Good morning to all on this Sunday morning. God is in His Heaven and all is right with the world. Waine and I are still in Hawkinsville and will spend a relaxing day here. Waine actually met some golfers from Macon and they are going to meet up with him at the Southern Hills Country Club this morning. We are blessed to be together and God is continuing to bless our love and relationship. Continue to pray for ET and his family. God will sustain them and all of us through prayer and faith action on our part. I lift up my prayers for all of us in this, these last days.
I am continuing my journey in Matthew 26 this morning, verses 14-30, "Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?" He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.' " So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me." They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?" Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born." Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" Jesus answered, "Yes, it is you." While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is My body." Then He took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom." When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Amen and amen.
It would appear that the chief priests were making overtures to Judas for a while. Judas knew who to approach and asked if they were willing to pay him to turn over Jesus. Now this is on the heals of one of the disciples asking why Jesus was wasting perfume on Himself when it could be sold to be used to feed the poor. There is no indications from the scripture that Judas was the same disciple in both instances and it really doesn't matter. Satan works like this though. Satan will convince you that if your motives are good then if will justify your actions--NOT TRUE. Your motives and your actions both count which is why Christ admonishes us to live such that our lives REFLECT (action) the Fruits of the Spirit. No matter was motivation Judas had, his action was VERY WRONG!!!!! So the plot for the death of Jesus was set and Jesus determined to celebrate the Passover with his entire crew--even Judas. What is interesting to me is that Jesus broke bread with Judas and Judas stayed through the process. I think there is a lesson here. Judas obviously thought he did the right thing because he had no problem being in the company of Jesus and the other disciples. Judas was comfortable with his decision to betray Jesus and in fact was determined to stay in the presence of Jesus so that he could alert the high priest as to the most opportune time to capture Jesus. Judas had convinced himself that he had done the right thing. If this is not the most clear example of the subtly of Satan and sin. When we are not in communication with the Spirit of God sin will blind us into thinking that our sin actions are correct when in fact sin action will lead to destruction. Jesus likewise was comfortable period! He knew that everything works together for the GOOD and knew that Judas' action was necessary if the Old Testament prophesies were going to be fulfilled. I think he was giving Judas an opportunity to repent by confronting Judas with his sin--Jesus even love Judas. Judas did not repent and the Passover continued --- Judas was not covered by the blood of the lamb and is spending eternity with Satan.
The Jesus shared the bread and the fruit of the vine and He said something interesting. I had never read this scripture in this manner before. Jesus said "I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom." Jesus will not have communion again until His Church is in Heaven with Him. I can't wait for that day--that GREAT COMMUNION-- when we all will celebrate the sacrifice of Jesus together. Oh and what a GREAT DAY that will be. Jesus breaking bread and sharing wine with all of us and then WE WILL SING A HYMN just as the disciples did that last communion with Jesus. Can you imagine the hallelujah chorus that will be. Can you imagine the sound of millions of us singing Hosanna to the Highest for He is King! Amen, amen, amen.
Be blessed on this the Lord's day!
Stephanie
No comments:
Post a Comment