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Jesus' Foretold Suffering and Glory in the Gospels

The Gospels consistently present Jesus' suffering and subsequent glory as a central theme, often foretold and understood as a necessary part of God's redemptive plan [10, 11]. This dual aspect of Christ's experience—humiliation followed by exaltation—is rooted in Old Testament prophecy and articulated throughout the New Testament [10].

The concept of the "gospel" itself, meaning "good message" or "good news," is applied to the four inspired accounts of Jesus' life and teachings [2, 4]. These narratives emphasize that the Messiah "ought to suffer and then to enter into his glory" [18, quoting Luke 24:26]. Jesus himself foretold his suffering, including betrayal, crucifixion, and death, on multiple occasions [11]. For instance, Matthew records Jesus' prediction that he "must suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised" (Matthew 16:21) [11]. This suffering was not accidental but was understood as God's sovereign and necessary purpose for the Messiah [11].

Prophecies in the Old Testament extensively detailed the suffering Christ would endure. Passages like Psalm 22:6-8 and Isaiah 53:3 foretold the scorn and mocking Jesus would face [6]. Isaiah 53, in particular, is highlighted as a chapter that "plainly and fully prophesied of" both Christ's sufferings and the glory that would follow [10]. These prophecies included his voluntary submission to persecution (Isaiah 50:6) and his patient endurance under it (Isaiah 53:7) [3]. The fulfillment of these Scriptures was deemed necessary for Christ's mission [5, 13].

Following his suffering, Jesus was destined to enter into glory. This glory is intrinsically linked to his resurrection, which was also foretold by prophets (Psalm 16:10, Acts 13:34-35) and by Jesus himself (Matthew 20:19, John 2:19-22) [5]. The resurrection was essential for the fulfillment of Scripture, the forgiveness of sins, justification, and the efficacy of Christian hope and preaching [5]. The author of Hebrews notes that Jesus was "crowned with glory and honour, which was made litle inferiour to the Angels, through the suffering of death, that by Gods grace he might taste death for all men" (Hebrews 2:9, Geneva 1599) [1]. This progression from suffering to glory was not seen as a disgrace but as a plan "highly becoming God" [12].

The Gospels also connect the suffering and glory of Christ to the experience of his followers. Jesus taught that those who follow him would face a similar fate, stating that disciples must take up their cross and follow him (Matthew 16:24-28) [11]. Christians are encouraged to "rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory" (1 Peter 4:13) [7]. This perspective acknowledges that Christians can expect hostility from a sinful world, especially when seeking to live godly lives [8]. Paul, for example, exemplified this by enduring hardship and even blessing those who cursed him, in line with Jesus' teaching [9]. The suffering of saints is seen as a participation in the sufferings of Christ, leading to a future glory [7].

