River Liffey, Dublin

A few thoughts on prayer and the will of God

        Recently I’ve had several conversations about knowing the will of God. The individuals involved—true Christians—were looking for signs and not really looking for God’s guidelines for choosing “the best”. Later I was amused to read a quotation about Andrew Bonar, about a man looking for signs: “When a man told Bonar he had felt an angel touch him during an illness, Bonar said, “Have you a cat in the house? Don’t you think it may have been the cat?”

        As far as what we should pray for, there are things God has told us—pray for the peace of Jerusalem, pray for kings and rulers, pray for the salvation of friends and neighbours (and even enemies). We can pray about specifics like a job or a home or a spouse or health. Paul prayed to have his “thorn in the flesh” removed.

        But we can’t make unconditional claims on God or it becomes what I call the eleventh commandment—“You shall not put the Lord your God to the test!” (Deut.6:16) There is a “Christian” book on the market right now that I feel breaks this commandment: The Circle Maker. The blurb says, “When his land was in the grip of a drought in ancient times, Honi Ha’Magel drew a circle in the sand, stepped inside it, and declared that he wouldn’t budge until God sent rain.” It’s less daring than “throwing himself down from the pinnacle of the temple” but it is equally “putting God to the test.” (Mat.4:5-7)

        I’m sure God did send rain eventually but the Scripture quotation that may apply is, God “gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.” (Psa.106:15) Something I greatly fear. Even Jesus said, “Not my will but Thine.” We can’t demand things of God or boss Him around. Would we do that to a friend? Would we do that to Jesus? The thought is absurd!     

        Scripture says that the Israelites prayed, but then “didn’t wait for God’s plan to unfold.” (Psa.106:13)  We have to be patient. Here is a suggestion: The next time a difficulty comes up in your life, start journaling it. Record the date and the problem; as events take place, record their dates and details. Follow through until you can say without a doubt, “This is how God’s plan unfolded for me.” Watching God in action, so-to-speak, I’m sure you will be blessed, however it unfolds!   Ì

Michelangelo's Pieta

   Think of the tools necessary to get the body off the cross—a ladder, and a heavy crowbar and spacers, at least, to pull the nails. And loving hands to help hold the body as each nail came out. If you know Michelangelo’s Pieta in the Vatican, it is one of the most heart wrenching scenes imaginable.

Where were the women?

        And where were they not? In the spirit of the name of this publication, this article is a “view”, and we certainly won’t hang any doctrine on it, but it may be interesting to consider the subject. For instance, as the Lord travelled to Jerusalem for that last Passover, Matthew (20:20) tells us that, “the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus.” From there until 26:6, there is no mention of women talking with Jesus unless they were included in the term “disciples”. At this point we read of Mary of Bethany who came with her perfume. Now comes the preparation and eating of the Passover, the last supper, and the institution of the Lord’s Supper—we read in John 13:2 that “the evening meal was being served” (was it by the women?) No women are specifically mentioned and, from Jesus’ actions, it seems very unlikely that any were present. (Maybe the women were in the lower rooms preparing the meal and cleaning up?)

        The time in Gethsemane and the arrest had no women present, and only unbelieving servant girls show up in the courtyard when Jesus is tried by the chief priests. (26:69,71)

        Pilate’s wife is now mentioned (27:19) but Pilate ignores her and gives Jesus over to crucifixion. In the procession to Golgotha we read about “women who mourned and wailed for him.” (Lk.23:27) At the cross Jesus gives his mother into John’s care (John 19:25-27) Finally, at the death of the Lord, we are told that “many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from

Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.” (27:55-56) Somehow they had found out where he was (did they have contact with the disciples who ran?) and were at the cross to help and comfort if they could.

        The women must have stayed at the cross long after Jesus gave up his spirit, because when Joseph of Arimathea finally got permission from Pilate and showed up as evening approached, to take down the body, they were there to follow him to the tomb. When Joseph put the body in his new tomb (27:57) we are told, “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.” (27:61)

      “When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb...He has risen! He is not here. Mark 16:2-6.

        We might wonder where Mary, the mother of the Lord, was all this time. It seems she may have been overcome with grief and had to leave everything to the younger women. Was Peter’s wife among these women too? In 1 Cor.9:5, Paul implies that (at least in later years) she travelled about with him.

        After all this discussion, we realize that a whole book could be written on this subject. Suffice if for now to say that although men such as Peter or Paul or Timothy might be the face of the gospel, it was women such as Lois and Eunice and Dorcas and Lydia who kept the faith alive in their families through dark decades and centuries.       Ì