How often have you heard someone explain something or tell a story, but you did not understand what they were saying? You listened closely to every word, but it did not make sense to you, or you thought you understood, but found out later you were wrong. The disciples did this three times when Jesus told them of his eminent death. They were listening but not understanding.
In Mark 8:31 Jesus is teaching them that He will suffer, be rejected by the Jewish leaders, and be killed. He finished His declaration with the truth of His resurrection. The disciples did not think this would be the plan for their time with Jesus. In verse 32 Peter takes Jesus aside and rebukes Him. In verse 33 Jesus makes a statement that some have thought was strange. He tells Peter “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” The name Satan was used here to indicate Peter was an adversary. He was opposing the plan that was an eternal plan by God.
Mark 8:31-33 “And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
We find a second time that Jesus tells them of His impending death. Matthew 17:22-23 He again says that He will be betrayed, killed, and rise again on the third day. Matthew tells us in verse 23 that they were sorry about what He told them would happen. Mark tells us in Mark 9:32 that they did not understand but were afraid to ask. I am sure after Peter was rebuked the first time He told them it made them reluctant to rebuke the Savior again.
Matthew 17:22-23 “And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.”
Mark 9:31-32 “For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.”
Jesus has told His disciples twice that He will be killed and rise again on the third day. Now in Mark chapter 10, He tells them again. In verse 32 He is going before them, leading the disciples back into Jerusalem where they know there is danger. They were going to the city to celebrate the Passover. It was a feast that all adult male Jews were required to attend. Historians tell us that the roads would have been full. Sometimes entire neighborhoods would have traveled together. Jesus pulls His disciples to the side, away from the crowd, to tell them for the last time of His death. They were fearful but were also amazed that Jesus showed no fear, especially after they realized He had a clear understanding of what was to come.
Mark 10:32-34 “And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.”
While they finally understood the danger, they failed to hear and understand all that Jesus had told them. There certainly should have been fear and sorrow over what their friend had told them, but there also should have been joy if they had understood. He said over and over that He would rise out of the grave on the third day. This should have given them hope despite the sorrow. Yet, they didn’t get it. We know this because when they found the tomb empty they were astonished.
Instead of getting themselves prepared for what was going to happen they denied it, fought against it, and wanted to change it. They should have been spending their precious time with Jesus and deciding how they would spend the three days He was in the grave. They had predetermined in their minds how things would be and completely missed the truth of the resurrection. If they truly understood they would have been thinking of questions to ask Him when they saw Him again.
Are you listening to the word Jesus has left for us? If so, you know that He said He is coming again. Just like He told the disciples He would be killed but would rise again, He tells us He is coming again. In I Thessalonians 16 we are told He will descend “with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God.” So if we understand we know how He is coming. He then tells us that those who are His and are alive will join Him in the air, and the dead will come out of the grave to join Him. If we are listening we should be acting like it. We should focus on getting ready for our trip and seeking to make sure others know about Him. Jesus told His disciples what would happen, but ended with the truth of His resurrection. These should have given them hope but they missed it. In I Thessalonians 4:18 Jesus tells us to remind each other of His words to us so that we will be comforted.
I Thessalonians 4:16-18 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
During this week before we celebrate the resurrection seek to understand the messages Jesus was leaving us. When you “get it” you’ll be rejoicing and the Easter celebration will take on a whole new meaning to you.
