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• THE JOURNEY IS OVER (JOURNAL 90)

  3 June, 2016

  If you were to read our journal entry for this day last year, you would read the following Today's instalment… [more]

• JOURNAL 89

  22 May, 2016

  Hi sweetheart, Sometimes I experience periods of “What if…?”. These are times when my mind seems… [more]

• JOURNAL 88

  17 May, 2016

  Hi Darling, Coming home from the hospital with a mechanical device fitted to my chest – a P.E.G. I think it… [more]

• JOURNAL 87

  13 May, 2016

  JOURNAL 87 The doctor said I can go home this morning. The surgery has had the desired effect and this new means of… [more]

• JOURNAL 86

  10 May, 2016

  JOURNAL 86 MOTHER’S DAY Hello sweetheart, I haven’t spoken to our children as to… [more]

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3. Today's "Moment with Mark" (105)

• Today's "Moment with Mark" (105)

  6 March, 2013

  "Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. But someone pulled out a sword and slashed off an ear of the high priest's servant". (Mark 14:46-47 NLT)

  I wonder if Mark knew who it was that took out his sword and slashed the ear of the servant of the High Priest and, if he did know, why didn't Mark name the culprit? In fact, it is John who tells us in his gospel that it was Peter who took that impulsive action.

  We seem to conveniently forget this little episode when we think of the part Peter played in the events of this dramatic night. We recall that he denied his Lord three times....that he followed at a distance.....that he went out and wept bitterly.

  We seem to forget that he took up a sword to defend his Master. The others deserted Jesus. On this occasion Peter was again 'rebuked' by Jesus although not with the same intensity as on a previous occasion (Mark 8/33). On that occasion, Peter verbally declared his resistance to any harm coming to his Master. On this occasion, Peter took action. Regardless of the outcome, let's not forget to include this episode.

  Maybe the other gospel writers wanted to protect Peter's identity for whatever reason? I guess we will never know.

  Defending Jesus. How does that apply in the 21st century.

  I think there are times and occasions when groups that are opposed to our Lord and His people come (as it were) to 'arrest Jesus' and silence His gospel and/or to preach a different gospel. These people or groups or movements are a threat to all that we believe. Or are they?

  Sometimes we want to retaliate so we take out our sword and "defend the faith". Now let me be clear! No doubt there are times when we need to go on the offensive. But we need to take our cue from the heavenly headquarters. We may be as committed and well-intentioned as was Peter. But equally there are times when premature action can be at cross-purposes with what God is doing in that situation at that moment.

  But these things are happening to fulfill what the Scriptures say about me."   (14:49)

  Jesus knew when to be silent in the face of opposition. He knew when to challenge and confront. We need to keep in step with what He is doing in our situations.