Friday after Ash Wednesday, March 4: “Let these words sink into your ears”

Prepare to Listen.  Be still and silent, conscious of being in God’s presence.  Pray: Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes, and I will observe it to the end.
 
Prayerfully Read Luke 9:43b-45
While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples, 44‘Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.’  45But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it.  And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
 
Prayerfully Wonder
After the Transfiguration Jesus was met by a large crowd and a distraught father whose son was possessed of a spirit.  His disciples had been unable to help the father, so he begged Jesus to heal his son.  When the spirit came out of the boy, the people were “astounded at the greatness of God” (v43a) and focused on the boy and his healing.  While they were distracted by the miracle, Jesus spoke to his disciples.
 
He began with, “Let these words sink into your ears.”  It’s an odd saying since we usually want important words to sink into the heart, not remain in the ears!  But unless they sink into our ears first we’ll never take them seriously.  The disciples weren't taking him seriously.  They ignored Jesus’ words about his death and so he repeated them yet again.  And they still didn’t get it or understand him.  His words hadn’t sunk into their ears and thus would never reach the heart.
 
We can sympathize with their lack of understanding.  After all, Jesus had just performed an act of authority and power and then revealed his powerlessness; he’d be betrayed into human hands.  This seems to contradict the act of power they’d just witnessed.  Not only that, as Luke writes, “its meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it.”  And they were too afraid to ask.  Jesus’ words needed to sink into their ears, so they really heard and believed him.
 
Prayerfully Reflect
What are you afraid to ask Jesus about?  Let his words sink into the ears of your heart.
 
Respond to Jesus
Lord Jesus, I have many questions because I don’t understand your words.  Help me live with them today so that they sink into my ears and I really hear you.  Amen.
 
Live obediently.  Let Christ’s words sink into your ears until you really hear them.