Luke 18:31-34 New King James Version 

Jesus a Third Time Predicts His Death and Resurrection

³¹ Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. ³² For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. ³³ They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

³⁴ But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.

The reason for Jesus being here, His ‘hour’, as He often spoke of it, was fast approaching, ad He shared it here with the Apostles. They didn’t understand it any more than when He told them the first time.

They were earthly men, and unschooled, being groomed for a global ministry to change the world, dealing in matters of Heaven, redemption, eternity, and the fight over the human soul.

This persisted even when Mary and Joanna visited the tomb; Jesus had told them as well. (Luke 24:6-8)

⁶ He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, ⁷ saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ”

⁸ And they remembered His words.

And again when Jesus spoke to the Apostles after He rose, revealing the Scripture to them as He did to the disciples on the road to Emmaus. (Luke 24:44-48)

The Scriptures Opened

⁴⁴ Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” ⁴⁵ And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

⁴⁶ Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, ⁴⁷ and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ And you are witnesses of these things.

As we now have been grafted in, all the remnant of every nation that yet believe on Him, there are sayings yet hidden from us as we walk, even now. (John 21:25)

The Apostles were witnesses, but we were not. How then, do we know that our Redeemer lives? How has He manifested in your life this year? In the past? Can you count on Him to be there in the future?

Consider your testimonies of years past, the ‘books of remembrance’ that will remind you of the times He showed Himself strong on your behalf, and even the times He let you go through a pruning process to bring you back to Himself bearing greater fruit, or directed you down a new path to a hidden thing: a word or a talent, a calling or a ministry. Perhaps even a mission to another land.

As we hover on the cusp of a new year, let us, during this holiday season that has pushed out the very definition of holy day, find a quiet time to celebrate the King’s arrival. Let’s ask Him to reveal to us what was hidden that we’ll now need to carry forward, to do the work that will bear the fruit, the work that will point the sinners to Him as they glorify G-d for His mercy, grace, love, longsuffering, and kindness toward them, placing their fledgling faith in His Son.

John tells us there is much more Jesus did (and likely said) that remains hidden even now (John 21:25)

What we already have, through the sovereign will of the Father, is all we need to make our decision to follow Him, to believe on Him as the Shepherd, Savior, Redeemer, King, Judge, Prophet, Healer, Brother, and Friend.

He is all of this and more: The gift of G-d, that we might stand unblemished in His holy presence, and in that day, we will ask no more questions, for all that is hidden will be revealed. (John 16:16 – 23)

Therefore I pray:

Lord Jesus,

Thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit, the One who takes of You and reveals it to us, your unprofitable, sinful servants. As we pause to reflect on the meaning of Your coming to us in these harsh times, we guard our hearts against the world’s pull to disconnect us from You and make it about the things we own, where You tell us not to keep our treasures here, but to store them in Heaven.

Forgive us, Lord, for the times we went astray in this. Let it be far from us as we continue to walk with You.

If there are to be hidden things among us, let it be Your words in our hearts, let it be peace in our homes and among our families, let it be doing the commands You spoke to live our lives according to the Father’s will.

If there are to be hidden things, let it be an altar where we can go to Him in secret, so that in this season of lights and glitter, our giving, fasting, and praying is done to Him in secret, that we might know more of the hidden things concerning Him. 

As we proclaim and follow You, may He reward us openly with favor in the presence of our enemies.

Let us not be like the angels, who long to look into these things but have no need of them, (1 Peter 1:12) being in the Father’s presence, and on assignment to us in our frailties and failings.

Let us instead be like the shepherds that first night, vigilant over that which we have, set apart from society, yet evangelizing all that we have seen and heard. We continue now to proclaim You  with the sayings, songs, and praises that we know, walking the Narrow Path toward the day we, too, will have no more questions.

May it be done to us as You have said. 

Amen.