Jesus Arrives Back In Capernaum After Predicting What Is To Happen To Him (9:30-33a).
We now come to the close of the section outlining Jesus' Galilean ministry as recorded by Mark (Mark 4:35 to Mark 9:33 a). Having left the region round about Capernaum in Mark 4:35, and after having had many experiences, and having done many wonderful things, and having made a number of revelations about Himself, Jesus now returns to Capernaum for the last time. He will not see it again. During this section Jesus has been putting all His efforts into proclaiming the Kingly Rule of God, and into preparing His disciples for what lies ahead, especially emphasising, as He does now for the third time, that He has come to suffer and die, and then rise again. Now, from this point on, the fulfilment of His prophecies will begin as He commences His journey to Jerusalem to die. It will be noted that the whole section began with a sense of awe (Mark 4:41) and now it ends with a sense of awe (Mark 9:32), a fitting preparation for the final words in His Gospel where the women will also be filled with awe at the news of His resurrection. The point is that what is being described is something beyond man's understanding.
Analysis.
a And they went out from there, and passed through Galilee, and He would not that any man should know it (Mark 9:30).
b For He taught His disciples, and said to them (Mark 9:31 a).
c “The Son of man is delivered up into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and when He is killed, after three days He will rise again” (Mark 9:31 b).
b But they understood not the saying, and were afraid to ask Him (Mark 9:32).
a And they came to Capernaum (Mark 9:33 a).
Note that in ‘a' He passes through Galilee, and in the parallel He comes to Capernaum (for the last time). In ‘b He teaches His disciples, and in the parallel they do not understand Him. Centrally in ‘c' we are told what they did not understand.