We know that a magician is someone who entertains people through deception; presenting to them something that defies logic or the natural.  A card that floats from one hand to the other or a person sawn in half and then comes out of the box whole.  He might even accompany some magic words that serve as a clue as to what is about to happen, like, “here is a normal pitcher…” uh, yeah, right….a normal pitcher.  Or, “here is a normal deck of cards….”  Or, the magician might use the more familiar, “Now you see it…..now you don’t.” But when we see a magic act, we ask, “How does he or she do that?”  And we marvel at how the magician kept us from seeing what was done.  And, isn’t that the point?  Seeing?  Trying to understand?  Trying to see behind the curtain?  When we know that there is a magician, we watch very closely to see what is going to happen and try to catch him in the act.  But Jesus' words are no, "now you see me; now you don'."  He is not attempting to manipulate or deceive.  His purpose is to prepare his disciples for the resurrection, which they will never understand and could never imagine.  Listen to how He prepares them and us in the face of death!