Elders, chief priests, and scribes are the three groups of men who made up the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high court. This court was the most influential political and religious authority in Israel.1 Jesus is thus saying that he will be rejected by the leaders of the Jewish people, a fulfilment of Isaiah 53:3. This needs to happen so that he can bear the sins of God’s people and fulfil his mission as the Christ (Isaiah 53:4–12). Suffering, then glory, was the God-appointed mission for the Son of Man.2 We thus see that the death of Jesus was not a mistake; it was part of God’s plan.
31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.