Contemplative Bible Reading

Luke 18:34 (New Living Translation)

34 But they didn’t understand any of this. The significance of his words was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about.

Jesus is talking to the group of insiders who walked with Him daily. Jesus told them what was to happen in Jerusalem. Given our perspective of several thousand years, it was obvious was Jesus was saying. The Son of Man would be given to the Romans for torture and execution.

The followers didn’t understand any of it. Was Jesus speaking in some code? Was it not obvious that Jesus was “the Son of Man?”

And then there are the words, “The significance of his words was hidden from them.”

Here is my theory. Jesus spoke clearly about what was to happen. The time, however, was not right for the followers to understand. Had they understood, who knows what they would have done—probably the wrong thing.

Sometimes I am just not ready to understand something. Sometimes I need more time and experience and life before I am ready. Sometimes the significance of something is hidden from me for my own good.

Rats. I don’t like to admit that “I can’t handle that,” but often that is the truth.