Bruce,
You bring up a great point to illustrate what I
was saying in a recent post
about the difference between "studying"
scripture vs. "meditating" on scripture. Studying
those examples that you gave or any other similar
examples would involve perhaps getting some
commentaries or a concordance out and seeing what
else the Bible may say on a subject and then form
an opinion about what it can all mean.
Meditating begins with going to God directly
with faith that He is willing and able to teach us
and humbly asking God to reveal what He knows
the hidden treasure is within His word for our
edification. Then listen and open your heart to
receive.
I'd like to give one quick example that
illustrates the hidden meaning in an otherwise
seemingly meaningless bit of information similar
to the ones you listed in your post:
I was just thinking about this early this
morning too so it must be that I was meant to
share this.
Bruce, would you say that the incident of Peter
cutting off an ear with a sword that Jesus heals
back on right away would fit in nicely with your
other examples of strange mysteries in the Bible?
Why an ear? I heard Gene Scott years ago
mention about this that Peter was either the
greatest swordsman in the world or the worst to go
after a guy with a sword and only cut off an ear.
If he was trying to do that then he's the greatest
but if he was trying to cut off the guy's head,
then he's the worst. (Like a scene in Butch
Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, I think it was,
where one of them shoots the gun out of a rival's
hand and the now weaponless man, rubbing his empty
hand admires his skill with a handgun until the
shooter's partner informs him that he was actually
aiming for your belly...)
But here's what I learned from the Holy Spirit
about this incident: Peter was trying to impress
Jesus with his willingness to fight for Him and
even die for Him as he had earlier stated that he
would. Now, when the men arrived to take Jesus
away, Peter saw his chance to make good on his
claim and he attacked one with a sword but rather
than be appreciated or commended by Jesus Peter
was rebuked with the famous words:
Matthew 26:
52. Then said Jesus unto him, Put
up again thy sword into his place: for all they
that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
John 18:
10. Then Simon Peter having a sword drew
it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut
off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
11. Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up
thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father
hath given me, shall I not drink it?
Luke 22:
50. And one of them smote the
servant of the high priest, and cut off his right
ear.
51. And Jesus answered and said,
Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and
healed him.
The text really doesn't give us much insight
into what this ear cutting off could mean, it just
tells it and leaves it at that. But the Holy
Spirit had something more He wanted to say about
it. Peter was doing what he thought Jesus would
want but it turned out not to be what Jesus wanted
at all. Many Christians operate this same way and
do what they assume Jesus wants instead of letting
Him lead them especially when it comes to dealing
with others that come against us. We know that the
Bible is called the Sword of the Spirit, right?
Many Christians use the Word of God the way Peter
was using his sword and attack or rebuke or even
try to "witness" to non Christians by quoting
scriptures at them but rather than doing good
their efforts can result in a spiritual way the
same as Peter's sword and result in the non
Christian becoming as if their "ear to hear" is
cut off, See? I have known people
who have become hardened to the gospel after
being "witnessed" to by a well meaning
Christian until they hate to hear any mention
of the "good news" anymore. But the same Jesus
who healed that servant's ear can also heal
the cut off ear of a wounded person if Jesus
is allowed to be involved and we learn when to
"put up the sword".
The woman at the well is the way we should
witness, which is to tell others of what Jesus has
done for us and then introduce them to Jesus and
then get out of the way and let Him speak to them
Himself and then they can say what that woman's
townsfolk said,
John 4:
42. And said unto the woman, Now we
believe, not because of thy saying: for we have
heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed
the Christ, the Saviour of the world.