<p>12:16- see on Jn. 14:29.</p><p><i>These things his disciples did not understand at first; but when Jesus was glorified</i>- This is associated in John with the giving of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 7:39). The suggestion is surely that the Holy Spirit enabled them to understand the significance of events during the Lord's ministry. The Comforter was promised to enable them to do this, and in this sense the Comforter brought about the Lord's glorification (Jn. 16:14; Acts 3:13). In a sense, the Lord was glorified in the events of the cross (Jn. 13:31,32 &quot;Now is the Son of Man glorified&quot;). And yet the perception of that glory was only achieved by the disciples some time later.</p><p><i>Then they remembered that these things were written about him, and that they had done these things to him</i>- The Comforter brought things to their attention and helped them see the significance and meaning in the Lord's words and actions. For it was after all His personal presence in the hearts of the disciples. That same power and gift of the Spirit is for all time, and can have the same effect upon us.</p><p>The purpose of prophecy such as Zechariah 9 is that we shall be able to recognize the signs when they appear, not that we shall be able to predict the future:<br />&middot; The disciples did not expect the Lord Jesus to enter into Jerusalem &quot;sitting on an ass's colt&quot; in fulfilment of Zech. 9:9. But when He did, then soon afterwards, all became clear to them- that He had fulfilled this prophecy (Jn. 12:16).</p><p>&middot; &quot;I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe&quot; (Jn. 14:29). <br />&middot; Likewise with prophecies such as &quot;the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up&quot; in Ps. 69:9, and even the Lord's own prophecies of His resurrection. When it happened, &quot;his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture (Ps. 69:9), and the word which Jesus had said&quot; (Jn. 2:17-22).</p>