While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astonished at the majesty of God. But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying. (Luke 9:42-45)
It’s interesting here that it says the people were marveling at everything Jesus was doing, yet we don’t read that they marveled at Him. Jesus is God and was doing things that only God can do, yet they were marveling at the works of God and not God Himself.
And Jesus’ disciples were not immune to this either, which we especially notice in this situation. It was as they too were marveling at His works that He tells them, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” They, like so many, had a preconceived notion of what Messiah would come and do. They had created their own story in their heads about what this kingdom would be like and were dreaming up what their position within the kingdom would be like – which we’ll dig into more next week when we look at the argument that arose among the disciples.
Jesus is graciously and lovingly telling them what the next step is on His mission, and trying to refocus them on the reality that His whole goal in this coming was not to conqueror men and reign over them for this life, but to conqueror death and reign within them unto eternal life.
That phrasing, “Let these words sink into your ears”, means to truly listen and take it in. He had told them the truth of His coming crucifixion before and He was telling them again, as it was coming closer.
The word of Christ does us no good, unless we let it sink down into our heads and hearts. (Matthew Henry)
But the very thing that Jesus admonished to let sink into their ears was concealed from them. This may seem unfair, as if God set them up, telling them a command and not allowing them to understand it. However, this is not the case. This is actually similar to the situation with Pharoah during the time of Israel’s slavery in Egypt. God knew that Pharoah’s heart was against His people and that he would not let them go, therefore He hardened his heart. In the same way, the disciples were so immersed in their own idea of the type of kingdom Jesus had and would reign in, that they wouldn’t accept what Jesus was telling them time and time again, and therefore it was hidden from them.
This wasn’t the first time Jesus had told them His crucifixion was coming. If they had let His words sink in the first time, there wouldn’t have been a searing or desensitization to when He said it again this time. We must heed Jesus’ words when He first tells us things, letting His words sink into our ears, because otherwise we can truly deceive ourselves. James warns of this when he wrote, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” (James 1:22-25)
In being like the man who looks in the mirror and forgets what he was like, the disciples heard Jesus’ words but didn’t let them sink in, and in so deceived themselves.
How can we learn from the mistake of the disciples and let the words of Jesus sink in? That last part of James gives us a clue – looking into the perfect law and persevering, which leads to action. We also see an actionable example in the words of King David:
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3)
Have you ever been driving and the next thing you know, you’re at your destination and you don’t remember driving there? What about reading something and you realize you’ve read a whole page but don’t even know what it said? We need to spend time in the word of God, not just reading the words but meditating on them. It’s then that we truly let His words sink in and change us, renewing our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Will you try something to help ensure you’re letting His words sink in? Try telling at least one person a day what you read about in the bible that day. If you can recall and share what you’ve read, and even share what the Lord spoke to you through it, you can be more confident that it sunk in. I encourage you to spend time meditating on His word and sharing it with others, starting today!