The New Testament presents several perspectives on how Jesus knew the importance of his death:
* Prophecy: Jesus was familiar with the Hebrew scriptures (Old Testament) and interpreted certain passages as prophecies foretelling the suffering and death of the Messiah.
* Divine Purpose: Jesus understood his mission as fulfilling God's will, which involved sacrifice for the redemption of humanity.
* Personal Revelation: The Gospels depict Jesus having moments of intense prayer and contemplation, during which he gained insight into his destiny.
* Symbolic Actions: Jesus performed acts, like the Last Supper, that symbolically represented his upcoming sacrifice and its significance.