What Did I Miss?

Every year, as Easter time rolls around, I contemplate what it would have been like to be there with the disciples as the astounding events unfolded. I think about the days leading up to the crucifixion and wonder how his closest friends could have missed what Jesus said. He knew what was on the horizon and patiently tried to inform them of things to come so that they wouldn’t be shocked. But they missed His warning.

Matthew 20:17-19 (NKJV) says: Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.”

Pretty straight-forward and hard to miss, right? But they were shocked when Jesus was crucified. And even more shocked when He rose from the dead. They didn’t remember His words. But His enemies did.

Matthew 27:62-66 – On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.

Interesting to me that some remembered Jesus’ words, but those closest to Him did not. Here is the message of the angel at the tomb: “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ “ And they remembered His words (Luke 24:5-8, NKJV). Ah, now they remembered.

It’s easy to criticize the disciples. But I wonder what I would have thought or done if I had been there. And it makes me wonder what I’m missing now that God plainly spoke through His word. How about asking God to open our eyes so we don’t miss a thing?