The curious incident of the dog in the night time

We occasionally refer to fictional works like the Shack during our study of the Bible, and today is another case of that: we will refer to a famous passage in a Sherlock Holmes story, "Silver Blaze," by Arthur Conan Doyle. Holmes has unraveled a mystery for one Colonel Ross, in the rustic Dartmoor region of southern England, delivering the answer with this conversation between Holmes and Inspector Gregory...

Colonel Ross still wore an expression which showed the poor opinion which he had formed of my companion's ability, but I saw by the inspector's face that his attention had been keenly aroused.

"You consider that to be important?" he [Inspector Gregory] asked.

"Exceedingly so."

"Is there any point to which you would wish to draw my attention?"

"To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time."

"The dog did nothing in the night-time."

"That was the curious incident," remarked Sherlock Holmes.

We find other mysterious situations in Matthew's 27th chapter. Let's ask a few questions:

1. The curious incident of the Messiah before Pilate: Pilate repeats the accusations of the chief priests and elders, to which Jesus makes no reply, stunning the Roman governor. Why would this silence be so stunning, so curious, to Pontius Pilate? What does it tell us?
2. At the Crucifixion, the passersby railed at the Messiah, and flung the words of Jesus back in His face, words about rebuilding the Temple and saving others. Obviously some of them had seen Jesus at work and listened to His words, yet another curious incident. How should they have reacted to seeing the innocent man voluntarily being crucified?
3. Yet another curious incident: Judas does not change his mind when Jesus is first captured, but only later. What was the factor that made Judas change his mind and throw the blood money back into the Temple?
4. After Judas returns the silver pieces, he ends his actions permanently, but the chief priests and elders continued. What was different about the chief priests and elders, that they could continue?
5. Did the chief priests and elders know they had purchased murder?
6. Is Jesus Christ willing to be served by the gold and wealth coming from covetousness, crime and duplicity?
7. What should be the true currency of the Church?

Let's start our study this morning with these questions, asking the Lord for clear eyes to see His Word.

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