Breaking the Word

And all were astonished by the majesty of God. While they were all amazed at his every deed, he said to his disciples, "Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men." But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying. (Lk 9:43-45)

 

 

People were amazed at the teaching and the deeds of Jesus. They recognized in the activities of Jesus the majesty of God. God was present in Jesus and God was revealed by Jesus and the people also recognized God in Jesus.

 

Jesus taught the disciples about the messiah who should suffer and die. This was not acceptable to the people. According to their understanding, the God-man should not suffer. This was a strange teaching. Suffering and God would not go together in their understanding.

 

Yet they would not challenge Jesus on this teaching for they have also read in the book of Isaiah about the suffering servant of Yahweh. They also know from the book of Job that God is the God of the suffering etc. People were afraid to challenge Jesus regarding his view on the idea of messiah. 

  Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" They said in reply, "John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, 'One of the ancient prophets has arisen.'" Then he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said in reply, "The Messiah of God." He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone. He said, "The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised." (Lk 9:18-22)

 

 

Peter replied saying that Jesus was the Messiah. Peter spoke for the twelve. This would mean that all the twelve were aware that Jesus was the Messiah or at least some of them were. But when Jesus questioned them about the view of the people all the disciples were aware of what the people thought of Jesus.

 

People had a view of Jesus which was true to facts but not exact. Some of the activities of Jesus were like the activities of the prophets. But the followers and in particular Peter was aware that he was more than a prophet. In fact he was the long awaited Messiah. But what did Peter know of the Messiah and his activities?

 

Jesus explained and expressed what the Messiah should be? The explanation that Jesus gave was kept secret and was not revealed to the people till the death and the resurrection of Jesus. So, until then even the disciples communicated or hope for a messiah like the one which every believer longed for at the time of Jesus: a warrior, royal messiah.