Saul's watchmen see the Philistines dispersing and wonder
what in the world is going on. Saul again
counts and there are few enough of them to determine by this count that two are
missing and their identities. It seems
it would have been easy enough for Saul to immediately know that Jonathan was
missing. As word of the Philistine
flight and rout begins to spread the people come from everywhere they have been
hiding to join the battle. Saul sees the
fierceness of battle and vows that anyone who stops to eat will be cursed. Jonathan, who has not heard his father speak
thus, stops to eat honey that is there for the taking. When told of his
father's vow, he sees its folly. If they
had taken nourishment they would truly have routed the enemy because they would
have been strengthened for battle, instead, they accomplished less than an
optimal result.
The people, the rulers, the soldiers, and even one of the others
hanging on his own cross mock Jesus as He dies.
He, however, prays for them to be forgiven for they don't know what
they're doing. What a horrible scene for
those who have loved Him and believed in Him to have to endure. Their mockery includes the admonition to save
Himself but if He does, there is no salvation for us, and them. They use the conditional "if" to
say they want proof that He is who the inscription over His head says He is,
"King of the Jews." He is
indeed King of kings and Lord of lords and one day all will know that truth,
some will proclaim it as salvation and others as judgment upon themselves. One thief this day receives Jesus in
faith. It is the most incredible thing
to imagine a man dying on a cross looking upon another and believing that He is
about to receive a kingdom. This man had
true faith.
Ananais is probably thinking, why me? It would seem a wonderful thing to hear from
the Lord, being called by name, but the mission wasn't what he had in
mind. He knows about Saul and he isn't
thrilled about going to this man. Is this
truly a word from the Lord? He is rightfully
afraid of this mission and yet the Lord sends him and he is willing to trust
even when it makes no sense. Ananais,
like the thief on the cross, is a man of faith, addressing Saul as brother even
before he has seen a change, based solely on the Lord's word to him. He believes that there has been an inner
transformation and now the outer will follow at the laying on of his
hands. This is also an amazing thing,
this man is not an apostle but the laying on of his hands will result in
baptism of the Holy Spirit for Saul. Now,
like Jonathan, Saul is preparing for a new battle and takes the nourishment offered
to restore him physically for the battle that lies before him.
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