But they did not understand this saying;
its meaning was hidden from them
so that they should not understand it
The disciples who could not accept the saying of Jesus were like the young man about whom we read in Ecclesiastes.
Ward off grief from your heart
and put away trouble from your presence,
though the dawn of youth is fleeting.
They were hoping to simply be glad in these days they spent with Jesus. They did not want to consider the possibility that it might ever be different for them. They doubtlessly knew from other aspects of their lives that the halcyon days of youth could not last. They saw that every other thing that promised much in life would eventually wither and fade. So they focused on the moment to the exclusion of of signs that things would not always be thus.
Because man goes to his lasting home,
and mourners go about the streets;
Before the silver cord is snapped
and the golden bowl is broken,
And the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
and the broken pulley falls into the well,
And the dust returns to the earth as it once was,
and the life breath returns to God who gave it.
The disciples probably knew well enough that all else was vanity. But they were amazed at every deed of Jesus. They sensed in him, finally, something that was not vain. They tried to pursue and cling to this sense by warding off from their minds any unpleasantries, and could not accept or understand the sufferings Jesus foretold.
“Pay attention to what I am telling you.
The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.”
They wanted to break free from a world where all was vanity. But Jesus seemed to be telling them that even this greatest hope which they found would be proved the most vain thing of all. This, however, was not why Jesus wanted them to pay attention to the fact of his impending suffering and death. Jesus insisted that they not view the world the narrow rose colored glasses that only perceived the good things of youth, willing themselves to believe that they would not change. There was one final sorrow, one final judgment that they needed to witness. Only on the far side of that experience could they hope for something beyond vanity.
they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
As Christians, are we like the disciples who don't want to hear about or understand the cross? Are we still trapped, like the youth of Ecclesiastes, in trying to make the best of something which ultimately cannot last? If so, Jesus is telling us to pay attention. Only in the cross do the vanities of this world lose their power to charm and enslave us. Only in the resurrection can we trade the naivety of the young whose treasure is in this world with the good hope and confidence of those who are born again for the Kingdom.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
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