Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good day, dear special ones.

Becki said that she is feeling close to joining me for a walk. Maybe tomorrow. I sure don’t want to push her. She can enter that exercise again as slow and gentle as she feels best. I’m just glad to have her feeling close.

I have both sign work and sawmill work staring at me. Then this evening we plan to participate in a Seniors Gospel Sing event in Boring (an exciting little town). I don’t know if the event stipulates seniors—but seniors are definitely the main people group attending—maybe because they’re so boring compared to the style of the young?

Blessings on your day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

The strategy of the Jewish leaders, as well as Judas, is clear in selecting this time and place for Jesus’ arrest. The first couple verses of chapter 14 define their reasoning. “Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him. ‘But not during the Feast,’ they said, ‘or the people may riot’” (Mark 14:1-2). They were such upstanding nice guys!—the kind of guys you might wish to marry your daughter—NOT!!! Yet, don’t miss this—THEY WERE THE VERY BEST THAT RELIGION HAD TO OFFER!—THE CREAM OF THE RELIGIOUS CROP!

Jesus raises a simple question to expose their deceitful duplicitous evil—“Am I leading a rebellion…that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me?” In the realm of political or civil unrest the obvious answer to that question is, NO—Jesus was NOT leading a rebellion that calls for violence. But may I suggest to you that, in the realm of the spiritual and eternal, Jesus really was leading a rebellion?—a rebellion that only He could lead and conquer—a rebellion against cold religious legalism, the very reality that was condemning Him, and the destructive reign of sin, self, and Satan.

And don’t miss this—“But the Scriptures must be fulfilled” (v. 49). This is an ABSOLUTE established by the ABSOLUTE Ruler of the Universe. This ABSOLUTE will over-ride every natural law and every human notion of independence. The entire gang of thugs that stormed into the garden that night were operating on the arrogant assumption that they were independent thinkers—and very much in control—when they were the ones being controlled. They really thought that Jesus was the rebel—when, in fact, they were the rebels. Even big tough-guy Peter had to be knocked off his high horse before he was ready to embrace this truth.

Can you think of any safer posture than a HEART AFTER GOD?