29 His disciples said to Him, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! 30 Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.”
16:29
His disciples said to Him,
The disciples responded that now they finally understood what Jesus was saying.
“See, now You are speaking plainly,
Evidently the disciples understood the timing of what Jesus said to them by the word “now.” They also grasped the clarity of what He said—”speaking plainly.”
and using no figure of speech!
The apostles thought that their difficulty of understanding Jesus had been resolved. However, their problem was not nomenclature but situational. They did not even have a clear understanding of the cross and resurrection at this point.
16:30
Now we are sure that You know all things,
The apostles made an affirmation about Jesus that they knew nothing of here. The exclamation had to do with the range of their knowledge; Jesus was able to answer any question they might have. This claim was enthusiastic but impetuous. They did, however, have some confidence in Him.
and have no need that anyone should question You.
The apostles did not need to question Jesus further about His having come “from God.”
By this we believe that You came forth from [separation] God.”
The apostles now at least understood that Jesus came from eternity past.
PRINCIPLE:
Presumption of understanding can be dangerous.
APPLICATION:
Jesus had not yet spoken with clarity to the disciples. That would not come until after the resurrection. Presumption in understanding the Bible can be very dangerous. Jesus is the supreme revelation of God, but that does not mean He discloses everything in one fell swoop. Self-presumption about truth is a dangerous approach to Scripture. Human pretension always steps on thin ice with God.
