And he began to teach them: 'The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the high priests and the learned scribes, and be put to death, and after three days rise again.' Mark 8:31-38 Two of the most eminent theologians of our age share their penetrating meditations on the passion of Jesus Christ as recorded in Mark 8:31-38. This is a book for anyone willing to respond to Christ's call to follow Him so that through His suffering and death our own is bearable. In the words of Moltmann, and as it becomes bearable, it has already been overcome and turned into joy. Metz exhorts his readers to contemplate the way of the cross: Only when we Christians give ear to the dark prophecy of the nameless, unrecognized, misunderstood, and misprised Passion do we hear aright the message of His suffering.