"Jesus was starting to go up to Jerusalem". The Gospels make it clear that death did not come on Jesus unawares - he faced the prospect of death with courage and peaceful determination. As part of his on-going formation of his disciples, Jesus shared his awareness and determination with them on his journey to Jerusalem. Jesus speaks the first time to his disciples about his Passion and death (cf. Matthew 16:21-23) Peter protests against the idea. But Peter seems to represent the whole group of disciples: They all found the idea quite unacceptable.

The second time is when the mother of James and John comes with a request, which Jesus says he is unable to grant. Yet Jesus does not merely refuse the request: he takes the opportunity to challenge the disciples: "Can you drink of the cup I am to drink of?" With a certain amount of bravado, the two disciples answer "we can". They do not really understand what Jesus means by "the cup that I am to drink of." But they are to a certain degree willing to do what Jesus is asking of them. They have progressed one small step in their formation: they no longer protest against the idea of Jesus' death, but, however vaguely they understood Jesus, they expressed their willingness to be with him. So, too, with us: through the events of life and especially through the liturgical celebration of Lent and Holy Week, God patiently teaches us about salvation thorugh suffering.