Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Greetings, dear ones.

Another cold one—in the mid 20s. My cell phone says it’s 25 degrees. I don’t think it’s really that cold at present, but it was.

Nicholas is here now. He’s recovering from a case of mononucleosis and didn’t come last week for his regular visit.

The first part of today’s reading says, “Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father” (John 13:1). In other words, Jesus knew that His physical death was near. In that regard, that description strikes me as significant: DEATH INVOLVES LEAVING ONE PLACE AND GOING TO ANOTHER PLACE. That fact was born out yesterday when I spoke with an old friend about the passing of his beloved wife—that was Jim Davis. He told me that at one point near the end Pauline looked at Jim with a face of bliss and said with a kind of childish tease, “I’m going to take a trip.” Jim asked, “Where are you going?” Her simple reply—“Heaven.” There it is—LEAVING and GOING. She looked at Jim and added, “Meet me there!” I can assure you that heaven is looking pretty good right now to Jim Davis. I’ll take a faith like that over the options any day.

In contrast, I’m reminded of a few years ago when Becki and I attended the memorial for a distant family member on her side. We learned that her hope and prayer as she neared her end was that she be reincarnated as an otter. An otter? I’m not kidding you. Don’t laugh. She was serious. I think it’s more appropriate to cry—when we know that all Jesus has to offer is so available.

Do the right thing today. Keep looking up.

Love, Dad/Ray.

There is some real creepy stuff going on here. Yet these disciples gathered around Jesus on this particular evening did not have a clue as to how creepy it was—how supernaturally predetermined it was—and how much spiritual activity was raging behind the scenes of this normal calm-appearing Jewish setting. There was no creepy music in the background to condition the senses. For them it was just another predictable celebration of a deeply rooted tradition—the Passover Feast. But Jesus knew exactly what was going on. Since we now understand that He was actually engaged in writing the script for this drama, why wouldn’t He know? He intentionally modified the ceremony by washing the disciple’s feet and then made a mysterious comment—“You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand” (v. 7). Then He turns their attention to something else they didn’t get—except one of them—the disclosure of His betrayer—“I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me” (v. 21). Nor did they get the significance of His preceding comment—“But this is to fulfill the scripture” (v. 18). Not even Judas could have comprehended that one—even though it’s stated that “the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus” (v. 2). But if that’s not creepy enough, read verse 27—“As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.”

Is it possible that our own senses can be about as dull as those of the disciples? Is it not a Biblical fact that the Master Deceiver is still active with his temptation and deception campaign, targeting even the closest disciples of today? Would it not be equally accurate for any pastor to stand in his pulpit and announce, “There are some here that are not going to make it—some who will actually betray the very One you presume to be worshiping today.” No, I’m not really trying to be overly creepy—but I’m afraid that’s just the creepy truth—as supported by affirmations of Scripture, along with statistical facts. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). Be reminded that our security in this conflict is not a passive security—it’s an active one (Ephesians 6:13-18).

If this is a true description of what we’re up against, I can’t avoid the conclusion that we’re supposed to be creeped out!—with Biblical balance—understanding that our eternal security is not based upon tradition, ceremony, membership, or any other external mechanism (Philippians 2:12). Our eternal security is purely and completely based upon personal relationship with the only One capable of securing us—Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord—a HEART AFTER GOD—a relationship so intimate that we are in Him and He is in us. What a concept! What a solution! What a security! Listen again to Jesus as He prays—“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message (Don’t miss this! Jesus is actually praying for you and me!), that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:20-23). Wow!