Insightful Musings on theScriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Good evening, dear ones.
I know—it’s been a while. Lots of stuff going on. Not all of it has been fun. Then I also had this computer in a shop a couple days.
When we talked about it this morning, Becki judged this oldie below to be a goodie. So I’m passing it on at the end of the day. I’m a little surprised my head is still working this late. Normally it doesn’t hold up this long. But I’ll move toward the bed after sending this.
Good night. Love, Dad/Ray.
There is an implicit warning here that I think we should not overlook: IT IS POSSIBLE TO MISREPRESENT THE ONE WE CLAIM TO REPRESENT. The disciples were actually rebuking the people for something Jesus encouraged—He rebuked them for their wrong rebuking. When Jesus recognized the misrepresentation going on, Mark’s Gospel says it made Jesus mad. This is definitely worth remembering—the “gentle” Jesus can get mad. “When Jesus saw this, he was indignant” (Mark 10:14). Personally, I don’t think it’s very smart or safe for servants to make their Master mad. What do you think? How long would a person hold a job, for example, if they regularly made their boss mad? In this regard, Paul offers this sound practical advice—“Find out what pleases the Lord” (Ephesians 5:10…in fact I’ll recommend that you read all of Ephesians 5 again).
Is there another important lesson here? How about this one? IT IS POSSIBLE TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LORD’S WORK (ACTIVITY) AND STILL BE OUT OF STEP WITH THE MAIN MEANING OF THE MESSAGE. Not only did the disciples misapply a premiere principle of the Kingdom as it relates to children (love, acceptance, respect, inclusion), notice that Jesus now tells them exactly what will soon happen surrounding His persecution, murder, and resurrection at Jerusalem, all in perfect fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. The account says, “The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about” (Luke 18:34). Hey—these were inner-circle DISCIPLES! Does that not ring another warning bell?
Notice too the implied lesson surrounding the blind beggar who saw clear enough to address Jesus as the Messiah—“Son of David” (vv. 38-39). It seems that THIS BLIND OUTSIDER SAW BETTER THAN SOME OF THE SEEING INSIDERS. Think about it.