Argument 3 — Criterion of embarrassment: Jesus's predictions include embarrassing elements the early church wouldn't invent. (a) Peter rebukes Jesus for predicting his death — then Jesus calls Peter "Satan" (Mark 8:33). The leader of the church being called Satan is not something the church would fabricate. (b) Disciples repeatedly fail to understand Jesus's predictions — they argue about who's greatest right after. The church wouldn't invent their founders' incompetence.

Mark 8:33: Peter = Satan. The leader of the early church called Satan by Jesus — no early Christian would invent this. Disciples ask about greatest right after death prediction — emphasizing their incompetence. Mark 9:32: they didn't understand the statement and were afraid to ask — the church wouldn't fabricate their founders' fear and confusion. Embarrassing material passes the criterion because people don't invent stories that make them look bad.