The Holy Spirit did not descend on believers until the Day of Pentecost, which was after Jesus returned to heaven (Acts 2). This means that the disciples did not yet have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit during Jesus’ earthly life and ministry.
Jesus, Himself told His disciples that the Holy Spirit could not come unless He returned to the Father (John 16:7). Since the Holy Spirit had not yet indwelled the disciples, does this mean the disciples did not understand Jesus?
Jesus' Earthly Ministry
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John as well as the Book of Acts are all clear that many things Jesus taught His disciples were difficult for them to understand. The Gospel of Mark specifically paints this picture for us.
Rather than presenting the disciples as an image of knowledge and understanding, Mark displays the disciples as not fully understanding Jesus nor fully believing Him (Mark 4:40; 6:51-52; 8:4). The disciples had great difficulty understanding Jesus because they had not yet received the Holy Spirit.
Thomas, known as “Doubting Thomas” was one of these individuals. He was not with the other disciples when the resurrected Lord first appeared to the eleven. However, Thomas was present when Jesus appeared the second time to the eleven (John 20:24-29). Once Thomas had seen Jesus with his own eyes and placed his fingers in Jesus’ wounds, he believed.
Similarly, when Jesus was teaching during His earthly ministry, the disciples found many of Jesus’ teachings to be difficult to comprehend. Concepts, such as Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection were difficult for the disciples to understand and believe until they saw it with their own eyes.
When Jesus was teaching His disciples about His coming death and resurrection, they did not understand. Luke 18:32-33 records Jesus teaching His disciples on His death, burial, and resurrection; “He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.”
Rather than understanding, the disciples were confused. Luke 18:34 records, “The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.”
The disciples had no idea what Jesus was talking about, nor did they understand what He was telling them. This is because they did not yet have the Holy Spirit. Prior to the Holy Spirit, the disciples needed a lot of proof to believe Jesus, such as His wonders and miracles.
It was not until the Day of Pentecost that the disciples were finally able to understand Jesus and His teachings (Ibid.). The Day of Pentecost is majestic, praiseworthy, and notable because it was the day the Holy Spirit descended on those who had placed faith in Christ. Up until this point, the Holy Spirit had not been given (John 7:39).
Prior to the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit could indwell believers and unbelievers in accordance with His will. This indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament was never permanent indwelling as it was only temporary.
However, ever since the Day of Pentecost and moving forward to the present day, the Holy Spirit has been given to each person who has decided to place faith in Jesus (Acts 5:32).
If a person has not placed faith in Christ for redemption, they will not have the indwelling Holy Spirit. Only those who have placed faith in Christ by believing that He died for their sin, was buried and rose again to receive the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
The Workings of the Holy Spirit
Therefore, the disciples did not fully understand Jesus until they had the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit’s indwelling of the disciples is an important aspect of the early church and must not be overlooked.
Since the genesis of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit performed many wonders and signs through the disciples as well as other faithful believers in the Lord.
Through the Holy Spirit, the disciples were able to speak in different tongues, which meant they were able to speak in foreign languages that they did not previously know (Acts 2:1-4). The Holy Spirit also enabled the disciples to be able to do other signs and wonders.
Healing was another manifestation of the Holy Spirit as people could be healed by simply having Peter’s shadow fall on them (Acts 5:15-16). It is important to remember that the power was from the Holy Spirit — not the disciples themselves. Apart from God, they would not be able to perform these miracles, wonders, and signs.
Disciples Today
Identical to the original disciples of Christ, modern-day believers also receive the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit when they place faith in Christ. Unlike the disciples, we will not be able to perform signs, healings, speaking in tongues, miracles, and wonders.
This is because all of these things were sign gifts and were associated with the disciples and the early church. Each of these sign gifts died out by the end of the first century. In our modern-day society, there is no need for these gifts because we have the written accounts of them in the Bible.
The Jewish people were a people group fixated on signs and wonders, which is why God revealed Himself to them in signs and wonders. The Bible is God’s special revelation to us today; therefore, He does not have to perform signs and wonders through believers in order for unbelievers to believe in Him.
Believers can understand Jesus’ teachings today because we have the Holy Spirit. The indwelling Holy Spirit helps us understand biblical truths (1 Corinthians 2:6-16). Without the Holy Spirit, it would be extremely difficult to understand many teachings of the Bible.
After a person receives the Holy Spirit, their eyes are open to the truth of the Bible. The Bible tells us that Satan has blinded the minds of unbelievers in order for them not to believe in God (2 Corinthians 4:4).
It is only when one places faith in Christ that the veil is removed, and they are able to understand the deep truths of the Bible. The Holy Spirit is the One who helps us understand the Bible and the teachings of Christ just as He was the One who helped the disciples understand everything Jesus taught them.
This does not mean that we will understand everything perfectly as many biblical passages and texts must be researched, studied, and meditated on in order to fully understand what the author is presenting in their writings.
If you are reading the Bible for the first time since becoming a believer, you should still utilize commentaries and other resources for any passages that are difficult to understand. Just because we have the Holy Spirit does not mean what we choose to interpret in the scriptures is correct.
Rather, it is more advisable to study the texts and consult other resources rather than believing your first glance interpretation is correct. Many people misuse the Bible and incorrectly understand the Bible.
Instead of falling into the trap of misusing and misunderstanding the Bible, it would be best to read, study, and meditate on the Word; however, to also be open to the Holy Spirit to help you understand deep passages.
Thus, the disciples did have difficulty understanding Jesus without the Holy Spirit and in the same way, modern-day people will have difficulty understanding the Bible if they have not placed faith in Jesus and have received the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For further reading:
What Did Jesus Mean to 'Go and Make Disciples’?
Why Didn’t the Disciples Understand Some of the Parables of Jesus?
What Did Jesus Mean ‘You of Little Faith’?
What Does it Mean to Be a Disciple of Christ?
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