Mark 9:30-32
“They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.”
Two things stand out here. First, this is the second time in this book that Jesus mentioned his coming death and resurrection. (He first mentioned his death and resurrection in 8, and will do so again in 10). Now it seems that Jesus was mentioning this event regularly while moving about the Galilee. Clearly, He wanted them to understand what was coming.
However, and this is the second thing that stands out to me, “they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.” From where we sit, it seems crystal clear what he meant. But it was not clear to them. But why? And why were they afraid to ask? They had Isaiah’s word about the suffering servant (Is 53). Why were they puzzled about his death? Interestingly, Isaiah says, “Who has believed what he has heard from us? (53:1) So, it wasn’t a matter of revelation. It seems to be a matter of the heart. Are there things I am not getting/understanding because of my heart?
Father, help me to see with eyes of faith. Amen.
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