disciples about what will happen to him. Luke says people were astonished at the majesty of God and marvelling at what Jesus did, yet Jesus directs attention to his coming suffering. The disciples respond with sorrow, confusion, and fear.
Students will be able to say what Jesus predicted, describe how the disciples responded, and name one way to listen carefully when Jesus says something hard to understand.
Welcome: Listen carefully to Jesus
5 minBegin by telling the group that today they will hear Jesus say something serious and important. Ask children to listen for three parts: what will happen to Jesus, when he says he will rise, and how the disciples react. Explain that Luke records Jesus saying, “Let these words sink into your ears”, which means listen closely and remember.
Luke 9:44
Read and explain: What Jesus predicted
8 minRead the verses aloud from the Bible. Explain that “the Son of Man” is the title Jesus uses for himself in these verses. Point out the repeated message: Jesus says he will be delivered into the hands of men, they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised or rise again. Mark also notes that Jesus was teaching his disciples as they travelled through Galilee.
Matthew 17:22, Matthew 17:23, Mark 9:30, Mark 9:31, Luke 9:43, Luke 9:44
Discuss: How the disciples responded
7 minTalk about the different responses named in the passage. Matthew says the disciples were exceedingly sorry. Mark says they did not understand and were afraid to ask. Luke also says they did not understand and were afraid to ask, even though Jesus had just told them to listen carefully. Help children see that in these verses Jesus speaks clearly, yet the disciples still respond with sadness, confusion, and fear.
Matthew 17:23, Mark 9:32, Luke 9:44, Luke 9:45
Make and respond: Reminder card
7 minChildren make a small reminder card with a short line from the lesson, such as “Let these words sink into your ears” or “On the third day he will rise again”. After writing, ask each child to say one true thing Jesus predicted and one response from the disciples. This gives a simple way to practise remembering Jesus’ words carefully.
Luke 9:44, Matthew 17:23, Mark 9:31, Mark 9:32
Closing: Jesus’ words matter even when they are hard
3 minFinish by reviewing the lesson in three sentences: Jesus knew what was going to happen to him, Jesus told his disciples clearly, and the disciples were sorrowful and confused. Encourage the class to listen carefully to Jesus’ words and to ask honest questions when something is hard to understand. Close with the optional prayer.
Matthew 17:22, Matthew 17:23, Mark 9:31, Luke 9:45
Questions to explore
What three things did Jesus say would happen to the Son of Man?
Look for the repeated pattern in Matthew and Mark: handed over, killed, and then raised or rise again on the third day.
Matthew 17:22, Matthew 17:23, Mark 9:31
What were the disciples feeling and what did they fail to do?
Matthew mentions sorrow, while Mark and Luke say they did not understand and were afraid to ask Jesus about it.
Matthew 17:23, Mark 9:32, Luke 9:45
Why is Luke 9:44 an important instruction for this passage?
Jesus tells them to let his words sink into their ears, so the verse highlights careful listening to what he is saying about himself.
Luke 9:44
Make, think or respond
Listen and Remember Card
What you’ll need
- card or paper
- pencils or pens
- crayons or markers
Try it together
- Give each child a small piece of card or folded paper.
- Ask them to write one short sentence from the lesson, such as “Let these words sink into your ears” or “The third day he will be raised up”.
- Invite them to draw an ear or the number 3 to help them remember the verse meaning.
- Let each child read their card aloud and say one way the disciples responded in the passage.
The card helps children remember Jesus’ serious words and the disciples’ response of sorrow and misunderstanding.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, give two choices for the reminder sentence and let them copy one, then answer the question orally with help.
- For older children, ask them to compare Matthew, Mark, and Luke and list one detail each writer includes, such as sorrow, private teaching, or the instruction to listen carefully.
An optional closing prayer
You could pray: “Dear Jesus, thank you for speaking clearly to your disciples. Please help us listen carefully to your words, even when we do not understand everything straight away. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Matthew 17
22 While they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered up into the hands of men,
23 and they will kill him, and the third day he will be raised up.” They were exceedingly sorry.
Mark 9
30 They went out from there and passed through Galilee. He didn’t want anyone to know it,
31 for he was teaching his disciples, and said to them, “The Son of Man is being handed over to the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, on the third day he will rise again.”
32 But they didn’t understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.
Luke 9
43 They were all astonished at the majesty of God. But while all were marveling at all the things which Jesus did, he said to his disciples,
44 “Let these words sink into your ears, for the Son of Man will be delivered up into the hands of men.”
45 But they didn’t understand this saying. It was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.