HIDDEN TRUTH
Jesus told the disciples several times that he would have to die. Here is the record of their response:
"'He [Jesus] will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.' The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about." Luke 18:31-34
Jesus told them what was coming, but they didn't have a clue what it meant! It wasn't because it was too hard to understand. The reason they couldn't grasp what was being said is because it didn't fit their theology. The disciples didn't want a Jesus who was going to be arrested, beaten and crucified -- they wanted a Jesus who was going to take over by kicking some Roman hind-end!
Be careful. You may find that your own theological blinders will keep YOU from understanding what God is going to do next in this world or even in your own church. Here is some evidence: not one single Christian organization knew ahead of time that the communist government was going to collapse! Neither did anyone predict how miraculous would be the United States' victory in the recent Gulf War. As important as these were to world events, no one's theology prepared them for it. Be careful. It is going to happen again. And again. And again.
