(Mark 9:30-32 ESV)
“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.” (Mark 9:31 ESV)
Nowadays we understand what Jesus meant. It makes sense for us as we have the 20/20 vision of looking back, but at the time, the disciples were confused. They simple didn't understand what Jesus was talking about.
My struggle with this passage is this.
Jesus and the disciples spent LOADS of time together. They knew and trusted each other (at least one would think)... so what caused their fear?
If they didn't understand something, why did they let fear stop them from asking? Were they afraid of the answer perhaps?
We read:
But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.
What was the fear?
- lack of trust?
- fear of looking stupid?
- fear of the answer?
It's hard to say for sure, I just find it said that they were afraid to simply ask him, what do you mean really? It would have saved them some grief over time, but perhaps it was simply God-ordained. God knew they would be scared to ask and so it was all good.
They did learn over time what it meant. They wished to deny it when they finally did understand it better. This gave them a chance to get used to the idea, that the one they loved most was going to die. It's a hard one to understand and get used to the thought of.
And then couple that with "will rise again after three days" and it makes for a confusing time.
It gives me more understanding as well as I go through considering why they might be afraid. Understanding their uncertainty as they struggle to make sense of a loved one purposefully dying, of being handed over to the enemy, and the somehow coming alive again after three days. It is mind-boggling isn't it?
But now that we KNOW what happens, let us not be afraid to ask our Lord questions. Asking should never be a problem for us if we understand the depth of his love for us. Let us ask shall we not when we are confused about something in our faith? :)