Mark 9:30-32 — Afraid to Ask

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.

Comments:

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Jesus was very focused on his ministry trajectory. Though he constantly showed compassion to the people, he did not allow the pull of the crowd to distract him from his mission. He would neither allow himself to be crowned king by the crowd nor protected by the disciples from arrest. His path was set toward the cross and he wanted to prepare his disciples for that day. 

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He told them what would happen in advance…saying it over and over again—but they didn't understand. However, once it happened and Jesus died, they remembered what he had said in advance... and understood.

The disciples' fear to ask him to explain what he meant reminds me of my feelings in my high school math class. I could ask the teacher a question and have him explain it and still not have a clue. They would then ask the dreaded question, "Do you understand it now?" And like any self-conscious student, I would nod my head and out of embarrassment say, “Sure I understand it.” Honestly, I didn't—and neither did the disciples. I was afraid to ask again—so were the disciples. 

Jesus’ resurrection would cure their fear of death (Heb. 2:15)… however, I still have calculus nightmares and thus am no engineer. 

 

One of the most important things I have learned is that God is not bothered by our questions... even the ones we are afraid to ask. 

I'm pretty sure we'll never understand until we ask.