18 Then the Jews demanded of him, “What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” 20 The Jews replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken. (John 2:18-22 NIV)

The present is often fuzzy and unclear. When Jesus answered the demand of the Jews by telling them that He would raise the destroyed temple in three days, not a soul present understood what He was talking about. Everyone present, including Jesus’ own disciples, thought that He was talking about the building where everyone gathered for worship, when in fact, Jesus was speaking about His own body.

There were other times that Jesus did something or said something that wasn’t understood by His followers. Jesus often spoke of His own death. None of His followers wanted to hear that. They didn’t want to even think about not having the opportunity to spend their days following Jesus around the Galilee or Jerusalem listening to Him teach and heal the sick. They couldn’t see anything good that could ever come from Jesus dying. After Jesus was crucified and resurrected, some women who had been following Jesus, went to visit His tomb. When they arrived an angel of the LORD said to them,

6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'” 8 Then they remembered his words. (Luke 24:6-8 NIV)

“Then they remembered his words.” It was an “aha moment!” One of those times that everything becomes crystal clear. Like in the Scripture for this morning. Verse 22 says, “After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said.” (John 2:22) They didn’t have a clue what Jesus was talking about in the moment, but later on it all made sense.

Oftentimes I find myself unclear about what is happening in the present. I have an experience, a challenge to face, a hurdle to overcome, and I just can’t see any good that could ever come of it…in the moment. As I look back over my life I can see much more clearly. Those obstacles and challenges were some of God’s greatest gifts in molding me and shaping me into the person that God desires for me to become. I’ve heard the saying, “Hindsight is always 20/20.” I’m learning to wait on the Lord to bring clarity instead of rendering a final verdict in the midst of the trial.

My prayer today, Lord, is that You will help me to be patient in life, to wait on You to show me the true meaning of the experiences of my life, and to live for your glory whether I understand or not.

Think About It…