Although we are less than halfway through Luke's Gospel, we reach a critical turning point in 9:20. With Peter's confession of Jesus as the Christ (or Messiah), the book pivots to begin telling us of Jesus' path to the cross.
It is immediately after Jesus' secret identity is revealed to His close-knit group of disciples that He begins telling them what it really means in 9:21. Being the Messiah is not what they expected. Instead of a crown of gold, it will be a crown of thorns. Instead of chants of "Long live the King!" it will be cries of "Crucify Him!" And instead of ascending to an exalted throne, Jesus will be lifted high on a cross.
After the Transfiguration (9:28-36), in which Moses and Elijah appear to Jesus and speak to Him concerning His impending death, Jesus sets His face to go to Jerusalem (9:51). From this point on, Luke's story of Jesus is all about His journey to the cross.
Jesus is thus different than every other religious or political leader. The main story of their exploits is always contained in their achievements, what they did in life. Jesus' story, His purpose or mission, is wrapped up in His death. Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" was criticized on precisely this point - that it was all about Jesus' death on the cross. Yet isn't that exactly the direction which the Gospels take as well?
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