Mark 9:31-32 - But they did not understand...

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." But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.

For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

Commentary

One of the methods that Jesus used to talk about God were stories. And some of the stories that Jesus told weren't meant to be understood at its initial telling. It's almost as if Jesus used stories to separate the casual inquirer from the disciple. The former would just nod their head in agreement and pretend to understand. The latter would scratch their head in confusion. But when they approached Jesus for insight, He saw that these were the ones that the Father had set apart for Him. Sometimes we don't understand and are afraid to ask. The Scripture clearly tells us to ASK, SEEK, KNOCK! It is in the asking that we show reverence for the words of God. It is in pursuit of clearing the confusion that we become His disciples.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

Matthew 10:34 - Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth

Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Commentary

One of the undercurrents of the Lenten season is that there is a battle. From the beginning, Adam and Eve rebelled against the governance of God to create their own knowledge of good and evil. So when God came to the earth as a man, part of His mission was to bring a sword that challenged the status quo of His day just as much as it does now. The book of Hebrews calls that sword the word of God. How do we approach Scripture? As a book of morals? Or do we see it as a sword that will challenge the thoughts and intents of our heart? Jesus is challenging us to leave our own knowledge of good and evil. This challenge is offensive to our inherited nature from Adam, but if we allow it to do its work, the challenge will lead us to the ultimate tree of life. - Jesus our risen Lord.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC