Bible Studies

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…Listen carefully to what I am going to tell you:
The Son of man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men …
Luke 9:43


Did the ears of James, John and Peter instantly perk up as Jesus spoke? After all, the first word from Jesus’ mouth, after rebuking the evil spirits, rippled from God’s own admonition to the three of them. Hear Him! The other nine, well, it may have sounded like any other words Jesus spoke to them. But certainly, a Spirit within the three beckoned their heart, quickened their ear. But did they hear? The answer is a resounding, NO!

Scripture goes on to tell me that they did not understand, the truth was hidden from them, and they were afraid to ask.

What truth? And why was it hidden? Who did the hiding?

The “truth” is easy to distinguish. Jesus speaks it Himself: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. But answers to the other questions do not fall as easily.

Why was it hidden? Is it possible that it still has everything to do with the kingdom-battling going on at this particular gathering? For the people are all still there, the father, the son, the marveling crowd. The disciples, witnessing it all.

And what about the spiritual realms? Were the forces thick, engaged in battle, fighting over the ears of the disciples? Certainly the demonic forces did not have entrance into the bodily elements of the disciples, but influence upon their environment seems a reality. Why? Because Jesus had not told the demons to depart, and because the disciples were afraid. Afraid to ask for clarification. Afraid to ask for understanding.

God had just finished telling them to Hear Him! Yet they didn’t even ask. Surely a battle continued for their hearing, for their souls, for the kingdom work that was at hand.



Lord, looking here, at the blindness of those who walked so closely with you, I discover the reflection of my own blindness. And the recognition that I suffer from that blindness because I don’t turn to You. I don’t recognize the battleground I’m in, or the battleground I am, and I fail to lay hold of the power to understanding I have by Your very presence with me. Open my eyes, my discernment, my understanding of Your heart. Peel away every blindfold the enemy effectively placed around my eyes without my even knowing of his presence. And Precious Jesus, my Loving Lord, never let fear stand between my heart and You. Keep the love between us real, and active, and cleansing, and freeing, that ever You might gain the victory and the glory in the battle of the kingdoms.




© 8 April 2005
DeAnna Brooks

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