Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Happy Thanksgiving…
That’s what a lot of people said to me yesterday. But I think they really mean, have a nice holiday—or nice day off. Most do not connect with the idea of counting one’s blessings from an attitude of gratitude that acknowledges absolute dependence on the provisions or our Maker. Hopefully, without the contaminating ingredient of pride, I feel very qualified to participate in the intended theme of the day, simply because I passionately embrace that fundamental fact—I am indeed thankful—not just one day a year—I want it to be 24/7.
Becki is just returning home with the two little boys aboard. They’ll be joining us for the day, including our excursion to Andy and Delaine’s place in Dallas for a big traditional feast. We’ll also pick up my cousin and his wife in Portland to join with us. I doubt that watching professional football will be on the agenda.
I just picked up a newsletter from a pastor friend in Hawaii (Kauai). He is an avid Christian apologist. I’ve decided to attach a short excerpt that speaks to a very relevant and urgent matter relating to where we are as a nation—as a world, for that matter.
Have a blessed day
Love, Dad/Ray.
Pilate is forced to examine Jesus for himself. (And everyone is, you know.) So he puts to Jesus a question that seems appropriate to him at the time, with an attitude of arrogance, assuming that Jesus is just another “crackpot.” “Are you the king of the Jews?” I believe Jesus’ answer is highly significant. “’Is that your own idea,’ Jesus asked, ‘or did others talk to you about me?’” In other words, “Are you thinking for yourself, Pilate, or are you just a puppet in the control of those around you?” The big implication here, as I see it, is that God expects you to make independent use of your gift of human intelligence—and not permit it to be under the control and supervision of popular opinion. Let me venture a bit further and add something else I believe—without being absolute or overly dogmatic about it. It seems we can always come up with unique situations and exceptions. But here is a general conclusion that I draw: THE PROPER USE OF HUMAN INTELLIGENCE WILL LEAD A PERSON, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, TO THE GOD OF THE BIBLE.
The angry Jewish mob is a great example of the improper use of human intelligence. Their brain waves are so goofed up and congested with anger and bias that they can’t come close to thinking straight. Notice the irony as revealed in this brief window of the account. “By now it was early morning and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover” (8:28). Did you catch that? While being bound by their religious ceremony and formalism surrounding the Passover, they reject THE PASSOVER right in front of them!—and refuse to enter the palace for fear of defilement. Good grief! Irony of ironies! But THE PASSOVER LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD is ushered right into the palace to meet with Pilate.
Nor was Pilate using his head properly. It says, “From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, ‘If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.’ When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out…”—and you know how it goes. Notice how easily Pilate was manipulated and controlled by the crowd’s bias and rhetoric. He was definitely not functioning as a free moral agent—he was, in fact, a bound immoral agent.
May I suggest that you use your own HEART AFTER GOD (Spirit-inspired human intelligence) to seek out for yourself some devotional nutrition from this portion of the Word. And remember the words of Jesus to Pilate when He declared, “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me” (18:37).