Luke 9:18
And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am? And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?
Jesus had withdrawn into seclusion with His disciples, alone in prayer yet with them present, using the quiet for prayer and teaching as His death drew near. He asked whom the people said He was just before telling them of His coming suffering and death, preparing them for that trial and giving them opportunity to confess their faith and be strengthened. That question led directly into teaching about His mission. The people did not recognize Him as the Messiah, though they called Him a prophet or the Son of David and some wanted to make Him king.
The disciples still expected a temporal, worldly reign bringing earthly honor and a throne. In this setting He taught more clearly the true nature of His kingdom, correcting that expectation by explaining that shame and the cross, not earthly honor, awaited Him. He already knew the full path from His birth to Calvary, with its anguish, insults, and hardship, yet willingly came to do God's will and save the lost. He saw that His work would bring the world back to loyalty to God, and that prospect gave Him joy as He chose to endure the cross and its shame.
His prayer at this time included intercession that the disciples' faith would remain steadfast through persecution and that His suffering and death would not leave them overwhelmed with despair. He also taught that those who follow Him and seek salvation must be willing to endure reproach and contempt.