Mark 9:30-32 :: Jesus predicts His death a second time

When I was in 8th grade I joined the basketball team, having never really played before and not understanding all the rules or what plays actually were. there was a big learning curve for me to overcome. i was in an unfaniliar environment, i didn’t understand what was required or expected of me, and so those first few practices and games were rather difficult.

i remember going into our first game, and the coach telling us to switch to our “zone defense.” I had a problem though, because up until that point, i don’t recall the coach ever telling us what a “zone defense” was…the other guys had been playing together for the previous two years and they had this “zone” thing down, but I had no clue.

now, maybe it was my inability to pay attention as a middle school boy, but i honestly think this was the first time I had heard the term. it was foreign and strange, but rather than look like a doofus and actually ask what that was, i decided to just go ahead and act like i knew what this zone  thing was all about.

so we get on the court, and i see my teammates staying in the same basic areas and kind of dancing around like there was a chain holding them there. this seemed stupid to me because i saw the guy i had been guarding run off to the base of the lane, and i could tell they were going to pass it to him, so i chased him, stole the ball and ran down court…

i didn’t understad what was going on, and it was to my advantage-at that moment- but it didn’t benefit me to play in ignorance of the basics.

the disciples are operating in ignorance here when Jesus is telling them the game plan of what’s going to happen to Him. He’s trying to explain to them about what the future holds for their group, what the road ahead looks like, and He’s taken them away from everyone else to spend this time alone with them because this is such a sensitive topic.

but in this secret place, away from prying questions and pushy crowds, the disciples sat in ignorance and didn’t ask Him what He meant by this because they were afraid. admittedly, this would sound strange and no one wants to look like a complete goober, or incur the wrath of the teacher when they are talking about something that surely you should understand.

Jesus isn’t blind to the fact that they are confused and scared to ask about this, but this also will not be the last time that He covers this topic with them either…

never be afraid to ask a question if someone says something you don’t understand. it isn’t better to operate in ignorance and hope things work out okay. and by the way, due to my lack of expereince on the court, when i made it to the other end of the court i completely missed my gimmie layup, and my coach wasn’t happy that i broke the “zone.”

things may seem alright for a moment, but ignorance and lack of experience will show itself pretty quickly. i felt alright about my decision for a moment, my plan had worked out okay and my ignorance hadn’t hurt me. but that bliss was short lived.

Jesus was offering them a glimpse into the future, and that though there was hardship ahead, hope was on it’s heels. they wouldn’t be left alone, He wouldn’t be gone forever and hope would live on. but because they kept their mouths shut, they robbed themselves of deeper understanding, and a better grasp on God’s plan for His people.