Afraid to ask

Then a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, the Chosen One; listen to him!” (Luke 9:35)

[Jesus] told his disciples, “Let these words sink in: The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.”

But they did not understand this statement; it was concealed from them so that they could not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it. (43-45)

Those last words struck me, “They could not grasp [Jesus’ words], and they were afraid to ask him about it.”

Why were they afraid to ask? They weren’t always that way. Just in chapter 8, they were asking, “What do you mean?” (8:9)

I’m not sure why they were afraid. But I’m guessing it was because they didn’t want to know the answer.

They were afraid the answer would blow up all their hopes and dreams. That they would have to totally change their way of thinking.

I think deep down, they already knew the answer. Jesus couldn’t haven’t been any clearer. But they didn’t want to accept it.

That’s closing your eyes and ears to God’s word.

How often is Jesus telling us, “Let these words sink in”?

Maybe we see something in the Bible concerning our sin. Or as we’re praying, we sense God saying, “You need to change directions in your life.”

But we are afraid to ask Jesus, “What are you trying to tell me?” because we’re afraid of the answer.  

We make the excuse, “Well, I didn’t understand what he was saying.”

But the truth is, we simply didn’t want to know.

I know I’ve done that. Especially concerning coming to Japan.

But the Father says, “This is my Son. Listen to him.”

Following Jesus isn’t easy. It costs us something. Following Jesus often requires struggling or pain (23-24).

Many times, it requires sacrifice (57-62).

But the thing I’ve learned, the thing I’m still learning, is that following Jesus is the only way to truly find life.

Following Jesus cost me something. But looking back, I have no regrets because what I’ve lost is no comparison to what I’ve gained.

I left behind family, friends, and a great church in Hawaii. But I found a new family, new friends, and a great church in Japan. But more than that, I found God’s purpose for me.

Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it.” (23-24)