Sources

  1. Hebrews “Hebrews 2:9 (Geneva1599) — But we see Iesus crowned with glory and honour, which was made litle inferiour to the Angels, through the suffering of death, that by Gods grace he might taste death for all men.”
  2. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Gospels — The name Gospel (from god and spell, Ang. Sax. good message or news, which is a translation of the Greek euaggelion) is applied to the four inspired histories of the life and teaching of Christ contained in the New Testament, of which separate accounts are given in their place. They were all composed during the latter half of the first century: those of St. Matthew and St. Mark some years before the destruction of Jerusalem; that of St. Luke probably about A.D. 64; and that of St. John towards the close of the century. Before the end of the second century, t”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Persecution — Christ suffered -- Ps 69:26; Joh 5:16. Christ voluntarily submitted to -- Isa 50:6. Christ was patient under -- Isa 53:7. Saints may expect -- Mr 10:30; Lu 21:12; Joh 15:20. Saints suffer, for the sake of God -- Jer 15:15. Of saints, is a persecution of Christ -- Zec 2:8; Ac 9:4,5. All that live godly in Christ, shall suffer -- 2Ti 3:12. Originates Ignorance of God and Christ. -- Joh 16:3. Hated to God and Christ. -- Joh 15:20,24. Hatred to the gospel. -- Mt 13:21. Pride. -- Ps 10:2. Mistaken zeal. -- Ac 13:50; 26:9-11. Is inconsistent with the spirit o”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Gospels — The central fact of Christian preaching was the intelligence that the Saviour had come into the world (Matt. 4:23; Rom. 10:15); and the first Christian preachers who called their account of the person and mission of Christ by the term evangelion_ (= good message) were called _evangelistai (= evangelists) (Eph. 4:11; Acts 21:8). There are four historical accounts of the person and work of Christ: "the first by Matthew, announcing the Redeemer as the promised King of the kingdom of God; the second by Mark, declaring him a prophet, mighty in deed and word'; th”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Resurrection of Christ, The — Foretold by the prophets -- Ps 16:10; Ac 13:34,35; Isa 26:19. Foretold by Himself -- Mt 20:19; Mr 9:9; 14:28; Joh 2:19-22. Was necessary to The fulfilment of Scripture. -- Lu 24:45,46. Forgiveness of sins. -- 1Co 15:17. Justification. -- Ro 4:25; 8:34. Hope. -- 1Co 15:19. The efficacy of preaching. -- 1Co 15:14. The efficacy of faith. -- 1Co 15:14,17. A proof of his being the Son of God -- Ps 2:7; Ac 13:33; Ro 1:4. Effected by The power of God. -- Ac 2:24; 3:15; Ro 8:11; Eph 1:20; Col 2:12. His own power. -- Joh 2:19; 10:18. The power of”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Scorning and Mocking — The sufferings of Christ by, predicted -- Ps 22:6-8; Isa 53:3; Lu 18:32. Christ endured -- Mt 9:24; 27:29. Saints endure, on account of Being children of God. -- Ge 21:9; Ga 4:29. Their uprightness. -- Job 12:4. Their faith. -- Heb 11:36. Their faithfulness in declaring the word of God. -- Jer 20:7,8. Their zeal for God's house. -- Ne 2:19. The wicked indulge in, against The second coming of Christ. -- 2Pe 3:3,4. The gifts of the Spirit. -- Ac 2:13. God's threatening. -- Isa 5:19; Jer 17:15. God's ministers. -- 2Ch 36:16. God's ordinances. -- L”
  7. I Peter “I Peter 4:13 (BSB) — But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory.”
  8. 1 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Peter 4:12: 4:12-19 Peter instructs Christians one last time about the way to face the trials that will inevitably come. 4:12 don’t be surprised: Christians, especially those seeking to lead godly lives, can expect to face the hostility of a sinful world (see John 16:33; Acts 14:22; Rom 8:17; Phil 1:29).”
  9. 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 4:12: 4:12 We work: To avoid being blamed by others for taking money, Paul preferred to support himself (9:3-18; Acts 18:3; 20:33-35). • We bless those who curse us: Paul’s response was in line with Jesus’ teaching (Matt 5:44-45; cp. Rom 12:14, 17-21).”
  10. Isaiah (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Isaiah 53 (introduction): The two great things which the Spirit of Christ in the Old Testament prophets testified beforehand were the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow, Pe1 1:11. And that which Christ himself, when he expounded Moses and all the prophets, showed to be the drift and scope of them all was that Christ ought to suffer and then to enter into his glory, Luk 24:26, Luk 24:27. But nowhere in all the Old Testament are these two so plainly and fully prophesied of as here in this chapter, out of which divers passages are quoted with application to Chr”
  11. Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 16:21: 16:21-28 Jesus, now officially recognized by his disciples as the Messiah, begins to reveal a startling aspect of his mission: He must suffer before entering his glory (16:21-23), and those who follow him will meet a similar fate (16:24-28). 16:21 This is the first of three predictions of Jesus’ passion—his suffering through betrayal, crucifixion, and death (see also 17:22-23; 20:18-19). Each prediction gives a lesson on the cost of discipleship (16:24-27; 20:20-28). • That he would suffer was God’s sovereign and necessary purpose for the Messiah (see 17:12).”
  12. Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 2:10: For--giving a reason why "the grace of God" required that Jesus "should taste death." it became him--The whole plan was (not only not derogatory to, but) highly becoming God, though unbelief considers it a disgrace [BENGEL]. An answer to the Jews, and Hebrew Christians, whosoever, through impatience at the delay in the promised advent of Christ's glory, were in danger of apostasy, stumbling at Christ crucified. The Jerusalem Christians especially were liable to this danger. This scheme of redemption was altogether such a one as harmonizes with the l”
  13. Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 26:53: But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled,.... That is, should Christ make such a request to his Father, and he should grant it, and an host of angels should be sent to rescue him, and he should be rescued by them; how then should the Scriptures, which speak of Christ's being taken, and led as a lamb to the slaughter, and of his various sufferings, and the circumstances of them, have their accomplishment? "declaring", as the Arabic version supplies, or as the Ethiopic version, "which say", that thus it must be; that the Messiah must be apprehended, and suffer”
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