martes, abril 11, 2006
We're All Jesus' Beloved Disciples
April 11 * Tuesday of Holy Week
------------------------------------------
~"He dipped the morsel and [took it and] handed it to Judas..." John 13:26
Some painters of the Last Supper place Jesus in the middle of a long table and put Judas at one end of it, five apostles away from the Lord. Yet the Gospel implies that Judas was sitting close to Jesus. John tells us that Jesus handed --- the Greek text says simply "gave" --- a bit of bread to Judas. Jesus may have put the morsel not into Judas' hand, but into his mouth, as a sign of friendship and affection, the way a host might do in the Middle East today.
Jesus' words, "What you are going to do, do quickly," probably mean, "Decide quickly what you are going to do. Are you going to betray me or not?" As He does with everyone He meets, Jesus places Himself face to face with Judas, offers Him his love, and demands that he choose for or against Him.
Another disciple at the table is referred to as "the one wom Jesus loved." But Judas, also, was a disciple whom Jesus loved. Indeed, every one of us is Jesus' beloved disciple. This week especially, we find ourselves face to face with Him.
-- Kevin Perrotta
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Isaiah49:1-6*Psalm71:1-6,15,17*John13:21-33,36-38
An interesting discussion arose at Bible Study yesterday. Someone mentioned that Jesus knew that Judas was going to betray Him, that it was part of God's Plan. So was Judas to blame? Isn't it a good thing he did it? Could it be considered a sin? Would God not be happy that he did it if it was His Will? He had to do it, right? Well, someone was going to do it, but it didn't have to be Judas. Someone along the line was going to make a wrong decision. If we study Judas' sinful history, we notice that he stole money from many people, and that may have been how Satan grabbed hold of Judas and used him. Jesus clearly knew of Judas' intentions and what he was to do, but "woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed!" Judas didn't *have* to. God gave us free will, and Judas made the wrong choice.
Soon we celebrate Easter, Jesus rising from the dead. This is why we are Christians. What would the world be like if Jesus had not risen in three days? How would your life be changed? Would we be here? Would Satan have taken over by now?
Indeed, truly, thanks be to God.
April 11 * Tuesday of Holy Week
------------------------------------------
~"He dipped the morsel and [took it and] handed it to Judas..." John 13:26
Some painters of the Last Supper place Jesus in the middle of a long table and put Judas at one end of it, five apostles away from the Lord. Yet the Gospel implies that Judas was sitting close to Jesus. John tells us that Jesus handed --- the Greek text says simply "gave" --- a bit of bread to Judas. Jesus may have put the morsel not into Judas' hand, but into his mouth, as a sign of friendship and affection, the way a host might do in the Middle East today.
Jesus' words, "What you are going to do, do quickly," probably mean, "Decide quickly what you are going to do. Are you going to betray me or not?" As He does with everyone He meets, Jesus places Himself face to face with Judas, offers Him his love, and demands that he choose for or against Him.
Another disciple at the table is referred to as "the one wom Jesus loved." But Judas, also, was a disciple whom Jesus loved. Indeed, every one of us is Jesus' beloved disciple. This week especially, we find ourselves face to face with Him.
-- Kevin Perrotta
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Isaiah49:1-6*Psalm71:1-6,15,17*John13:21-33,36-38
An interesting discussion arose at Bible Study yesterday. Someone mentioned that Jesus knew that Judas was going to betray Him, that it was part of God's Plan. So was Judas to blame? Isn't it a good thing he did it? Could it be considered a sin? Would God not be happy that he did it if it was His Will? He had to do it, right? Well, someone was going to do it, but it didn't have to be Judas. Someone along the line was going to make a wrong decision. If we study Judas' sinful history, we notice that he stole money from many people, and that may have been how Satan grabbed hold of Judas and used him. Jesus clearly knew of Judas' intentions and what he was to do, but "woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed!" Judas didn't *have* to. God gave us free will, and Judas made the wrong choice.
Soon we celebrate Easter, Jesus rising from the dead. This is why we are Christians. What would the world be like if Jesus had not risen in three days? How would your life be changed? Would we be here? Would Satan have taken over by now?
Indeed, truly, thanks be to God.