What Jesus Did : Luke 18:31-34 - Failed to Grasp It
by Phil Ware
Failed to Grasp It - Luke 18:31-34
Then Jesus talked to the twelve apostles alone. Jesus said to them, "Listen! We are going to Jerusalem. Everything that God told the prophets to write about the Son of Man will happen! His people will turn against him and give him to the non-Jewish people. The non-Jews will laugh at him, insult him, and spit on him. They will beat him with whips and then kill him! But on the third day after his death, he will rise to life again." The apostles tried to understand this, but they could not; the meaning was hidden from them. (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
With mere human words, Jesus cannot help them understand. His best efforts can only give them words to remember and to put into perspective, for a later time—a time after he has been crucified and has been raised from the dead. Jesus' destiny in Jerusalem was simply incomprehensible to them. They had seen the good he had done. They had experienced his life-changing presence first hand. They believed him to be the Messiah. How could God's Messiah be crucified? How could he be executed for the deeds of kindness he had performed and the words of truth he had spoken? We, on the other hand, must grasp this truth. Jesus is going to Jerusalem knowing full well that he will be persecuted, rejected, and tortured. Yet he goes anyway, to honor God and to pay the price for our sin. We must not let this loving sacrifice be hidden from our hearts!
Today's Prayer
Lord Jesus, I thank you for going to the Cross knowing that it was coming and yet enduring it for the sake of my salvation. To you, O Lord and Christ, belong all glory, honor, blessing, and praise. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
Then Jesus talked to the twelve apostles alone. Jesus said to them, "Listen! We are going to Jerusalem. Everything that God told the prophets to write about the Son of Man will happen! His people will turn against him and give him to the non-Jewish people. The non-Jews will laugh at him, insult him, and spit on him. They will beat him with whips and then kill him! But on the third day after his death, he will rise to life again." The apostles tried to understand this, but they could not; the meaning was hidden from them. Jesus came near the city of Jericho. There was a blind man sitting beside the road. The blind man was begging people for money. When this man heard the people coming down the road, he asked, "What is happening?" The people told him, "Jesus, the one from Nazareth, is coming here." The blind man was excited and said, "Jesus, Son of David ! Please help me!" The people that were in front, leading the group, criticized the blind man. They told him not to speak. But the blind man shouted more and more, "Son of David, please help me!" Jesus stopped there and said, "Bring that blind man to me!" When the blind man came near, Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said, "Lord, I want to see again." Jesus said to him, "You can see now! You are healed because you believed." Then the man was able to see. The man followed Jesus, thanking God. All the people that saw this praised God for what happened.-- Luke 18:31-43 (ERV)
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