How Little the Apostles Knew
To read the account of the life of Jesus is to see how often He was either frustrated or amazed at the apostles’ lack of understanding about what He was saying. He was with them almost daily for over three years, but their words even at the ascension show just how little they had comprehended.
Those apostles struggled to understand even the simple truths He taught. Think of how easily you grasp the parable of the sower. Yet after Jesus told the story of the man who sowed seeds on four kinds of soil, the disciples privately came to Him and asked for help in understanding it. Jesus’ response was, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?” (Mark 4:13).
After Jesus had fed the 5,000 and the 4,000, the disciples had forgotten to take bread with them as they were crossing the sea of Galilee. When Jesus gave a stern warning to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, they misunderstood, thinking His words were about the fact they had brought only one loaf with them. Jesus said, “Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened? Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear” (Mark 8:14-18). Think of how readily we understand His words about the leaven of the Pharisees. Note amazement as He rebuked them. They did not understand the simple things He said.
They did not understand the most fundamental truths of why Jesus came. When He foretold His betrayal, death and resurrection on the third day, “They did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him” (Mark 9:31). On another occasion when He taught this simple truth, Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. Jesus turned and rebuked him saying, “Get behind Me Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men” (Mark 8:32-33). It is remarkable to think they did not comprehend the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.
They did not understand the nature of the kingdom. He spoke of the bread and the fruit of the vine in the kingdom, but they failed to see its nature. Just minutes before He ascended into heaven they still thought the coming kingdom had to do with the reestablishment of the Jewish earthly kingdom (Acts 1:6-8).
Jesus selected the twelve, spent years with them and they still did not see why He came and the work He was doing. Now think about what you understand compared to them. They grasped so little of the heart of the gospel, but they were used by Him to change the world. They knew so little but took what they knew to the lost. We know so much more, what are we doing with what we know?