Mark 10:33-34
“We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
Luke 18:34
The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.
These verses tell of how Jesus was telling the disciples how he would die while he walked with them into Jerusalem to be arrested and killed…. and they didn’t see it becuase it was “hidden” from them. He flat out TOLD THEM step by step what was going to happen and they just couldn’t process that as a logical thought.
Then in John 12:16 on the same trip:
At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.
…it says they didn’t see it yet, but they realized all the things Jesus had done… that they had taken part in, were fulfilling all the prophecies about him… after he was “glorified” (crucified and raised). They didn’t “see it” until it was over.
Can you imagine being that close to God’s plan… so close that you’re a part of it? So close that you are physically helping fulfill the prophecies you learned about as a kid…. and yet… NOT seeing it happen until after it was over. What a slap on the forehead you’d give yourself when you realized it.
To think you walked wtih God… YOU were the one that physically brought him the colt to ride on to fulfill the prophecy…. YOU helped him heal people when he sent you out…. YOU watched him change hundreds of lives as he let the blind see, the mute speak, the demon possessed go free… and yet you didn’t “get it” until it was over. You never saw the REASON for it. You never saw God’s “big story” until it was complete.
Sounds a lot like us when trouble hits, doesn’t it? We can’t see the storm because the waves are too large. The forest isn’t visible because all the trees block it. Sometimes we can walk with God and be a part of his plan… and never even know it until we’re looking back.
5 Comments
hey! her name’s Christy Calfee. sound familiar? (she’s going to seminary with me, and she at least somewhat knows who you are) 🙂
…and thanks to you and your wife for the b-day greetings! 🙂
so true, Brent….
/me grabs Milkboy31’s butt…twice.
ew you listen to emo music?
I grew up on alternative and punk long before “emo” existed… I don’t define myself as a genre… but I listen to a lot of them.
Thus why you never see me bashing “emo” kids on TDM’s site.
I only bash country and rap… YEAH… YOU ALL HEARD ME!
hi brent– thanks for the comment. yes, things have been quite tough, but i am doing ok at the moment. i am certainly learning a lot about myself and life in general. any other thoughts and advice you (or sarah!) have for me would me greatly appreciated. thanks!