Jesus' Disciples

I find it interesting that we get so frustrated with the disciples because they did not realize who Jesus really was in the beginning. We tend to think badly of the disciples because they often doubted who Jesus was even when walking with him. As we read through Mark, we have to keep in mind we already know more than the disciples knew at that time about who Jesus was. We already know the end result, where as they were still trying to figure it out. I think we have much more in common with the disciples than we would like to admit. For example, when reading the Biblical text we often read more into it than we should. The point Mark is trying to make is simply that Jesus is the Messiah. Mark is not concerned with Jesus’ background or where he came from. Similarly, the disciples were always looking for something else in a Messiah. Their expectations of a Messiah are greater than what they find in Jesus being of a somewhat very normal, humanly man. It takes a voice from the clouds saying, “This is my son, of whom I love. Listen to him!” (Mark 9:7) to get the disciples Peter, James, and John to realize who God really was. It’s not even until after Jesus has died on the cross that the centurion realizes who Jesus is (Mark 15:39). Yet knowing what we know today about Jesus, which was more than the disciples knew at this time, we still think that we can justify criticizing the disciples for their ignorance. Are we any more faithful or obedient than they were? Would we have reacted in the same way that the disciples did if we had been one of Jesus’ disciples?