" (Matthew
17:22,23) But it may not be expected of them that they should understand
the meaning of these Old Testament Scriptures as referring to the
resurrection of the Lord. They were not men of great learning. They were
poor and followed humble occupations. They had doubtless not had the
advantage of a great amount of education; but a stronger reason is that
the holy spirit had not then been given and their minds had not been
illuminated, and it is not to be expected that they would understand
then the deep things of God's Word. (1 Corinthians 2:14) Nor is it at
all surprising that they had forgotten some of the sayings of Jesus
concerning his betrayal, his death and resurrection. We must remember
that they loved Jesus very devotedly; and uppermost in their minds was
the hope that he would be the deliverer of Israel. Only five days before
his death they had joined him in his triumphal entry into Jerusalem,
when the common people hailed him with gladness and joy. (Matthew
21:1-11) His death was so very sudden, so cruel, the shock so terrible,
that the minds of these faithful disciples and others who loved him
dearly were stunned. They were truly overwhelmed with sorrow and grief.
He had been rudely snatched from them; unjustly tried, brutally
condemned, and then subjected to the most ignominious death known to
man, the death of the cross.
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