Luke 18:31 - 34
31 And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. 33 And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” 34 But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.
Questions:
ReplyDelete1. What did the prophets write about the Son of Man?
2. Jesus said that everything will be accomplished. Was everything that the prophets wrote accomplished?
3. It seems like Jesus is being pretty clear. Why did the disciples not understand any of it?
4. Who was hiding this saying from the disciples?
https://hartmangroupdevotionsmark.blogspot.com/2018/06/mark-831-38-31-he-then-began-to-teach.html says:
ReplyDeleteJesus' prophetic utterances about His upcoming death were given to provide certainty that when these events transpired, the disciples would look back and know that this was God's plan all along.
But Peter, having a false idea of what being the Messiah entailed, actually rebuked Jesus for speaking such. Peter may have understood that Jesus was the Christ, but he was clearly imbecilic in His understanding of the Messiah's purpose.
After all, a refusal to accept the suffering Messiah is a refusal to accept the good and perfect will of God. Notice also that Jesus felt no compulsion to defend God's plan to His disciples by giving them follow-up information. God had decreed that the Messiah would suffer and die in Jerusalem in order to achieve victory over evil. Any suggestion that Jesus do otherwise was satanic, no matter who might suggest it.
---
Summarizing the answers that I found to the questions:
1. Did the disciples even hear the part about the resurrection?
I don't know, but it did seem like they focused and were saddened by Jesus announcing that He wasn't going to be the kind of Messiah they were expecting. And, until Jesus actually died, they hung onto those expectation despite anything Jesus said (such as repeating that He was going to die a few more times yet).
https://hartmangroupdevotionsmark.blogspot.com/2018/08/mark-930-37-30-they-left-that-place-and.html says:
ReplyDeleteMark 9:30-37 occurs within the second major section of Mark (8:22-10:52), which contains a threefold pattern that appears three times. Jesus predicts his passion and resurrection (8:31, 9:31, 10:33-34), the disciples don't understand (8:32-33; 9:32; 10:35-41), and Jesus then gives the disciples further teachings (8:34-9:1; 9:33-50; 10:42-45).
In the narrative arc of Mark's gospel, 9:30-37 furthers the revelation of Jesus' identity, using the title "Son of Man" (Daniel 7:13) There can be no doubt by now in Mark's gospel that Jesus is no ordinary rabbi. Yet still the disciples are confused.
Here it will help to remember that this entire section in Mark's gospel is framed at the beginning and end by accounts of blind people who are given sight (8:22-26, 10:46-52). This stark image of going from blindness to sight is a big literary clue. As the blind man is given sight, however gradually, so the disciples, who are blind to Jesus' mission and identity, are given sight, albeit gradually.
I will focus on verse 32, the disciples' lack of understanding, and unwillingness to ask Jesus questions. This is not a new role for disciples. Throughout Mark, they are the knuckleheads who just don't get it. The pattern is set early and often. Even in the face of the miracle feeding of the five thousand the disciples don't get it (6:52). Jesus rebukes their lack of understanding several times (7:18, 8:16-21), and perhaps most poignantly, in 8:33 to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan, for you think human thoughts, not the thoughts of God" which could be read as "Boy, you really don't get it!" Even though they make up Jesus' most private inner circle, the disciples seem to be the last to know that Jesus is Messiah, even denying this knowledge at the end (14:66-71).
By the time we get to verse 32, Jesus has just imparted a crucial teaching, telling them who he is, and not for the first time. The prospect of the Messiah being taken and killed just does not compute. When God comes in glory, it is surely to conquer his enemies, not to "be handed over into the hands of men, and they will kill him" (31). So, "they did not understand what he was saying and they were afraid to ask him" (verse 32).
So why don't the disciples simply ask Jesus to explain? Probably because they don't want to appear as confused as they are. Or, their distress at his teaching is so deep they fear addressing it.
Verse 34 reveals what happens to the disciples when they sidestep the real questions they are afraid to ask -- they turn to arguing with each other, squabbling among themselves over petty issues of rank and status (verse 34). There is a direct line drawn from verse 32 to verse 34. When the disciples avoid asking hard questions, they focus on posturing about who is right.
https://hartmangroupdevotionsmark.blogspot.com/2018/08/mark-930-37-30-they-left-that-place-and.html continued:
ReplyDelete---
We’ve all been there. In a place where we simply can’t accept what is right in front of us.
But take note: This isn’t stupidity. This isn’t obstinacy. This isn’t a rigid unwillingness to face the facts. This is fear. Listen to Mark’s description again: “But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.”
Why such fear? Simply because they could not imagine how anything of what Jesus was saying could be true. How could Jesus, who spent his time teaching and healing and feeding and driving out demons…how could Jesus suffer they way he described? How could someone this good be killed.
