We can quote passages, explain doctrines, and attend lectures about His life and mission.
Yet when we pause and consider the Gospels closely, a humbling truth emerges: the apostles walked with Him, listened to Him, touched Him, ate with Him, and watched Him live out the mission of God in real time.
No book, no commentary, no lecture can replace that lived experience.
Throughout the Gospels, we repeatedly see the apostles struggling to understand Jesus fully.
Peter, for example, acknowledged Him boldly as the Messiah, declaring, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16, RSV – CE). Yet even after making this declaration, Peter's understanding remained incomplete.
He rebuked Jesus when He spoke of His impending death, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord! This shall never happen to You" (Matthew 16:22, RSV – CE). Peter's words reveal the limits of his comprehension — he recognised Jesus as Messiah, but he did not yet understand the necessity of the Cross.
Even more striking is the episode of the Transfiguration. Peter, James, and John witnessed Jesus transformed before their eyes, shining with divine glory, conversing with Moses and Elijah (Matthew 17:1–9, RSV – CE).
One would imagine that seeing such a revelation would instantly bring full understanding. Yet immediately after, the disciples were still confused and afraid.
Their minds could not fully grasp what they had seen, and they needed time, guidance, and reflection before the meaning became clear. This moment reminds us that even the most extraordinary experiences do not automatically lead to full comprehension of Christ's identity.
The fullness of understanding for Peter, and in some ways for all the apostles, came later, in the silence of the empty tomb.
When he saw the burial cloths lying there, Saint John tells us, "Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that He must rise from the dead" (John 20:8, RSV – CE). Even Peter, who had earlier acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah, "understood" in that moment — confronted with the tangible signs of the resurrection — the profound reality of what it meant that Jesus had triumphed over death.
It was an understanding that went beyond words or teaching; it was the living truth witnessed and experienced.
The other apostles also often struggled to comprehend Jesus' mission. When He spoke of His death and resurrection, James and John did not fully grasp what He meant (Mark 10:38–39, RSV – CE). Even after witnessing miracles, feeding thousands, calming storms, and raising the dead, they still questioned and doubted, struggling to believe in what He had promised.
Their understanding was limited, not because they were slow or unwilling, but because some truths can only be grasped in the light of time, revelation, and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Jesus knew this. He did not chastise them for their limited understanding, but He guided them patiently, explaining and teaching as they were able to receive it. In John 16:12–13, He said, "I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth" (RSV – CE). Their comprehension grew gradually, step by step, moment by moment, often through trial, doubt, and experience.
So what about us? Do we really understand Jesus better than the apostles did?
We have advantages they did not: centuries of reflection, commentaries, and doctrinal clarification. We can read in comfort, with hindsight and context. Yet we lack the immediacy of His presence. We do not see Him heal, feed, or walk on the shores of Galilee. We do not hear His words spoken directly, watch His interactions, or experience the depth of His love in the way they did.
Understanding Jesus is not simply about knowledge; it is about encounter. Knowledge without encounter can lead to intellectual pride, reducing the mystery of Christ to ideas or principles.
The apostles' understanding was incomplete, yet it was deeply relational. They experienced Jesus. They lived with Him. They stumbled, they feared, they worshipped. Their understanding grew in the context of relationship and obedience.
This invites us to reflect: are we truly seeking to understand Jesus, or are we content with reading about Him? Are we willing to follow, to serve, to step into His life in practical ways, or do we approach Him as a subject for study?
Saint John reminds us, "By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren" (1 John 3:16, RSV – CE). Understanding Jesus comes not just through thought, but through lived love.
Perhaps the challenge for us today is to approach Jesus as the apostles did — with curiosity, awe, and willingness to be transformed. Their understanding was incomplete, yet their faithfulness brought them into the heart of God's plan. Ours can be different in degree, but the essence remains the same: do we walk with Him, serve Him, and allow Him to shape our hearts?
In truth, the apostles teach us that knowing Jesus fully is not a matter of accumulating information. It is a matter of relationship, obedience, humility, and trust. The more we walk with Him, the more we live His commands, the more we immerse ourselves in prayer, the more our understanding deepens.
Even after centuries of teaching and theology, the challenge remains: do we truly know Him as He wishes to be known?
Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me" (John 14:6, RSV – CE). Perhaps this reminds us that understanding Him is not first a matter of intellect, but of following. We cannot claim more understanding simply because we have more books or historical perspective. Real understanding flows from encountering Him, surrendering to Him, and walking in His way.
So do we have more understanding than the apostles did?
Perhaps in some ways — we have insight, context, and centuries of reflection. But in the most important ways — relationally, spiritually, intimately — we are invited to grow continually.
Our challenge is to follow as they did, with hearts open, eyes attentive, and lives willing to be shaped.
A prayer for all who read this blog post and for all who never will
Lord Jesus,
Teach us to walk with You as the apostles did,
to listen, to follow, and to be transformed by Your love.
Open our eyes to recognise Your presence in our daily lives,
and give us faith to believe when the evidence of Your grace is before us.
Grant us humility in our knowledge, patience in our understanding,
and courage to encounter You personally and faithfully each day.
Amen.
Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes
O Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes, Mother of God and Mother of the Church, we come before thee with humble hearts as we reflect upon the mystery of thy Son, Jesus Christ. The Apostles walked beside Him, listened to His voice, witnessed His miracles, and yet often struggled to fully understand who He truly was. We too have been given great gifts through Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the teachings of the Church, yet we know that there is always more for us to learn about the infinite mystery of Christ.
Mary, thou who carried Jesus in thy womb, held Him in thine arms, and remained faithful beside Him throughout His earthly life, help us to grow in our knowledge, love, and understanding of thy Son. Teach us not to be satisfied with a superficial faith, but to seek a deeper relationship with Him each day.
Our Lady of Lourdes, intercede for us in our daily lives. When we become distracted by the concerns of the world, direct our attention back to Jesus. When we grow complacent in our faith, inspire us to seek Him more earnestly. When we face doubts, questions, or confusion, help us to trust in His wisdom and His loving plan.
Mother of Lourdes, help us to approach the Gospels with attentive hearts. May we never assume that we have learned all there is to know about Christ. Open our eyes to the lessons hidden within familiar passages and help us to discover anew the beauty, mercy, humility, and power of thy Son.
Pray for us when we struggle to understand God's will. Pray for us when we are tempted to rely solely upon our own knowledge and understanding. Help us to cultivate hearts that are teachable, prayerful, and open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Guide us to spend time with Jesus in prayer, before the Blessed Sacrament, in the Holy Eucharist, and through the reading of Sacred Scripture. Help us to encounter Him not merely as a figure from history, but as our living Lord and Saviour who continues to speak to us and walk with us each day.
We entrust to thy maternal care all who read this blog post, all who desire a deeper understanding of Christ, and all who are searching for Him in their lives. Through thy loving intercession, may we grow in wisdom, faith, and devotion, drawing ever closer to the One who knows us completely and loves us perfectly.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Seat of Wisdom, Mother of Divine Grace, Comforter of the Afflicted, and Queen of Apostles, accompany us throughout our daily lives and lead us always to Jesus.
May we never cease to seek Him, never cease to learn from Him, and never cease to love Him more deeply.
Amen.
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