Why did the disciples not understand the Scripture about Jesus rising from the dead in John 20:9? WHY THE DISCIPLES DID NOT YET UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURE CONCERNING JESUS’ RESURRECTION (JOHN 20:9) Text and Immediate Setting “‘For they still did not understand the Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.’ ” (John 20:9) John is narrating the first moments after Peter and “the other disciple” inspected the empty tomb. The linen cloths are folded; the body is gone; yet comprehension lags behind the evidence. What John Means by “the Scripture” The singular graphē points to the whole of the God-breathed writings, not a lone verse. From a first-century Jewish standpoint the “Scripture” predicting Messiah’s resurrection includes: • Psalm 16:10 – “You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.” • Isaiah 53:10-12 – the Servant “will prolong His days.” • Hosea 6:2 – “On the third day He will raise us up.” • Jonah 1:17 (cf. Matthew 12:40) – three days in the fish prefiguring Messiah. • Genesis 22:5 (typology of Isaac), Psalm 22, and Job 19:25-27 also contribute. John’s comment reveals that the disciples had not yet connected these strands. Repeated, Yet Incomprehensible, Predictions by Jesus Jesus explicitly stated the resurrection at least three times (Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:34). He gave the “sign of Jonah” (Matthew 12:40). Even the raising of Lazarus (John 11) was a living preview. Nevertheless, Mark 9:32 records, “They did not understand this statement and were afraid to ask.” Human expectation filtered the data. First-Century Jewish Messianic Expectations Most Jews anticipated an immediate, militarily triumphant Son of David (cf. John 12:34). A crucified, buried, and then bodily resurrected Messiah contradicted that paradigm. Resurrection, if contemplated at all, was expected at the end of the age (John 11:24), not in mid-history. Cognitive and Emotional Barriers a. Grief and Trauma: Sudden bereavement narrows attention; psychological studies on complicated grief show reduced cognitive flexibility. b. Confirmation Bias: They processed events through prevailing expectations of earthly deliverance (Luke 24:21). c. Selective Memory: Under stress, recall of earlier teaching is impaired (Proverbs 24:10). Spiritual Dynamics a. Pre-Pentecost Limitation: John 7:39 notes the Spirit had not yet been given. Understanding Scripture requires illumination (1 Corinthians 2:14). Luke 24:45 records that only later “He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” b. Divine Timing: God often withholds full insight until the redemptive act is complete (Daniel 12:4; 1 Peter 1:10-12). Progressive Revelation in John’s Gospel John arranges signs (water to wine, raising Lazarus) to move readers toward faith (John 20:31). The disciples, however, live the plot in real time. Their comprehension gradually unfolds (John 2:22). Archaeological and Extra-Biblical Corroborations • The Nazareth Inscription (1st cent. imperial edict against tomb-tampering) fits a climate where a missing body was publicly known. • Ossuary evidence verifies crucifixion practices (Yehohanan heel bone, Jerusalem, AD 30-33), illustrating that victims could be buried quickly, exactly as Gospels describe. • Early creedal material (1 Corinthians 15:3-5), sourced within five years of the event, testifies that resurrection belief sprang up in Jerusalem itself—geographically falsifiable if the tomb contained a corpse. The Role of the Holy Spirit Post-Resurrection John 14:26 promises, “the Advocate … will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.” At Pentecost (Acts 2) that promise materialized, transforming confusion into bold proclamation (Acts 2:24-32). The Spirit’s illumination, not mere intellect, bridged the gap. Theological Implications a. Necessity for Faith: Salvation hinges on confessing “Jesus is Lord” and believing “God raised Him from the dead” (Romans 10:9). b. Integrity of Scripture: The very inability of the disciples to fabricate a resurrection they failed to grasp bolsters historical credibility. c. Call to the Reader: John frames the narrative so that later readers, possessing the full canon and Spirit, might see what the first witnesses initially missed. Summary The disciples’ lack of understanding in John 20:9 stemmed from entrenched messianic expectations, emotional shock, pre-Pentecost spiritual blindness, and the progressive nature of divine revelation. Subsequent resurrection appearances, Spirit-given illumination, and consistent manuscript testimony converge to affirm both the historicity of the event and the reliability of the Scriptures that foretold it. |
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