This whole picture is simply too terrible to face. It is too frightening. They don’t understand and, quite frankly, don’t want to. Not out of stubbornness, but out of fear, even terror.
Which makes me wonder if they even heard the last part, “and three days after being killed, he will rise again.”
Fear does that. It consumes you. It narrows options and constricts your vision of the future. Fear saps hope and strangles the imagination. Fear renders us powerless. Fear destroys possibility. And in this sense, fear, in some ways even more than death, is the opposite of life.
Which is why Jesus came. To take on our fear. To face what we could not. To travel to the cross, alone if necessary, because everyone else is too afraid.
That is, Jesus conquers fear in the only way possible: by trusting the love and mercy of God. By trusting that the life God promises and gives is, finally, greater than death. The only way through fear is by love and trust. And that’s what Jesus does, trusts the love of God. And in doing that he makes it possible for us, also, know and experience God’s love and find the ability to trust as well.
---
They didn’t understand, but that wasn’t a reason to leave. They set a good example of faith and patience for us today. The disciples eventually learned what Jesus was talking about. The people who left him, however, remained in ignorance. Although the human desire is to understand everything right away, we need patience when dealing with the teachings of Jesus Christ.
All of us, being human, naturally think the things of humans. And because of that, we do not always understand the things of God. That should not surprise us or alarm us. When it happens, we need to patiently wait for God to reveal more to us. Of course, we need to do our part, searching the Scriptures and asking God for understanding.
The disciples didn’t understand. They argued. They did things they shouldn’t have. They didn’t ask questions they should have. They were ordinary people. God uses people like that.
Throughout history, Christians have wrestled with different doctrines and practices. Doctrinal errors are nothing new. That’s why it’s important that we always remain willing to re-examine the issues, admit our fallibility and be willing to change and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior. It may be difficult at times to change our ways, but that’s what we have been called to do. We are disciples, and thankfully, we are learning.
https://hartmangroupdevotionsmark.blogspot.com/2018/08/mark-930-37-30-they-left-that-place-and.html continued:
ReplyDelete1. Why did the disciples not understand what Jesus meant and why were they afraid to ask Him about it?
2. Why were the disciples arguing about who was the greatest?
The disciples had a deeply rooted cultural expectation of who and what the Messiah was going to be. When they put their lives on hold to follow Jesus, it was with the expectation that He was going to be a conquering hero that would free Israel from Rome and be king over the world. Consequently, they were going to have very high positions in His administration.
When Jesus kept saying that He was going to die as a sacrifice for many, that didn't fit their view at all. They were not able to hear that and didn't want to. When Jesus kept repeating this, it made them afraid that their dreams weren't going to come true after-all. They were afraid.
One way to take their minds off their fear was to discuss their future, according to their own dreams. That would naturally lead to discussions of who would be higher level administrators.
3. What did Jesus mean by saying anyone who wants to be first must be the very last and the servant of all?
4. What does it look like to be last?
This world puts importance on who is top dog - the alpha dog. In Jesus' Kingdom, things work differently. If you want to be close to what Jesus is doing, you have to serve like He did. Putting yourself last means dropping all of your ambitions, your self-promotion, and desire that people think well of you. If you want to be great in God's Kingdom - and God wants us to be great in His Kingdom - that means you will have to put everyone's needs above your own wants. It means that people will never recognize you in this world. It means that people will despise you and think poorly of you. It means that you will have to spend your life on those very people who think so poorly of you.
Parents of teenagers might understand this a little better :-).
https://hartmangroupdevotionsmark.blogspot.com/2018/10/mark-1032-45-32-they-were-on-their-way.html says:
ReplyDeleteJesus' prophetic utterances about His upcoming death were given to provide certainty that when these events transpired, the disciples would look back and know that this was God's plan all along.
But Peter, having a false idea of what being the Messiah entailed, actually rebuked Jesus for speaking such. Peter may have understood that Jesus was the Christ, but he was clearly imbecilic in His understanding of the Messiah's purpose.
We all have ideas of how we think God should act. We believe that every prayer we pray should be answered in the affirmative by God—every disease healed, every job restored, every baby live, and those who suffer in old age should just pass away peacefully. Peter had his own ideas and plans for Jesus. But God's ways are rarely our ways. We must beware of our view of how God should act versus how God has determined to act. This is painfully remedied through a reading of and a submission to the revealed word of God found in the Bible. We as Christians must let it mold us and our theology rather than forging our ideas about God onto the text of Scripture. It's right; we're wrong.
---
Paul said, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom” (Acts 14:22). Peter said, “Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” In other words, it is not strange. It is normal to suffer in this world. And Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:12, “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
---
The disciples had their mind of competition instead of conversion and in that regard, they were unenlightened, carnal and immature.
