What emotions might the disciples have felt hearing "they will kill Him"? Setting the Scene Jesus had just pulled His disciples aside for another clear prediction of His suffering: “The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after three days He will rise.” (Mark 9:31) The Gut-Level Impact of “They Will Kill Him” Hearing those four words would have hit the Twelve like a thunderclap. Although Scripture later records some of their feelings explicitly, the wider context lets us recognize a whole spectrum of emotions: • Deep grief – “And the disciples were deeply grieved.” (Matthew 17:23) • Fear – “They did not understand... and they were afraid to ask Him.” (Mark 9:32) • Confusion – “The meaning was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend what He was saying.” (Luke 18:34) • Shock – this prediction ran counter to their expectation of a triumphant, earthly Messiah (cf. John 12:34). • Denial – Peter had recently rebuked Jesus for similar words (Matthew 16:22-23). • Anxiety for their own future – if their Rabbi would be killed, what might happen to them? (John 15:20). • Sorrow that settled like a weight – “Your hearts are filled with sorrow because I have said these things.” (John 16:6). • Bewilderment mixed with hope – He still spoke of rising again, yet they could not grasp how. Why These Feelings Make Sense Biblically 1. Messianic expectations: They looked for political liberation (Acts 1:6). A slain Messiah seemed impossible. 2. Personal attachment: Three years of life-on-life fellowship made the prospect of losing Jesus deeply personal (John 13:1). 3. Spiritual warfare: “The god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelieving” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Until after the resurrection, full understanding eluded them (John 20:9). 4. Human frailty: Even believers struggle to reconcile present suffering with future glory (Romans 8:18). Scripture’s Window Into Their Hearts • Matthew 17:23 – grief is named outright. • Mark 9:32 – fear keeps them silent. • Luke 18:34 – confusion clouds comprehension. • John 16:6 – sorrow fills their hearts. Taken together, these verses trace an emotional journey that moved from alarm to anguish, from incomprehension to eventual clarity after the resurrection (Luke 24:45). From Dismay to Dawn Jesus never left the prediction at “they will kill Him.” He always added the promise, “after three days He will rise.” Their initial emotions were real and raw, but they were destined to be transformed into joy (John 16:20-22) once the empty tomb proved every word true. Living Truth for Today The disciples’ reactions remind us that even earnest followers can reel when God’s plan collides with personal expectations. Yet the same Lord who foretold His death also guaranteed His victory, anchoring both their hearts and ours in certain hope beyond every sorrow. |
    |