Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand…. I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am.” — John 13:7,19
There’s a song by Savoy Brown titled,” They don’t understand” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI4B8aXI_04. In the song, the public is witnessing strange occurrences by people that in the shortness of the flesh appears to be one thing. The reality is quite the opposite. The song goes on to tell the story of several people who were going through very difficult times in their life in the act a certain way. No one knows what is in the heart of people except for God. The pain and anguish someone goes through can be beyond a tragedy that has taken place in their lives. As it’s a very difficult situation to understand or comprehend, we pray that God will bless them and comfort them in their time of need. The world is full of people who were masks to cover the deepest burdens in their hearts. If you’d asked them what is wrong they would simply tell you just don’t understand.
When it comes to Jesus in the gospels, he continually forgives the disciples and expresses patience with his creation to mankind. Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand…. I am telling you now before it happens; so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am.” — John 13:7,19
The disciples continually could not get it. It was a very difficult time for them to understand what Jesus was trying to do. Jesus struggled to try to explain many things but his love for them never failed as he patiently tried to teach them. Take for example the time the disciples were unable to cast a demon out of a young boy whose father was desperate for a miracle. The fact is the disciples had been doing miracles but this time they were unable to. If the disciples had been doing miracles they thought they could cast the demon from the boy. Jesus explained to them why they were at one time and were not now later in the text. He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to me.” Mark 9:19 This seems to be quite a rebuke on the part of Jesus and yet he was teaching them a very valuable lesson. In the coming days ahead the disciples would be on their own and although they had the Holy Spirit of God it would not be the same.
When Jesus was dealing with his disciples they would understand a certain part but not the whole thing. We see that Jesus has been trying his hardest in dealing with his disciples but even after Pentecost, there were still many gaps. And from that, we also see the Jesus is patient with us as well. You see Jesus is patient, he understands our hearts and what we’re trying to do even if it fails. Even though our best attempts to do good fall flat on our feet yet there is a Savior who looks on and smiles. You may be in prayer to ask the Lord for help over a situation that went wrong although your heart was in the right place. The person you tried to help, just doesn’t understand. Many times you will say something or write something in the hopes of encouragement and yet another person and may not get it and get the complete opposite impression. Just keep but smiling, just keep on working for the Lord, even when they don’t understand.