Luke 9:43-45 – What Do You Not Understand? – Bible study

Luke 9:43-45 What Have You Not Understood? Jesus had just performed an extraordinary miracle, and He wanted to us the attention it had gotten to teach the disciples an important truth. Luke 9:44 the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men. This was a prophecy of the cross. It may have been one of the first times Jesus spoke it, but just as amazing as the miracle and the prophecy was the disciples response \#45\. 1. They understood it not. 2. They perceived it not. 3. They feared to ask. This was not a onetime occurrence. John 8:27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. John 10:6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. John 12:16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him. Questions: What have you and I not understood? What important things have we not understood? What necessary things have we not understood? I have been studying the Bible many years and the more I read of it, the more I am convinced that I need to study it more. I. Why do we not understand spiritual truths? A. A "Wrong-Teacher" Relationship 1. When I say "Teacher" here, I am not referring to the preacher but to the preachers Teacher. a. Even the preacher must have "The Teacher." b. Who is The Teacher? John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 2. Without the Holy Ghost, no one cannot understand the Bible. 3. You might understand some facts: people, places, events; but you will never understand Bible truths without a right relationship with the Holy Ghost. 4. Many people hurl doubt and denial at the Bible. a. The first thing you should ask is, "Are they even saved?" 1Cor 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. b. A lot of people have letters behind their names and prominent titles in front of them, but they have never been born again. 5. But even Christians must have a right relationship with the Holy Ghost. a. Bible calls it being "filled with the Spirit." b. That is opposition to grieving Him, resisting Him, and quenching Him? B. "Not-Even-Trying" Problem – we cant learn if you dont study. 1. We wont get it if we dont read it. You cannot understand the Bible if you do not open it and read it. 2. We wont get it if we dont put ourselves in a position to be taught and preached the Word. Ac 8:30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. a. This man was not a bumkin. (1) \#Acts 8:27\ Served Candice, the Queen of the Ethiopians. He was educated and very well trained. (2) He was leaving Jerusalem, the Jewish city of worship and had traveled hundreds of miles to be there. (3) He had attended Passover and Pentecost and was on a spiritual high. (4) He loved God enough to purchase the scroll of Isaiah. (5) He was only a short distance out of town and had pulled over to read and to study it. b. Yet, when Philip asked if he understood it, he answered. Acts 8:31 How can I, except some man should guide me? (1) This man was wise enough to know this was not his field of expertise and he sought help. (2) That is why God created the church and called pastors and teachers. (3) Take advantage of those God has made available to teach and preach the Word to you. C. "Not-Living-It" Problem 1. Even if we do get the Bible, we wont keep it if we dont obey and practice it. Luke 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 2. Like a muscle that is not used, so the Word of God that is not practiced, is soon lost. 3. Only worse than losing the muscle, the Word that is lost will not even be remembered. D. "Think-You-Know" Problem – Some people are so sure that they are right that you cannot tell they are wrong. 1. I think that may have been what caused the disciples to have a problem here. 2. They knew, correctly so, that the Messiah was to rule and reign. 3. Being armed with that bit of truth kept them from understanding the truth that He must die, be buried, and rise again. 4. It is even worse when what you think you know is completely wrong. II. What are we not understanding? A. Some are not understanding salvation. 1. Believe it or not, Jesus own disciples were not understanding the necessity of the cross. a. They understood the coming of the Messiah. b. They understood the kingdom that He would set up. c. They understood the glory that would bring to Israel and to the Jews. d. But they did not understand that you cannot wear the crown without first carrying the cross. 2. We living in a world today that prides itself in its knowledge but completely lacks wisdom and understanding. a. Some deny sin or minimize its importance. (1) Sin is not only all around us. Sin is in us. (a) There is an sinful streak in mankind a mile long. (b) lust, envy, gospel, lying, cheating, stealing, killing, drunkenness, fornication (c) You have to close your eyes not to see it. (2) There is more evidence of sin than of death. Death only comes once in a lifetime. Sin comes daily; and for some people, it comes all day b. Some deny God. (1) While there is evidence of God all around us, some refuse to see Him. (2) They have substituted all sorts of things for God: evolution, aliens, cosmic accidents. (3) If there is the slightest possibility that God is real and you do not investigate the Bible thoroughly, then you would be a foolish person. 3. What are the facts about salvation? a. Salvation is trusting that Jesus Christ died for your sins. (1) Jesus is God. (2) Jesus put on flesh to be mortal. (3) Jesus died for our sins. (4) On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead as proof that God accepted Jesus death as payment for sin. (5) If you will trust in Jesus death as payment for your sins and offer yourself as an obedient servant to God, God will apply Jesus death to your sin account, wiping away all of your sin now and forever. (6) The only proof of salvation is a changed life. b. Please do not miss the most important truth in all the world! B. Some Christians are not understanding the Christian life. 1. There are too many carnal Christians. 2. What are carnal Christians? Christians who just dont get the importance of living a diligent, surrendered life to Jesus Christ. a. This is no middle ground in the Christian life. b. You are either obedient to Christ or not. c. If you are not, you are paying a great price. (1) Increased problems – finances, marriage, child- rearing, legal battles, battles with crazies, work related hardships, health problems, and the list goes on. (2) Increased stress (a) Emotionally, youre probably a wreck. (b) Not sleeping, not happy, cant focus (3) But get this, you are denying yourself the rewards and position God wants to give you in eternity. 1Cor 3:13 Every mans work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is. 14 If any mans work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any mans work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss. (a) One can go to heaven AND suffer loss. (b) God has things He wants to give you in heaven but by living a worldly, carnal, compromising life, we LOSE THEM. C. Some are not understanding the return of Jesus. 1. This is true of the lost and saved alike. Anyone who understands the second coming of Christ will be changed by it. 2. Jesus may soon return and all of this life will end. 1Cor 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 3. Those who are saving and planning to live a long life on this earth may never get to enjoy. 4. Even what you get to enjoy will may not be as sweet as you think its going to be. 5. A life lived for Jesus brings blessings in your youth, peace and pleasure in your later years, and rewards throughout eternity. What are you not understanding?