Private Talk

Mark 9:30-32 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.
 
HAVE you ever been in a circumstance where you had to learn something very important, and you had little time to do so? Essential information at a critical moment can impact your life for a very long time.
   Jesus repeatedly told the disciples a “need to know now” truth to prepare them for his life-altering death and resurrection. As we read in Mark 8, Jesus had told them once before. Jesus had also told James, Peter and John on their return from Jesus’ Transfiguration. And still, “They did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.”
   What prevented their understanding? Could it be the same reason you don’t understand the Bible and are afraid to ask? Is it  possible we do not understand Scripture because it so clear and precise? In other words, do you do not understand what God teaches because you don’t want to know?
   Sometimes God’s truth directs us to places we don’t want to go, especially confession of our sin. The unrepentant heart sees God clearly yet refuses to understand him. The apostle Paul says it this way: Romans 1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
    The essence of Paul’s teaching is that there is naturally a great chasm between our minds and God’s mind. When God’s righteousness confronts us, we respond, “I don’t want to hear that, Lord! it reveals my sin.” To know what God tells us often means we know we must change the way we think and live. We prefer to not understand what he meant, to be afraid to ask him about it.
   The disciples’ complete, knowing relationship with Jesus was not possible until they understood what he meant by rising from the dead. Failure to seek and know the truth even delayed their full, devoted response to Jesus’ resurrection.
   Many false ideas and idolatrous practices have corrupted Jesus’ church because false disciples did not understand what the Bible means. Guard against a stout heart that says, “I don’t want to know.” Resist the misunderstandings. Seek the truth. Receive God’s Word, plainly written for you.