Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Greetings, dear people.

Thankfully the rain let up enough to allow Becki and me to do our little gentle walk/jog without rain. It’s really pretty out there right now.

There was more substantial progress with this mural frame project yesterday. But the rain continues to hassle our completion strategies. Leaning on creative alternatives, I’m confident that we can have it set in place at that city park for the artist to begin his application of the mural on Thursday the 28th. I’ll most likely have to apply the finishes after that.

I don’t remember being any more supercharged with inspiration in the course of my Bible reading than I seem to be on this go-round. Is something wrong with me? It causes me to live with a measure of frustration over wanting to develop more thoughts and ideas than I have time for. For sure I’d rather suffer from this kind of frustration than the kind that flows out of traditional familiarity and complacency.

Blessings on your day. Jesus IS Lord!

Love, Dad/Ray

I know you are familiar with this account. But I’m also aware that traditional familiarity can also contribute to dullness if not regularly refreshed. So I want to encourage you to give careful thought to this verse, as well as the rest of the passage. And pay particular attention to verse 16 where Jesus says, “I will not eat it again (i.e., the Passover supper with the new meaning given here by Jesus) until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” I take that to mean that the ultimate fulfillment and completion of the work of Christ is still future.

Now, having read this passage carefully, may I suggest that you just sit there quiet for awhile and allow the significance of this account to refurbish and stimulate your appreciation for the amazing plan of God being fulfilled. We have to note that here before the dull senses of this group of disciples is being drawn a line of demarcation by the Sovereign God in His creation, a line that separates one side from the other—a dividing line between two dispensations—the major fulfillment of the OLD and the beginning of the NEW.

As Jesus went through this very Jewish, predictable, and traditional Passover ceremony with His disciples, I think the disciples were just a little bit shaken. Jesus was conducting it in a manner never before witnessed. He was saying things never before heard. They were not able to grasp the full meaning of His words when He said, “This is my body given for you.” Nor did they comprehend when He said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” The fact is that the PASSOVER LAMB was here performing and fulfilling the Passover ceremony—before their very eyes. Wow! Think of it! When is it NOT time to worship?!