Hidden things

April 6, 2022 (Thursday)

 

On Jesus’ final trip to Jerusalem, He tried to tell His disciples what was going to happen. Let’s listen in to one of those times.

 

“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.” [Luke 18:31 ESV] It's worth noting that Jesus adopted the title "Son of Man" to emphasize His full humanity (and to preemptively counter one of the church's early heresies). It is important to realize that Jesus’ life and ministry did not happen in a void. The prophets of the Old Testament were very specific about much of Jesus' life.

 

Think about it. Who knew Jesus was going to be from Nazareth, born in Bethlehem, and come from Egypt? It seems kind of wild to apply this to one person, but it did apply to the Messiah... Jesus. David described the events of the crucifixion 1,000 years before it happened. Isaiah described the gory details of Jesus’ crucifixion 700 years before it happened. Job, Hosea, and Zechariah all allude to the resurrection.

 

Jesus then give details, “For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” [Luke 18:32 ESV] They are very specific. Mocking, injustice, and spitting on Him are before the real misery begins. Flogging and death are only part of the story. The resurrection on the third day is the final part of this prophecy.

 

This story ends on a strange note. “But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.” [Luke 18:34 ESV] They heard but did not understand. We may be tempted to blame the disciples, except for the fact that the meaning (or significance) of what He just said was “hidden from them.” In other words, they could not understand because they were prevented from understanding.

 

What my limited mind can understand bothers me. What I don’t understand worries me. The things I don’t know that I don't know scare me. Good thing God remembers I’m just dust and one of His children (see Psalm 103:13–14).