Pastor Bob DuPar
April 17, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Joshua 15:1-63; Luke 18:18-43; Psalm 86:1-17; Proverbs 13:9-10.

Observation

At the end of today’s OT reading (in Joshua 15:63) I was left wondering whether it was a good thing or a bad thing that the Israelites left the Jebusites in Jerusalem and that they are there to this day. It would be interesting to trace whether this ended up being a blessing or a curse.

When Jesus speaks to His disciples in Luke 18:31-33 (and other passages like this) I have always wondered why He speaks in the third person. It kind of reminds me of the old Seinfeld episode: “Jimmy likes this; Jimmy doesn’t like that…” I wonder if Jesus had just said outright, “These things are going to happen to Me” whether His disciples would have got it. Or, if they didn’t get it because as verse 34 goes on to say it was hidden from them: “The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what He was talking about.” And finally, if it was hidden from them then why did Jesus bother telling them at all?

I love the blind man’s response to his healing in Luke 18:43: “Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God.” He followed and he praised the One who changed his life.

Finally, Proverbs 13:10 was especially good: “Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.”

Application

The only application/reason I can draw from why Jesus told the disciples things that they not only did not understand but also which they were in fact kept from knowing is for their remembrance later. Time after time in Scripture we read things like “later the disciples remembered Jesus’ words…” God uses everything, it’s just a matter of His timing.

Prayer

“God, may my response to all You have done in my life be one of praise and devotion.”