“And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.”  Luke 18:31-34

 Biologists tell us that 95% of ocean life is yet undiscovered.

It’s true, there is a lot about oceans we don’t understand.

In today’s scripture it was the disciples who didn’t understand. We have difficulty with this too. They didn’t understand Jesus. What he said they didn’t comprehend.

“None of these things…they did not grasp what was said.” There was nothing like this in their experience. Jesus came to earth at Bethlehem. They knew His mother and brothers. They couldn’t understand that He came to die for them. For their sins He came to die to give them righteousness. And not only for them…He came for the whole world. That He would die for them…they couldn’t understand.

We don’t understand either. We cannot grasp the concept of Jesus dying for the sins of the world. We cannot see Him. We cannot hear His voice. And He died over 2000 years ago. It doesn’t seem like reality. We live in an age when history is revised. We do not comprehend.

Most of all we have an unseen enemy who seeks to destroy us. Lies are his effective constantly used weapon. He says in our thoughts things like, “It’s not possible for Jesus to exist.” “I’m not so bad, why do I need someone to save me?” and “If God really exists and He loves the world…He would never send anyone to hell, would He?”

There are many more. You and I are constantly under the assault of Satan’s lies. Many will come today…most will be in our thoughts.

Believe this…

Jesus DID COME TO EARTH.

He was God with skin on. He DID die for the disciples-and you and me. His death frees us from the slavery and forever punishment of our sins. Jesus defeated our enemy the devil on the cross. His death gives us LIFE. Life for today and life forever in a real (but beyond our vision in this life) place-heaven.

One more thought…Jesus reminded the disciples that the ancient prophets of Israel foretold His coming. And, they did. Isaiah was one of Israel’s prophets. History records Isaiah’s life to have occurred more than 7 centuries BEFORE Jesus came to earth. Isaiah wrote these words:

 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

You and I are greatly loved.

Jesus died to take away our guilt and shame.

God sends His Helper the Holy Spirit that we might understand AND BELIEVE.

God give us understanding. We cannot grasp this miracle without you. May the death of Jesus make sense for us. There is freedom here.