The Gospels tell the story of Jesus, His birth and ministry, passion and resurrection. They all have their own unique way of telling the story with varying emphasis, but one thing stands out as common to all four Gospels and that is the dominant theme of the Passion Narrative. All four Gospels are structured to lead up to the grand climax of Jesus Passion. One author has even said that the Gospel genre is really just a passion narrative with an extended introduction.
The Gospels are catechisms and as such the different lessons from the life of Christ are broken down into manageable teaching sections, (pericopes). The format of the Gospels is a series of these pericopes until we get to the Last supper then the presentation changes and short teaching sections give way to the Passion Narratives which is an uninterrupted full dramatic story. Everything leading up to this part of the story is just an introduction showing how Christ’s life is a preparation for the Cross. The Passion Narratives in all four Gospels take up to one fourth or even one third of the Gospel.
In each of the Synoptic Gospels Jesus predicts his death three times. And also in John but with different language.
Matthew 16:21… From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.
Matthew 17:22… Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.
Matthew 20:17… Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.”
Mark 8:31… And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He spoke this word openly.
Mark 9:30… Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it. For He taught His disciples and said to them, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.” But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.
Mark 10:32… Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again
Luke 9:21… And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”
Luke 9:43… But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples, “Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.” But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.
Luke 18:31… Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.” But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.
In John’s gospel Jesus repeatedly would say his hour had not yet come until chapter twelve which is the turning point.
John 2:4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”
John 7:30 Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.
John 8:20 These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come.
John 12:23 But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.
John 12:27 “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
John 13:1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
John 17:1 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,
The Cross is the center of the Story, Jesus came to die and give His life as a ransom for many.