THE LORD SPOKE (March 07)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Numbers 28-29

These were literal appointments. It was something you wrote down in your date book and something you prepared for in advance. You didn’t just wake up in the morning and say, “How nice. It’s a holiday. Guess I’ll sleep in.”

Several of the days required some advance preparation like the lamb and house-cleaning for Passover, or the harvest to gather at the Feast of Weeks, or the sukkah (hut) to build at Tabernacles. And these two chapters (Num. 28-29) indicate that there were numerous sacrifices to prepare and offer. It took some forethought and advance preparation. Without a doubt, that would raise the question, “Why am I doing this?” The answer to that question was critical!

• If the answer was, “because this is how we’ve always done it”, you were in for trouble. Tradition is nice but it won’t get you into heaven and the first generation that tosses it aside breaks the link in the chain.
• If the answer was, “because it’s what’s expected of me”, it wasn’t going to have much value. Going through the motions without conviction drains it of all real meaning.
• If the answer was, “it’s a nice thing to do - it makes me feel better”, you really missed the point. Each of these holidays had deep theological meaning and prophetic significance. It wasn’t about feeling better.
• If the answer was, “this is my ticket to heaven”, you’re not on the right track. That train doesn’t go far enough. True religion is not just the performance of certain duties - it’s a matter of the heart.

Each of the biblical holy days was packed with theological significance. Together they represented, as a foreshadow, the truth about Messiah, the Lamb of God who would come to take away the sin of the whole world. That was the reason for the multiple sacrifices of these holidays - everything pointed to the Savior who would make all further sacrifice unnecessary.


New Testament: Luke 22

They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this. Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. (Lk. 22:23-24)

Can you believe it? They’re having their last meal with the Master and they’re arguing over who’s the greatest. Okay, maybe they didn’t realize this was the last meal but they certainly knew something momentous was about to happen. And all they can think about is who’s numero uno?

It’s worse than that. Jesus had just told them that one of them was rotten to the core. Besides any individual concern as to the identity of that one, shouldn’t there have been some corporate concern for how such a thing could come about within their ranks after 3+ years of living together? Who could possibly do such a thing? Isn’t it significant that they couldn’t figure out which one might be the most likely candidate?

Instead, they’re disputing about who is the greatest.

At the close of the meal, there is an interesting exchange with Peter that involves the others also. “Satan has asked to sift you [Gk. plural, “you all”] as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.” (Lk. 22:31-32). And then, a few hours later, in the courtyard of Caiaphas’ house, Peter stumbles miserably. He’d made a brash promise, slept while the Savior suffered in the garden, lashed out and cut off a man’s ear just after Judas’ fatal kiss, ran away just like every one else, but then cowered back to watch. The third denial came with an oath and then the harsh sound of a rooster hit his ear. And the soft words of the Lord hit his heart. In the midst of the confusion in Caiaphas’ kangaroo court, “the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter” (Lk. 22:61).

It probably wasn’t a look of reproach. That’s not like Jesus. It was a look of compassionate reproof. It was a look of loving rebuke. It was certainly a look of kind reminder, to move Peter towards better things. And it did. Oh, how it did. There was yet another major encounter between Jesus and Peter (John 21) before the derailed train was back on track. But once it was, Peter became a mighty locomotive for the Lord.

Jesus is looking at you too. What does He see? Do you need to talk to Him about it?