Knowing that there is someone who sees more than I do - a step on the journey

NORSK
It's Good Friday and we are in a way at the destination for the journey up to Jerusalem. Along the way there has been ongoing teaching with a content the disciples had difficulties understanding. However, there was at least one who understood what was going to happen in Jerusalem: The woman who anointed Jesus. The disciples did not understand her actions either, so Jesus had to explain:

“When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
Matt 26:12-13

I am a disciple. I've lived with Jesus for many years. My knowledge and insight has grown, but at the same time the mystery has grown even bigger. I am not pretending to be humble when I say that people without the same knowledge and experience may have seen much more of the mystery of salvation in Christ than I do. Actually this truth is a part of the mystery, because such insight is something that can only be revealed with the help of the Holy Spirit.

The woman was preparing Jesus for the suffering he was about to enter into during Easter. Therefore, this anonymous woman is presented as an example when the gospel is preached. I think the disciples eventually understood it - otherwise it would not have become a part of the gospel. As I've written previously, it increases the credibility of the Bible that they admitted their mistakes. It's liberating to be allowed to confess our faults to God and fellow men - and it is exactly what happened at Calvary.

‘Manna for today:

I see enough of the mystery to grasp salvation!

Reflect on what I am saying

NORSK
Is this instruction an expression of arrogance, or does this clear message Paul gave Timothy contain more information than the first obvious interpretation?

Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
2 Timothy 2:7

I admit that I am fascinated by Paul. He is a complex individual, and sometimes he makes statements that may seem a little arrogant. However, arrogance does not match the overall picture I have of him. He admitted openly that “now I know in part” (1), and on one occasion, he also indicated that he shared his personal judgement, and continued with “and I think that I too have the Spirit of God” (2). This last statement may indicate that it is a response to one or more who were of a different opinion and who used the argument “and we have the Spirit of God!”.

It is interesting that we can have strong disagreements, yet have the same Spirit. Paul had been in such situations on several occasions (3). Perhaps there had been a disagreement between him and Timothy too?

But he did not ask more from Timothy than just to reflect on what he wrote. He left it to the Lord to give Timothy the insights he needed, and I think Paul was humble enough to acknowledge that these insights could be different from the ones he had received himself.

‘Manna’ for today:

I will reflect on the word, and the Lord will give the insight I need!

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(1) 1 Cor 13:12
(2) 1 Cor 7:39-40
(3) See e.g. Acts 15:37-41 and Galatians 2:11-14

It is about insight

NORSK
I like a good overview and a deep insight in all meanings of the words. Therefore, I prefer to look at several translations of the Bible, particularly when I only look at one verse – an even more important when my focus is on a single word. 

When I look at the ingredients of Peter’s fruit-recipe, I need to do it word by word. Today it is about the Greek word ‘gnosis’, and most English version choose ‘knowledge’ in their translation:

“add to your …virtue knowledge,”
2 Pet 1:5 

‘Gnosis’ can be translated: ‘knowledge, understanding or insight’ – therefore knowledge is 100% acceptable. Personally, I prefer ‘insight’, and I had to check the English definition of the word, and here is one: Insight = ‘penetrating mental vision or discernment; faculty of seeing into inner character or underlying truth’. 

I realise that I have English as my second language with the limited ‘insight’ that involves, but I think Peter has the spiritual insight in mind when he uses this ingredient in his recipe. And even thought knowledge may contain this nuance as well (1), I feel that ‘insight’ better explains why it is placed as the third ingredient in the recipe, or third link in the chain.

It begins with faith, and to faith I add the virtues I choose as values for my life. This choice leads to a new insight, an inner recognition of the fact that I stand in a meaningful relation both with God and my fellow men. This create a form of base on which a small seed may find enough nourishment to start to grow. The seed is the hope of fruit

‘Manna’ for today:

Insight nourishes hope for fruit

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(1) Three reflections on knowing:

• ‘It is about knowing as in …#1’
• ‘It is about knowing as in …#2’
• ‘It is about knowing as in …#3’