The disciples did not preach about Christ's crucifixion because they did not know He was going to be crucified — God had deliberately hidden the cross and the resurrection from their eyes.
Jesus plainly told the twelve that He would be delivered to the Gentiles, put to death, and rise again the third day, yet Luke 18:34 says they 'understood none of these things.' Les Feldick points out that not one disciple was waiting at the tomb on Sunday morning — proof they never expected Him to die or rise. The crucifixion itself happened because the rulers had not been allowed to know who Jesus truly was.
Luke 18:31-34 — Jesus predicts His death and resurrection plainly to the twelve, yet the text says they 'understood none of these things' — the core reason they never preached it.
John 20:9 — Even after the empty tomb, Peter and John 'knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.'
1 Corinthians 2:7-8 — Paul reveals that none of the princes of this world knew who Christ was — or they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
In Luke 18:31-34, on the road to Jerusalem, Jesus took the twelve aside and said, 'Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.' The very next verse records the disciples' response: 'And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.' John 20:9 shows this ignorance continued even after the resurrection: 'For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.' Paul likewise attributes the crucifixion to ignorance in 1 Corinthians 2:7-8, where the hidden wisdom of God — 'Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.'
Les Feldick highlights the paradox that while Jesus told the disciples clearly He would be put to death in Jerusalem and rise the third day, they 'comprehended none of that' (Clip 1). He repeatedly asks why the disciples were not outside the tomb on Sunday morning if they understood Christ would rise — and answers that they had no idea He was going to die or rise again (Clips 3 and 7). Only Mary Magdalene went to the tomb, and she went to anoint a body she expected to find still dead (Clip 1). Les draws the logical conclusion that the disciples could not have been preaching what we call the gospel during Christ's earthly ministry, because the gospel centers on His death, burial, and resurrection — and they had no knowledge those events were coming, even though the Old Testament prophets had written of them (Clip 2). He attributes their blindness to God Himself: 'Well who hid it? God did. He didn't let them understand that He was about to be crucified' (Clip 7). Les also extends the same principle to the rulers who put Christ on the cross. Citing 1 Corinthians 2:8, he teaches that had the Romans, the high priests, or the Pharisees known that Jesus of Nazareth was the very Creator of the universe, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory (Clips 4-5).
On the way from Galilee to Jerusalem, shortly before the crucifixion, Jesus took the twelve and said, 'Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: They shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again' (Luke 18:31-33). Les Feldick comments, 'Plain? Can't make it any plainer than that' — and then immediately shows that the next verse records the twelve understood none of these things (Clip 6).
Les Feldick answers that it was not a failure of hearing or willingness — it was God who hid it from them. He notes that Luke 18:34 says the saying 'was hid from them,' and John 20:9 says even Peter and John 'knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.' Les's conclusion: 'Well who hid it? God did. He didn't let them understand that He was about to be crucified' (Clip 7). He also argues that had they understood, they would have been gathered at the tomb on Sunday morning waiting to see the resurrection happen — instead, they went back to Galilee, convinced it was all over (Clips 3 and 7).
Les Feldick points to 1 Corinthians 2:7-8, where Paul says none of the princes of this world knew the hidden wisdom of God, 'for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.' Les applies this to the Romans and the Jewish leadership alike: had the Romans known who Jesus was, they would never have put Him on the cross; had the high priests of Israel known He was 'the very Creator, God of the universe,' they would not have allowed it. Pilate came close — he declared he found no fault in the man and received a warning from his wife's dream — but he still did not know, and so the crucifixion took place (Clips 4 and 5).
Why the Apostles Stayed in Jerusalem: Israel vs. The Church
Nations, plural, from around the world. Strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts, where? In Jerusalem, not in heaven. In Jerusalem, here on the planet. And to pray before the Lord. Now verse 23. Oh, just lock this one into that computer up there. And don't forget it. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, In those days. Now remember, we're talking in light of the Old Testament program.
The Disciples Comprehended None of It
Jesus told the disciples He would be put to death and rise again, yet they comprehended none of it — which is why none of them was at the tomb that Sunday morning and only Mary Magdalene went to anoint His body.
They Could Not Have Preached Our Gospel
Since the disciples had no idea Jesus would be crucified and raised, it is impossible, Les argues, that they were preaching the gospel we know during His earthly ministry — even though the Old Testament was full of those prophecies.
God Hid It From Their Eyes
Jesus told them more than once, but God never opened the disciples' eyes to His coming death and resurrection — had they understood, they would all have been outside the tomb on Sunday morning.
The Princes of This World Did Not Know
Les applies 1 Corinthians 2:8 to the Romans and the Jewish rulers: had they known they were crucifying the Lord of glory, they would never have put Him on the cross.
Rulers Were Ignorant of Who Christ Was
The high priests, the Pharisees, and even Pilate were ignorant that Jesus of Nazareth was the Creator of the universe — and because they did not know Him, they went ahead and crucified Him.
The Plain Prediction They Never Comprehended
Les reads Luke 18:31-33 where Jesus spells out every detail of His death and resurrection, then shows that the next verse records the twelve understood none of it.
God Hid It, So They Went Back to Galilee
After the crucifixion the eleven had no idea He would rise, so they went back to Galilee in defeat; God Himself had hidden the cross and resurrection from them.
Luke 18:31-34: 31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
The clearest passage showing Jesus told the disciples plainly about His death and resurrection — yet they understood none of it, and it was hid from them.
John 20:9: For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
John records that even after seeing the empty tomb, Peter and John still did not know the Scripture that Christ must rise.
1 Corinthians 2:7-8: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Paul explains that the rulers who crucified Christ acted in ignorance — had they known who He was, they would never have done it.
Yes. In Luke 18:31-33, on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus told the twelve He would be delivered to the Gentiles, mocked, scourged, put to death, and rise again the third day. Yet Luke 18:34 records that they understood none of these things and that the saying was hid from them.
Because they had no idea Jesus was going to rise from the dead. Les Feldick says that had they understood, they would all have been outside the tomb waiting to see it happen. Only Mary Magdalene went, and she went to carry out the custom of anointing the body with spices — expecting to find Him still dead.
No. Les Feldick argues it was impossible: our gospel is centered on Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, but the disciples had no knowledge those events were coming. Even though the Old Testament prophets had written of all three, God never opened the disciples' eyes to it.
Les Feldick teaches that God deliberately hid the meaning of the cross and resurrection from the disciples, and 1 Corinthians 2:8 shows the rulers crucified the Lord of glory because they did not know who He truly was. Had the high priests, the Pharisees, or the Romans known He was the Creator, they would never have put Him on the cross.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Apostles Stayed in Jerusalem: Israel vs. The Church