44 "Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men." 45 But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.
How confusing this statement must have seemed to the disciples from their Lord! They had just experienced, yet again, a powerful miracle from His hand and the crowds were marveling in amazement. From their vantage point, Jesus appeared to be on the pinnacle of success. Then He hits them with this statement literally rendered: “Lay your hearts towards a firm resolve with a view towards your ears listening and your actions heeding my words” – a/k/a/ “Pay Attention! Get ready! Respond! I am going to be betrayed into the hands of men” - they just did not get it. The word used in verse 45 rendered “grasp” is an interesting Greek word “Aisthanomai” whose definition in the New Testament Lexical Aids sheds light on our passage: “To recognize, perceive, understand; to sense or have a sense about something. The verb refers to understanding something through recognition, having a frame of reference for something, distinguishing a concept. Originally it meant to know through sense perception. It means to have a frame of reference for something; to recognize a concept. It is “conscious perception,” a knowledge which is more immediate than that arrived at by reasoning; it arises from previous experience or acquaintance with a thing. Only in Luke 9:45 where the apostles are completely baffled by Jesus’ statement that the Son of man would be handed over (betrayed) by men; they could not recognize this doctrine because the concept was totally foreign to them.” This certainly gives confirmation to Paul’s words in I Corinthians:12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Cor 13:11-12 (NIV) “God has reasons, based on His infinite wisdom, which He does not always choose to reveal to us.” Spiros Zodhiates It would do us well to remember the words the prophet Isaiah penned: 6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. 8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. 9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:6-9 (NIV)
The commands are clear: Seek Him, Call on Him, Forsake our evil ways and thoughts and Turn to Him, He will have mercy, He will freely pardon. Live a life of trust in Him. Jesus wanted His boys to understand how the events of His life would indeed play out. He did not want them to be caught off guard. He was telling them to listen carefully! He was telling them to pay attention! How often I have missed His warnings too! There are many reasons for this including, but not limited to, pre-determined ideas of how my life would play out, being too busy to hear His still small voice, confusion over His will for my life, and being ignorant of God’s word, just to name a few. Since our God is a God of order, when I experience confusion in my life, I am the problem. Having a firm grasp of Scripture will keep our heads above water – and I don’t mean when the crisis hits! The most effective Christians for Kingdom work are prepared people. They know truth. They can trust God even when circumstances appear different from expectations. “Real trust in God is above circumstances and appearances.” George Muller. God has a greater plan than our eyes can see or our mind can understand. For instance, in our verses for today, if the disciples would have had their way, Jesus would have been made an earthly king. He would have never gone to the cross and all mankind (including them) would have been destined to hell. But God (my two favorite words together) had a different plan. His desire as Paul states: 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Cor 5:20-21 (NIV)
Again, as Paul states in Romans:11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." Romans 10:11 (NIV)
“Hope can see heaven through the thickest clouds.” Thomas Brooks