Have a Blessed Passion Week everyone! Sorry we were not at church Sunday but Olivia and I are both down with a BAD cold. :( BTW... Olivia is being baptized/dedicated Easter Sunday during the Korean congregation service with both Pastor James and Rev. Yang. I know we probably have to cook but it would mean a lot if the EM members would be present for it. Maybe you could just come in during the baptism time.
Two things I wanted to share from today's passage:
1. Satan's attack
In verse 3:
"3Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve."
I don't think I really noticed this sentence before. When we think of someone who betrays we think of Judas...I've even heard people use it as a label for someone who has betrayed someone. "You Judas!" But it was Satan who entered Judas, one of the twelve that were closest to Jesus to carry out the act of betrayal. We immediately and ultimately place blame on the person who did the bad act and shake our heads and wonder how anyone could do such a thing. We forget that it could be the work of Satan and that they have fallen victim to Satan's influence or power and that it could really happen to anyone of us.
In verse 31 Jesus says:
31"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
We are all subject to Satan's influence at any time but we can also ask God to protect us from this. We must follow Jesus' example and pray for one another that are faith would not fail and that we would not be under Satan's attack.
2. Who is the Greatest?
24Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
The disciples started arguing about who was the greatest. When we think of someone who is great we mostly think of powerful leaders, winners, those with great power or money. This is probably how the disciples based their argument on too.
But Jesus goes on to say in verse 26:
26But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
This is exactly the opposite of what the world teaches us. The greatest of all is the servant of all.
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1 comment:
Thanks for a wonderfully insightful reflection christine. Your post made me think about judas. i kept thinking that Jesus picked the 12 disciples knowing the whole time that judas would eventually betray Him but loved Him anyway.if any of us have ever been betrayed or deeply hurt by a friend, well, Jesus knows how you feel.
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