The meaning for the reason of the coming of Christ was hidden from his Disciples by their prejudice and belief that they would conquer with Him. They knew their Scriptures of the glorious impact of the Messiah but their hope and excitement of his glory blinded them to the necessary suffering. They just couldn’t see it.
“Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!” (Matthew 20 v 17-19)
He took the disciples aside. This was the third time of doing so and perhaps there were other occasions too. Your purpose needs to be reiterated time and again. It needs to be ever before you.
He provided more details this time, he spoke of the Gentiles on this occasion which he hadn’t done before. Sometimes our purpose is one of discovery and this is done over various seasons of our life.
He knew he had to take them with him, “we”. Who do you need to come with you? The people you choose are the ones who will enable you to get to that place.
Missions Paul 