This
part of Mark’s gospel reads like a spy novel.
THE
BAD GUYS
The
religious establishment is plotting to murder Jesus. They
liked things the way they used to be and did not care that God had a
better way. Judas
was their inside man. One
of the closest to Jesus told the enemy where he could be found. He
walked up to Jesus in the darkness and marked him for death with a
kiss.
THE
GOOD GUYS
Jesus'
people are everywhere. Remember
the ones who gave the Apostles the donkey colt? They heard the right
phrase and provided Jesus' ride into Jerusalem. (Mark
11:1-6)
Jesus
told the Apostles to look for a man carrying a pitcher of water. They
would get the location for the evening's passover observance from
him. This would have been an uncommon site, as getting of water was
considered woman’s work but, in the hustle and bustle of passover,
no one would have paid much attention to the man carrying water. On
the other hand, for the Apostles, it was a secret sign.
God
often works behind the scenes.
Rahab
was an innkeeper in the city of Jericho. She had heard about God and
the miraculous delivery of His people from slavery in Egypt and
decided to protect Israel's spies and advance God's agenda. (Joshua
2)
History
is often remembered through the stories of kings and generals but
God's story is told through faithful followers that are unimportant
to the world.
THE
SLEEPER AGENTS
There
are infiltrators who live among us as normal people. They
are loyal to another country and are ready to attack when orders are
given. They have the capacity to do great damage because they act
like everyone else; they talk the talk and walk the walk. Like Judas,
they strike without warning.
One
the other hand, even the schemes of the enemy can serve God's
purposes. Judas
was a key figure in the story of redemption. Joseph's brothers sold
him into slavery but God used that event to save the people of
Israel. The communist's expelled European missionaries from China but
the church continued to grow.
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