DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- SINKING WORDS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – SINKING WORDS

"And they were all amazed at the majesty of God. But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples, 'Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.' But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying." (Luke 9:43-45)

Jesus wanted His words to sink down into the hearts of His disciples. How many times did Jesus tell his disciples that he was going to be betrayed, put to death – even crucified – and they did not get it? According to my calculations, I count at least nine times in the Gospels when Jesus predicted his betrayal, suffering, death, and resurrection (taking into account that the Gospel writers sometimes refer to the same event). In fact, just a few verses earlier in this chapter in Luke, Jesus told his disciples that " 'the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day' " (Luke 9:21). Over and over, he told them, but it did not register with them. They just didn't get it.

It was not until after the death and resurrection that they understood what Jesus had been trying to tell them. The angel at the tomb said, " 'Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.' And they remembered His words" (Luke 24:6-8). They were "slow of heart to believe" that the Christ had to suffer these things (Luke 24:27).

How often do we hear a message and it goes over our heads. Ask the average Christian on Monday what the sermon was on Sunday, and they will scratch their heads, trying to remember. In one ear, and out the other! Sometimes, we have heard the message so many times that we tune it out. Sometimes we don't understand it. Sometimes we don't want to hear the message.

May the word of Christ sink down deep into our ears and hearts. This is especially important if we have been a Christian for a long time and have heard a thousand sermons. As the Apostle wrote, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly" (Colossians 3:16).

Love, Dad