In the Life of Christ
“They did not understand the saying and were afraid to ask him.” —Mark 9:32
I can picture the student who keeps looking at the board, hoping understanding will arrive before the teacher calls on her. She has a question, but asking it might reveal how much she has missed. Most of us recognize that feeling. It can follow us into church, into Bible study, and even into prayer. We hear something Jesus says, struggle to understand it, and wonder whether we ought to know better by now. Mark 9:32 brings that hesitation into the open. The disciples walked beside Jesus, yet they still had questions they were afraid to ask. Being close to Jesus does not mean we have finished learning how to understand Him.
Jesus had been teaching them about His approaching betrayal, death, and resurrection. This was central to His mission, yet they could not make sense of it. Peter, James, and John had recently witnessed His glory at the transfiguration. How could the One revealed in such glory be handed over and killed? David Guzik observes that the disciples “couldn’t ‘process’ what Jesus said about His destiny in Jerusalem.” The announcement confronted expectations they had not yet learned to surrender.
Mark tells us that they were afraid, but he does not explain every motive behind their fear. Perhaps Peter’s earlier rebuke was still fresh in their minds. Perhaps they dreaded hearing more about suffering. Perhaps admitting confusion seemed especially difficult among men who would soon argue about which of them was greatest. Matthew Henry offers a searching observation: “Many remain ignorant because they are ashamed to enquire.” His words invite me to examine the questions I conceal because I want to appear more spiritually mature than I am.
Sometimes, however, my difficulty concerns obedience as much as understanding. I may understand that Jesus calls me to forgive while remaining reluctant to explore what forgiveness requires in a particular relationship. I may recognize His teaching about serving others while hoping it will leave my comfortable arrangements undisturbed. The disciples’ struggle encourages an honest prayer: “Lord, help me understand what You are saying, and help me receive what I would rather avoid.” An honest question can become an act of faith when I bring it with a willingness to be taught.
Notice what happens next in Mark’s account. Jesus continues teaching. When the disciples’ argument about greatness comes to light, He sits down, gathers the Twelve, and explains that the person who would be first must become servant of all. Their confusion does not end His commitment to their formation. His patience includes correction, and His correction gives them another opportunity to learn. I take encouragement from that. Jesus knows how deeply our assumptions run. He can expose them without abandoning the people who hold them.
After His resurrection, Jesus again helps confused followers understand His mission. On the Emmaus road, He interprets the Scriptures in relation to Himself, showing how His suffering belongs within God’s saving purpose (Luke 24:25–27). The cross they struggled to comprehend becomes central to their understanding of redemption. We read from the other side of those events, yet we still need Scripture to reshape our expectations. God’s faithfulness does not guarantee an easy path, and Christ’s victory teaches us to recognize the place of sacrifice in faithful discipleship.
Today, return to a passage you have been avoiding. Read the surrounding verses. Bring your question to God in prayer, and consider discussing it with a trustworthy believer who will study alongside you. You may need time, further reading, or the humility to revise a cherished assumption. You can begin learning before you feel confident enough to explain everything. The disciples’ story gives us reason to keep coming to Jesus with open Bibles, honest questions, and hearts ready to follow.
Invite a younger reader to explore Keaton Talks on Facebook, where everyday questions encourage thoughtful conversations about faith and character.
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