Resurrection and the misunderstanding of Jesus' disciples

[Christian2]

Jesus told His disciples He would die and rise from the dead on the third day.

Mark 10:33,34 - 'We are going up to Jerusalem,' he said, 'and THE SON OF MAN WILL BE BETRAYED to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.'

Luke 9:22 - And he said, 'THE SON OF MAN must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.'

John 9:35-38 - Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, 'DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE SON OF MAN?' 'Who is he sir?' the man asked. 'Tell me so that I may believe in him.'

Yet, it seems no one believed Him or did not understand what He meant because they sure were surprised when they found His tomb empty and appeared to them.

Can anyone explain this?

Thanks.

[Cactus]

I think that it is important to understand that these disciples honestly thought that nothing could go wrong, that nothing could happen to Jesus.

However Jesus knew that certain people at the time wanted him dead.(knowing that he was going to die was nothing to do with prophesy or mysticism) He basically had to die, he knew this and went willingly to it even though he COULD of avoided it. The disciples knew what he could of done, but didn't understand some of the things he said.

Another thing we should remember is that there were 2 Jewish groups at the time of Jesus, that Sadducee's and the Pharisees(one that believed in resurrection and another that didn't)

It was not that they misunderstood, but it was that they really and honestly did not understand what he had come to earth to do. He even calls them "dull" when they do not understand his parables. I think it is important to remember that Jesus had great faith in peter even though he knew that peter would deny him(somehow Christ, knew how many times as well!)

So even if my response was not very useful, I hope I helped.

[Christian2]

I think that it is important to understand that these disciples honestly thought that nothing could go wrong, that nothing could happen to Jesus.

However Jesus knew that certain people at the time wanted him dead.(knowing that he was going to die was nothing to do with prophesy or mysticism) He basically had to die, he knew this and went willingly to it even though he COULD of avoided it. The disciples knew what he could of done, but didn't understand some of the things he said.

Another thing we should remember is that there were 2 Jewish groups at the time of Jesus, that Sadducee's and the Pharisees(one that believed in resurrection and another that didn't)

It was not that they misunderstood, but it was that they really and honestly did not understand what he had come to earth to do. He even calls them "dull" when they do not understand his parables. I think it is important to remember that Jesus had great faith in peter even though he knew that peter would deny him(somehow Christ, knew how many times as well!)

So even if my response was not very useful, I hope I helped.

Yes, it helped. Thank you.

I think the disciples believed Jesus was the Messiah and before Jesus' death and resurrection, but they did not, could not, believe He would die. They did not have the basis for that understanding until the Scriptures were explained to them after He died.

It might have been a sort of denial.

[Furstentum Liechtenstein]

It might have been a sort of denial.

Nope...that sounds too much like pop-psychology!

The actual explanation can be found in the Bible: compare Exodus 34:33 to 2 Corinthians 3:14.

There is a veil that covers the understanding of all those who are not baptized in the Holy Spirit. This veil prevents any from understanding the Scriptures. Any that have not yet received the Holy Spirit, that is.

For those of you who - like me - used to be atheists, just think back to when you used to read the Bible and laugh at its stupidity and were able to shoot it full of holes. After your repentance, the veil was lifted and what you used to ridicule and not understand, you now treat with the utmost respect.

FL

[Christian2]

For those of you who - like me - used to be atheists, just think back to when you used to read the Bible and laugh at its stupidity and were able to shoot it full of holes. After your repentance, the veil was lifted and what you used to ridicule and not understand, you now treat with the utmost respect.

FL

Well, that is certainly true. Thanks.

[B. W.]

...For those of you who - like me - used to be atheists, just think back to when you used to read the Bible and laugh at its stupidity and were able to shoot it full of holes. After your repentance, the veil was lifted and what you used to ridicule and not understand, you now treat with the utmost respect.......FL

Yes and remember well those 'daze's”….Thank the Lord the He did not leave us in that fallen state…

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:20-23:

“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ…” ESV

Paul here identifies Christ as the Firstfruit who was raised from the dead first from those who have died. Again in Ephesians 4:8-10:

“Therefore it says, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men." 9 (In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)”

And 1 Peter 3:18: “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison…”

To be brief:

The Resurrection of the Dead as taught in the OT stated:

Isa 49:9, “… saying to the prisoners, 'Come out,' to those who are in darkness, 'Appear.' They shall feed along the ways; on all bare heights shall be their pasture…”

Isa 61:1, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound…”

Ephesians 4:8-10, “Therefore it says, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men." 9 (In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)”

Luke 16:19-31 the story of the Rich am and Lazarus reveals that there are two groups of those who Paul writes of as fallen asleep in this life (those that Died). Both groups, the righteous and the unrighteous, dwelled in either hell or paradise. Paradise may have been paradise but those there were bound and held there as they could not approach God or be near him. Jesus preached and brought those in paradise to be with him while (Matt 27:53) those in 'what we would call' hell remain until the final judgment as Isaiah 24:22 gives clue too:

“They will be gathered together as prisoners in a pit; they will be shut up in a prison, and after many days they will be punished.” ESV

In the OT the concept of the Resurrection of the Dead taught these concepts:

Daniel 12:1-2, "At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” ESV

Joh 5:28 -- Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

Act 24:15 -- having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.

Jeremiah states an important concept in Jer 20:11-- But the LORD is with me as a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble; they will not overcome me. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten….

Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten! - As Daniel 12:2 states — everlasting contempt and Isaiah 24:22 also alludes too.

1 Co 15:26 -- The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Rev 20:14 -- Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

The Resurrection of the Dead is just that. God for his own reasons and purposes will resurrect both the just and unjust: Uniting both in a new type of body so that death is defeated. Now this is where people get confused: In Genesis God declared a death sentence for sin. If death is defeated then there is no more sin and death possible — get it?

Rev 21:4 -- He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
The importance of the OT doctrine of the Resurrection of the Dead was that God will restore a new Heavens and earth.

Isaiah 65:17 - For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. JPS

In these the just will be restored to live and walk with God forever as God originally intended in the beginning. However, this time, there will be no sin and no death. Everyone will be sealed justly and properly without any violation of justice where ever they desired to spend eternity — in everlasting contempt or everlasting life (goodness-health-wholeness).

For now, until that time, the sentence of death remains until the last judgment...

Jesus was the frist fruits so we can now follow him so that if we die before he comes we will be where he is and at the last trumpt we will receive our new body as he already has and thus live forever with the Lord as God originally planned (albeit with a few minor adjustments).
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