16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.
Hindsight is always 20/20 is it not? I love what Jesus states in Matthew regarding His works and Words as well as those of John the Baptist’s – when all is tallied and the results are in, the wisdom of the approach of both Jesus and the Baptist will be proved right:
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners."' But wisdom is proved right by her actions." Matt 11:18-19 (NIV)
“God means what He says and will do all He has promised.” Hudson Taylor
Indeed, the disciples stayed confused – for some macabre reason that makes me feel better!
It was only after His death, resurrection and glorification that it became clear to them as it was then they received the Counselor – the precious Holy Spirit. We find clarification of this earlier in John’s gospel:
37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. John 7:37-39 (NIV)
This certainly was not the only time the disciples had difficulty understanding what was going on around them. We find in Mark our Lord teaching His disciples yet they remained dull to His Words:
30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 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." 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. Mark 9:30-32 (NIV)
I am reminded of the Words of our Lord to two of His disciples on the Road to Emmaus after His crucifixion and resurrection. His identity was veiled from their eyes and they were despondent over His death. He begins by giving them a Bible study lesson they would never forget – chastising them for not engaging their minds and failing to think through the implications of what had recently occurred:
25 He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. Luke 24:25-27 (NIV)
"God is at work in response to our prayers, whether we see something happening or not. If we are truly praying, 'Thy will be done,' forces are at work beyond our comprehension--and often, beyond our vision. But they are working just the same." David Jeremiah
It is interesting to me that those closest to our Lord as He walked this earth, who were also no doubt very familiar with prophecy, could have had such imperfect knowledge of both Jesus’ Person and work as well as the fulfillment of Scripture that was going on around them. Raised with notions of a glorious temporal Messiah, the disciples remained clueless and unaware of many of our Lord’s doings. Is it not difficult to change a made up mindset? They evidently remained oblivious to the fact that they were performing the ceremony of the inauguration of Zion’s king. That which was once so dark and clouded afterwards is so pristinely clear. I am reminded of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians:
12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Cor 13:12 (NIV)
"Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe." St Augustine
“The disciples found, long after the triumphant entry into Jerusalem, that they had been unconscious actors in a mighty accomplishment of Scripture. This is a thought for us all.
We have not the least idea, during the greater part of our lives, how much of God’s great purposes on earth are being carried on through us and by us, without our being conscious of it. The full extent to which they are carried on we shall never know till we wake up in another world. We shall then discern with wonder and amazement the full meaning of many a thing in which we were unconscious agents during our lives.” J. C. Ryle