Mark 9:32
But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
All verses
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Mark 9:32
But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Their fear wasn't just about the difficult message of Jesus' death; it was a deeper reluctance to confront the implications of a suffering Messiah, a concept entirely foreign to their earthly expectations of His kingdom. This fear of asking, of truly engaging with Jesus' words, allowed their earthly ambitions to fester, leading them to dispute among themselves about who was greatest.
Jesus has just taught His disciples about His impending suffering and death, but they completely missed the point, still clinging to their own ideas about earthly power and glory. This leads to their fear and silence, as they avoid asking Him to clarify what He meant, likely because they were afraid of further rebuke or simply couldn't grasp such a dire prediction.
Why did Jesus' clearest words about his impending death leave his closest followers confused and afraid?
The disciples' minds were clouded by their preconceived notions of the Messiah. They expected a conquering king, not a suffering servant. This deeply ingrained expectation acted like a veil, obscuring the true meaning of Jesus' words.
What They Expected:
What Jesus Said:
Their inability to reconcile Jesus' words with their hopes meant they didn't truly hear what He was saying. It wasn't just a lack of understanding; it was a refusal, born of fear and desire, to accept a reality so contrary to their dreams.
When faced with a terrifying truth, why is silence often the first response?
The disciples' confusion quickly turned to fear, and that fear silenced them. They were afraid to ask Jesus for clarification, even though He had welcomed their questions before. This fear wasn't just about being embarrassed; it was a deep-seated dread of the implications of Jesus' words.
The Roots of Their Fear:
Understand the original words
ephobounto · Greek Verb
An expression of reverent awe or fear, often in the presence of the divine or supernatural. In the Gospels, it is a common reaction to Jesus' teaching, authority, or power, often stemming from a lack of spiritual insight.
The disciples' confusion wasn't just a lack of understanding; it stemmed from a deep-seated desire for an earthly kingdom, making them resistant to the idea of their Messiah suffering and dying.
c. AD 27-28
Jesus begins public ministry
Jesus starts teaching, healing, and calling disciples throughout Galilee.
c. AD 28— this verse
Jesus predicts his suffering
Jesus first tells his disciples about his coming suffering, death, and resurrection, which they do not understand.
c. AD 28
Dispute among disciples
Immediately following Jesus' prediction of suffering, the disciples argue about who is the greatest.
c. AD 28
Jesus teaches humility
Jesus uses the example of a child to teach his disciples about greatness through service and humility.
c. AD 30
Jesus enters Jerusalem
This passage immediately precedes the one in Mark and shows the disciples' sorrow and confusion after Jesus again predicts his death, highlighting their inability to grasp the significance of his suffering.
Luke 18:31-34Luke records a similar prediction of Jesus' suffering and death, emphasizing that the disciples 'understood none of these things,' reinforcing the recurring theme of their lack of comprehension.
John 12:16After Jesus' triumphal entry, John notes that his disciples 'did not understand these things at first,' showing that their difficulty in grasping Jesus' true mission extended even to seemingly clearer moments.
Matthew 18:1-5Following the prediction of his death, the disciples began to argue about who was the greatest, demonstrating how their misunderstanding of Jesus' suffering led them to focus on worldly ambitions instead of his mission.
expositorsMark 9:28-37: "And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?"
CHAPTER 9:28-37 (Mark 9:28-37)JESUS AND THE DISCIPLES "And when He was come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, saying, We could not cast it out. And He said unto them, This kind can come out by nothing, save by prayer. And they went forth from thence, and passed through Galilee; and He would not that any man should know it. For He taught His disciples, and said…
ellicottMark 9:32: "But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him."
(32) They understood not that saying. —The words, giving once more a kind of psychological analysis of the disciples’ thoughts, are not in St. Matthew, but are found in St. Luke. They imply the continuance of the perplexity described in Mark 9:10 .
Their fear wasn't just about the difficult message of Jesus' death; it was a deeper reluctance to confront the implications of a suffering Messiah, a concept entirely foreign to their earthly expectations of His kingdom. This fear of asking, of truly engaging with Jesus' words, allowed their earthly ambitions to fester, leading them to dispute among themselves about who was greatest.
Jesus has just taught His disciples about His impending suffering and death, but they completely missed the point, still clinging to their own ideas about earthly power and glory. This leads to their fear and silence, as they avoid asking Him to clarify what He meant, likely because they were afraid of further rebuke or simply couldn't grasp such a dire prediction.
Jesus has just taught His disciples about His impending suffering and death, but they completely missed the point, still clinging to their own ideas about earthly power and glory. This leads to their fear and silence, as they avoid asking Him to clarify what He meant, likely because they were afraid of further rebuke or simply couldn't grasp such a dire prediction.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Mark 9:32 is available in the Sola app.
This fear kept them in a state of unresolved confusion. Instead of seeking light, they retreated into silence, which only deepened their misunderstanding and left them unprepared for what was coming.
Jesus makes his final journey to Jerusalem for Passover, knowing his death is imminent.
AD 30
Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is crucified and, according to Christian belief, resurrects on the third day.
"But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him." — Their fear wasn't just about the difficult message of Jesus' death; it was a deeper reluctance to confront the implications of a suffering Messiah, a concept entirely foreign to their earthly expecta…