16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.
16 His disciples did not understand these things at first;
Jesus’ disciples had not come to grips with the idea that He was going to die on a cross at this point. The disciples did not understand the significance of these events.
but when Jesus was glorified,
The time of Jesus’ glorification included His cross, resurrection, and ascension.
then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.
The disciples remembered, after the awful events that would occur in a few days, the purpose of the triumphal entry. After Jesus’ glorification, the disciples finally grasped that the true significance of Christ’s mission was to die for the sins of the world.
PRINCIPLE:
Jesus had to experience the cross before the crown.
APPLICATION:
Ignorance of Scripture and little faith caused the twelve disciples to not grasp the significance of the triumphal entry as the fulfilment of prophecy (Zech 9:9). Even later in Acts 1:6, they asked Jesus if He was going to restore the kingdom to Israel. Their faith was slow in development.
The one thing that the disciples needed to understand was that Jesus needed to suffer before entering into His glory (Lu 24:25,26). Suffering before glory, the cross before the crown is a theme of Scripture (1 Pe 1:11).
