When
the Disciples Couldn’t Understand the Lord Jesus
Sometimes in our Bible study we find passages or verses
that cause us to pause, because the content seems somewhat difficult to
understand. Even so, if we remember the words given by the Apostle Paul to his
young protégé~ Timothy we will push ahead to find meaning. Paul’s words to
Timothy were recorded in 2 Timothy 3: 16-17, as follows: “16 All scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be
perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
With that introduction I’d like to challenge
your understanding of a collection of Scriptural verses that come from different
sources but are uniquely connected.
In the course of His numerous
conversations with His Disciples, our Lord Jesus informed them on at least
three occasions that He would go to Jerusalem, suffer at the hands of Israel’s
leaders, be killed, and be raised again on the third day. The first time
recorded was during their travel to the coasts of Caesarea Philippi (Matthew 16: 21-26; Mark 8:
31-37; Luke 9: 22-25). The second time was while they were residing in Galilee
(Matthew 17: 22-23; Mark 9: 30-32; Luke 9: 21-26,43-45). The third time was as
they were near Jordan on the way to Jerusalem, (unbeknownst to the Disciples) for
His Crucifixion. (Matthew 20: 17-19; Mark 10: 32-34; Luke 18: 31-34).
As you review these passages you will
note varying reactions from the Disciples to the Lord’s words. For example, Matthew and Mark recorded that Peter rebuked the Lord
for His revelation, saying: “Be it far from
thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.”(Matthew 16: 27; Mark 8: 31-33).
Then the Lord had to rebuke Peter (regardless of Peter’s likely good
intentions) saying: “Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art
an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be
of God, but those that be of men.” (Peter was not aware
that God’s Plan for man’s salvation required
the Lord to pay that terrible price to be able to redeem mankind from the death
penalty for our sins. The Lord Jesus would serve the death penalty in our
place.)
Later in Galilee when the Lord Jesus
repeated His revelation to the Disciples about His coming death, Matthew simply
recorded: “And they were exceeding sorry.” (Matthew 17: 23) Also
there in Galilee, Mark recorded: “But they understood
not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.” (Mark 9: 32) Luke recorded the following: “But
they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they
perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.” (Luke 9:
45)
Further, in three of the instances following
those various revelations in the several scriptures above about His coming
death and resurrection. the Lord added a special set of comments. Specifically
He repeated the following thoughts as
taken from Matthew Chapter 16, (later essentially repeated in Mark Chapter 8,
and Luke Chapter 9) :
“24 Then said Jesus unto his
disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his
life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited,
if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man
give in exchange for his soul?
27 For the Son of man shall come
in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man
according to his works.”
In the final journey to Jerusalem, the Scripture had added a few more
reactions from the Disciples following the Lord’s startling revelation about
His coming suffering and death. In Matthew’s record, no comments or reactions
were noted. (Matthew 20: 17-19). Similarly, Mark’s record showed no comments or
reactions from the Disciples. (Mark 10: 32-34) However, Luke’s record stated: “34 And they
understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them,
neither knew they the things which were spoken.” (Luke 18: 34)
Based on what we know today, some two thousand years after
those events took place, we can more clearly see and understand some (or even
much) what was confusing to the Disciples. We understand that through the Holy
Spirit and Bible Scripture, God would explain to future generations of mankind
(including us today) what happened and why, so many years ago that affected our
salvation. (Remember Paul’s words of advice to Timothy in the first paragraph
above.)
But what remains are questions such as why only Peter
could understand and object to the idea that the Lord Jesus, who was Israel’s
Messiah, could be put to death. In another verse, it was recorded that the
Disciples were “exceeding sorry”, which indicates that they did understand
the consequences of the Lord’s revelation. Perhaps their “sorrow” was based on
their being focused on the first part of the Lord’s revelation about His coming
death, but failing to consider and understand the other very important part of
the message about His resurrection on the third day. As one of my teachers has suggested,
that would explain why the Disciples were not waiting outside the tomb following
His Crucifixion, to greet Him on Resurrection Morning.
Other verses said that the Disciples did not understand
what the Lord had said in that regard, but “were afraid to ask Him.” Why
fear? Did the Bible translators make
an incorrect or inexact interpretation of the word “afraid” in the original language? [As an aside, our Strong’s Concordance notes
that the original Greek word “phobeo” (#5399) could also have translated to say
that the Disciples were “in awe”, or “so startled by His words” that they
couldn’t respond.]
Finally, let’s take a brief look at the additional set of
special comments noted above, that the Lord made to His Disciples following the
revelation about His coming death, burial and being raised again on the third
day. He was preparing them (and us) for the difficult times that could / would
lie ahead for those who would follow Him. Today we know that facing a martyr’s
death was the real possibility (or even probability) for most of them, but what
actually happened in each case is not stated in the Scripture. (See: https://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=AwrFciX_mctm7ugMmupXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3JlbC1ib3Q-?type=E210US105G0&p=fate+of+jesus+twelve+disciples+list&fr2=p%3As%2Cv%3Aw%2Cm%3Ars-bottom%2Cct%3Agossip&fr=mcafee.
What we do know is that the Lord Jesus was reinforcing His earlier teaching in
Matthew 10: 28: ” 28 And fear not them which kill
the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able
to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Revelation 20: 11-15)
While the Disciples had some difficulty understanding our
Lord Jesus, we also likely have encountered some difficulty understanding
portions of the Scripture, and / or why some of the events in our Christian lives
have taken place. The reasons in God’s Plan are usually not clearly
available. However, we accept by faith
that He always has our best interests at heart through His Love. As another of my teachers has told us: “The
Bible may not answer all the questions we may have, but it does answer all the
questions that we need to know to achieve eternal life.” The other questions can
await the Lord’s answers when we see Him.
Dr. W. A. (Bill) Robinson
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