Luke 18: 31-34 (NASB)   Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished.  For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again.” But the disciples understood none of these things, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said.

I’ve often wondered what the disciples of Jesus were thinking and experiencing during the events of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. The Bible often points out throughout Jesus’ teachings, that the disciples didn’t fully understand what He was teaching. And sometimes I feel a little smug, like they were following Jesus, He was performing miracles in front of their very eyes, and they just didn’t get it? In this passage, He just flat out told them what was going to happen, and they still didn’t get it?

Now of course, we have the benefit of reading the end of the book.  I know that Christ fulfilled all of the things He said He would do. He was mistreated, He was killed and He did rise again. But even knowing all of these promises were fulfilled, I still find it difficult to trust that He is still fulfilling His promises to us every day. When I doubt that he can provide for my family, or I want to choose to do things in my time, instead of waiting for his timing, I am doing it with the full knowledge of who Christ is. (Yikes.)

But what about those disciples? Despite all their failings, they had faith! They were following Christ, without knowing the end game. They put their trust in him as their rabbi, they left their homes and businesses to follow him, on faith. I think I could use some of that faith, couldn’t you?

-Kevi

 

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