In order to be in the Lord's kingdom I have to change! I must give up that competitive drive to be better than others; I must come face to face with my dependence, be open about my spiritual needs, and be willing to listen and learn and be governed by the King, Jesus!
I must be converted: From pride to humility . . from worldly ambition to spiritual ambition . . from godlessness to godliness. I MUST BE CONVERTED; Jesus said, you must be born again!
---
Here it will help to remember that this entire section in Mark's gospel is framed at the beginning and end by accounts of blind people who are given sight (8:22-26, 10:46-52). This stark image of going from blindness to sight is a big literary clue. As the blind man is given sight, however gradually, so the disciples, who are blind to Jesus' mission and identity, are given sight, albeit gradually.
Even though they make up Jesus' most private inner circle, the disciples seem to be the last to know that Jesus is Messiah, even denying this knowledge at the end (14:66-71).
https://hartmangroupdevotionsmark.blogspot.com/2018/10/mark-1032-45-32-they-were-on-their-way.html continued:
ReplyDeleteNotice what it is they are asking for, because many have misconstrued this story and felt that these disciples were wrong in asking for it. But that is not true. They were asking for something which Jesus had given them every reason to ask for, just a few days before. Matthew records that Jesus had promised them that when he came into his glory they would sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what they have on their minds as they walk up to Jerusalem. There are thrones waiting for them.
So they ask for three specific things: First they ask for preeminence. They want to sit on those thrones and have the honor and exaltation that a throne represents. This is what they had been promised. Second, they want proximity. Once the disciples knew that twelve thrones were waiting for them, and as they had twice now fallen into a discussion as to which of them would be greatest among them, you can understand why they would discuss where these thrones would be placed in relationship to Jesus. They want to be near to Jesus. Now, is that wrong? No, it is not wrong to want to be near to Jesus. They know they are going to sit with him, and think it perfectly in order to ask to be given the positions nearest him. And, third, they want power. Because, of course, that is what a throne represents. In some sense, they had already experienced the gift of power from Jesus. They had been sent out and given power to raise the dead and heal the sick and cast out demons. So they are only asking for what had already been promised. There is nothing wrong with that.
So when our Lord replies, he does not rebuke them. But he does say to them, in effect, that they are going about it entirely the wrong way. He is saying, "The trouble with you fellows is not that you are asking for the wrong thing, but that you are asking for it with no understanding of what is involved. You're ignorant, and know not what you're asking." Then he goes on to tell us what it is they are ignorant of. They are ignorant of the cost of this, the price that it would demand. He implies that he himself is on the same path as they desire to follow. He is on the way to glory. But he is ready to pay the price.
Then he went on to explain that he could not grant what else they had asked. "It is not mine to give -- but it will be given: somebody will sit there -- but it is the Father who determines who it will be." He does not say, as we might expect, "It is for those who are prepared for it." That is how we would put it. But he says, "It is for those for whom it has been prepared." If you think carefully on those words you can see that he is implying that the Father chooses men for this honor. He prepares the man that place by the circumstances, by the cups and baptisms, that he puts him through. And then, he prepares the honor for the man.
---
4 What does it look like to be a servant in God's Kingdom?
Jesus' service to the Kingdom was to die for us. Being a literal martyr can be, but is usually not what being a servant is about. Being a servant does mean death to this world - our own lives, our ambitions, everything about us. We must set aside our own wants, so that we can pick up the the desires of God and live by them.
Jesus death on the cross is an example of what needs to happen in us spiritually - death to the things of this world, resurrection into the life of Jesus' world.
Questions and findings:
ReplyDelete1. What did the prophets write about the Son of Man?
There's Isaiah 53 above, Daniel 9:24–27, Deuteronomy 18:15 - for more, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Testament_messianic_prophecies_quoted_in_the_New_Testament
2. Jesus said that everything will be accomplished. Was everything that the prophets wrote accomplished?
I think it's fair to say that Jesus was referring to everything the prophets wrote concerning His going up to Jerusalem. I think it does not include everything the prophets wrote about Jesus coming for the final judgement.
3. It seems like Jesus is being pretty clear. Why did the disciples not understand any of it?
When we have expectations of how things are going to be, it's almost impossible to change those expectations. The disciples had very strong expectations of what the Messiah would be and what He would do. Nothing Jesus said was going to change that until their expectations were shattered.
4. Who was hiding this saying from the disciples?
Themselves and/or natural phenomenon. They wouldn't open their minds to understand due to their own expectations. Sometimes (all the time?) this is impossible for humans to do, unless God supernaturally intervenes. The fact that God/Jesus did not intervene in this case meant that Jesus allowed them to be in ignorance at the time according to God's plan. He's telling them at the time so that afterwards they will understand what He told them while He was still with them.