The disciples found the resurrection unbelievable because God had sovereignly hidden the meaning of Jesus' own predictions from them, leaving them with no expectation that He would rise from the dead.
Even though Jesus plainly told them in Luke 18 that He would be killed and rise again the third day, they understood none of it because the saying was hid from them. When He then suddenly appeared in their midst, they were terrified and supposed they had seen a spirit. Only after He showed them His hands and feet and ate broiled fish and honeycomb before them did He begin to convince them, and even then they struggled to believe for joy and wonder.
Luke 18:34 — This verse directly states that the disciples understood none of Jesus' death-and-resurrection prediction because the saying was hid from them.
Luke 24:37-39 — This passage shows their first reaction to the risen Jesus — terror and the belief they were seeing a spirit — and Jesus' corrective proof that He had flesh and bones.
John 20:9 — This verse explains that even after seeing the empty tomb, they did not yet know the Scripture that He must rise again from the dead.
Jesus had plainly told His disciples what was coming. In Luke 18, He said He would go to Jerusalem, be scourged, killed, and rise again the third day. Yet the Gospel records that "they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken" (Luke 18:34). When Jesus appeared to them after the resurrection, their first reaction was terror, not recognition. "But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit" (Luke 24:37). Jesus responded: "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have" (Luke 24:39). Still, the Scripture says they "believed not for joy, and wondered" (Luke 24:41). So Jesus asked for food, and "they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them" (Luke 24:42-43). John 20:9 gives the underlying reason for their confusion: "For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead."
Les Feldick emphasizes that the disciples' unbelief was not a simple lapse of faith — it was the result of God's sovereign concealment. In Luke 18, Jesus told them plainly what was coming: the scourging, the death, and the resurrection on the third day. Yet they comprehended none of it, because, as Les puts it, "it was hid from them. Well who hid it? God did." God did not let them understand that Jesus was about to be crucified, so those eleven men had no idea He would die — and after He died, no idea He would rise. Les also shows how thoroughly unprepared they were. Not one disciple was at the tomb on Sunday morning expecting a resurrection; the only one who showed up was Mary Magdalene, and she came to carry out the custom of anointing a dead body with spices. Their expectation of Christ crucified and risen was, in Les's words, "totally blanked out" — even after three years in His company. Finally, Les shows how Jesus convinced them physically. When Jesus stood in their midst, they were terrified and supposed they saw a spirit. Jesus responded by showing them the scars in His hands and feet — He was physical, not a fog or a mystical apparition. Yet even then, Luke 24:41 records that they "believed not" even as they wondered. So Jesus ate a piece of broiled fish and honeycomb before them to prove He was truly, physically risen. Les's point is that God alone opens eyes to spiritual truth; He hid these things from the disciples until His appointed time, and in our day He has removed that blindness so that we can believe.
Yes — in Luke 18, Jesus plainly told the twelve that He would go to Jerusalem, be scourged and killed, and rise again the third day. But the Scripture says they understood none of these things because the saying was hid from them. Les Feldick emphasizes that this concealment was God's doing: "God did not let them understand." Jesus had told them clearly, yet they had no idea He was going to die, and after He died, no idea He would rise — else they would have been at the tomb that Sunday morning expecting Him.
When Jesus suddenly stood in their midst, the disciples were terrified and supposed they had seen a spirit. Les Feldick notes that Jesus had to calm them with "Peace be unto you." He then showed them His hands and His feet and told them to handle Him, because a spirit does not have flesh and bones. To remove all doubt, He asked for food and ate a piece of broiled fish and honeycomb before them. The risen Lord was physically present and visible — not a mist-like apparition or a Star Wars-style beam.
Les Feldick points out that none of the disciples were at the tomb expecting Jesus to come out. The only one who showed up was Mary Magdalene, and she was there to anoint His body with spices, not to witness a resurrection. This shows they had no expectation of resurrection whatsoever — His death, burial, and resurrection were totally blanked out for them. Even after three years of His earthly ministry, they had no indication of the death, burial, and resurrection that is the very heart of our Gospel today.
Terrified by a Sudden Appearing
Les explains that when Jesus suddenly appeared without opening a door or window, the disciples were shaken and half-scared to death, thinking they had seen a ghost — despite three years in His company.
No Expectation of a Resurrection
Les stresses the disciples had no idea Jesus would die and no idea He would rise; when He appeared, they were terrified, and He told them to behold His hands and feet and handle Him.
John Believed but Knew Not the Scripture
Les shows from John 20 that even after John saw the evidence of the empty tomb and believed, they still did not know the Scripture that Jesus must rise again from the dead.
Still Struggling to Believe While Seeing Him
Les notes that in Luke 24:41 the disciples 'believed not' even while standing before the risen Jesus with the scars visible, so Jesus ate broiled fish and honeycomb to prove He was physically there.
Emmaus Road — Eyes Still Closed
Les points out that even the Emmaus disciples could not comprehend who Jesus was as He walked with them, and that in our day God has removed the blindness so we can believe.
No One Waiting at the Tomb
Les emphasizes that Jesus had predicted His death and resurrection, but they comprehended none of it; Mary Magdalene came only to anoint a dead body, not to see a risen Lord.
God Hid It From Them
Les explains that the disciples understood none of Jesus' predictions because God hid it from them — they had no idea He would die or be raised, so they went back to Galilee thinking it was all over.
Physical Hands and Feet, Not a Fog
Les emphasizes that Jesus came in a real resurrected body and showed them His hands and feet — He was physical and visible, not a ghost or a Star Wars-like apparition.
Luke 18:34: And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
This verse records the immediate result of Jesus' prediction of His death and resurrection — the disciples understood none of it, which is the root of their later unbelief.
Luke 24:37: But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
Their first reaction to the risen Jesus was terror, not faith — they assumed they were seeing a ghost.
Luke 24:39: Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Jesus directly invited them to behold His hands and feet and handle Him, proving He was not a spirit.
Luke 24:41: And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
Even with Jesus physically present, they struggled to believe because of joy and wonder.
Luke 24:42-43: And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them.
Jesus ate physically before them as tangible evidence of His bodily resurrection.
John 20:9: For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
This verse gives the underlying reason the empty tomb alone did not immediately produce faith — they did not yet know He must rise.
Yes. In Luke 18, Jesus told them plainly that He would be scourged, killed, and rise on the third day. But Les Feldick explains that they comprehended none of it because God had sovereignly hid the meaning from them, and after His death they had no idea He would rise.
Jesus suddenly appeared in their locked room without benefit of a door or window, and they had no expectation of a resurrection. They were terrified and supposed they had seen a spirit, so Jesus greeted them with "Peace be unto you" and showed them His hands and feet.
He showed them the scars in His hands and feet, told them to handle Him because a spirit does not have flesh and bones, and then ate a piece of broiled fish and honeycomb in their presence.
Les Feldick says they had no idea He would rise from the dead. The only one at the tomb was Mary Magdalene, and she came to anoint the body with spices, not to witness a resurrection.
Watch the Teaching: What Will Our Resurrected Body Be Like? 1 Corinthians 15 Explained