Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Greetings, dear ones.

It’s just fun to watch these two kittens play. The creator has to have a sense of humor to infuse such an appetite for just romping, playing, pretending, and just plain goofing off, as He does in these little creatures. Once again, I’m certain that dirt didn’t think all that up.

As I re-visit the scenes surrounding the crucifixion of Christ, it occurs to me again that NO ONE of mortality in the whole scope of the drama had any awareness of what was REALLY going on. They were all clueless! The only one that seems to have been given any measure of clarity was John the Baptist—and he was now dead! Go figure. So, what in the world would make me think that I could get all that Biblical prophecy stuff yet to be fulfilled all figured out?!?! Go figure again.

The day looms big before me. Blessings on yours.

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 here. 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. And how do I know the senses of the disciples were dull? Here they are sitting at this very table on this extremely significant evening, and they allow themselves to get all tangled up and distracted by a stupid spat over “which of them was considered to be greatest” (v. 24). Good grief! But how can we avoid asking: Are we any less dull?

Read again the FOCUS VERSE—“Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.” Don’t miss the wording, “had to be sacrificed.” Of course, that has to do with the long-standing calendar-scheduled tradition for “the day of Unleavened Bread.” But beyond that, if we can accept that Jesus—the very One sitting at that table with His disciples—was in fact the very Object and fulfillment of that sacrificed lamb—indeed, “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)—then it follows that He “had to be sacrificed” on that very day. Wow!

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 again! Think of it! With this glimpse of glorious revelation, when is it NOT a good time to worship?!