How Could They NOT Know?

“You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” Luke 12:56

There are over 100 verses in the Gospels in which Jesus finds Himself surrounded by a large crowd. They came from near and far, and each one had his own reasons for following Jesus.

Some wanted to learn from Him. “When he… saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.” (Mark 6:34)

Others came to be healed by Him. “So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.” (Matthew 4:24-25)

As Jesus’ popularity grew, the leaders of the Jewish people watched Him like a hawk, waiting for Him to slip up or show some sign of weakness. They contradicted, criticized, and challenged Him, but Jesus stood His ground. “Many of the crowd began to believe in him, and said, ‘When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs than this man has done?’” (John 7:31)

So, Jesus continued to teach and heal, while the scribes and Pharisees continued to challenge Him. He said to them, “If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me” (John 10:37). They had dedicated their lives to studying the Law and the Prophets, but when they stood face to face with the Son of God, they failed to recognize Him. How could they not know?

In Mark 8:11-12a: “The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, ‘Why does this generation seek a sign?’’’ All they had to do was read the Prophet Isaiah, who described the healing power of the Messiah this way:

“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
then shall the lame man leap like a hart,
and the tongue of the dumb sing for joy.” Isaiah 35:5-6

There is an incident recorded in John’s Gospel that occurs just before Holy Week. “It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple…The Jews gathered round him and said to him, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.’ Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness to me.’” (John 10:23-25) He had told them so many times that the proof is in the fruit! How could they not know?

Through all this, Jesus trusted in God’s plan, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike” (Luke 10: 21). That’s why so many of the people who sat on the hillside listening to Jesus describe the Kingdom of God, or heard Him speak in the synagogue, or witnessed His power to heal knew exactly who Jesus was. And because they persevered in spreading the Good News, we know, too!

Thanks be to God!

“A cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, ‘This is my beloved Son; listen to him.’” Mark 9:7