<p>18:34<i> And they understood none of these things, and this saying was hid from them, and they did not understand the things that were said</i>- See on Lk. 9:45. Luke earlier notes that the saying about the cross was &ldquo;hidden&rdquo; from them (Lk. 9:45), in confirmation of their own refusal to understand it because it demanded that they too suffer with their Lord. And yet in prayer to the Father, He rejoices that these things are not hidden from them (Lk. 10:21,23). This gives insight into the Lord&rsquo;s present mediation for us in prayer- speaking of us as far better than we are. The message of Christ crucified was &ldquo;hid&rdquo; from them (Lk. 9:45; 18:34)- and Paul surely alludes to this when he says that this message is hid by the veil of Judaism from those who are lost (2 Cor. 4:3). Matthew adds that there arose a controversy as to who should be the leaders in the new community; and when the Lord earlier explained His passion, Luke also adds that straight afterwards, &ldquo;there arose a dispute among them, which of them was the greatest&rdquo; (Lk. 9:46). Time and again we see this in the Gospels- when the Lord speaks of His upcoming death, the disciples change the subject. This explains our own problem with mind wandering at the breaking of bread or in the study or even reading of the crucifixion accounts. This difficulty on focusing upon Him there is likely because His death requires our death and suffering, and subconsciously we realize that- and would rather not.</p>