Loving The God of Truth

Welcome to all those in the ODM who desire to know and to love the God of Truth through the faithful study of His Word. Please feel free to share your comments, insights, questions, concerns, words of encouragement, thanksgiving, praise, and prayer requests with all of us.

May God most richly bless the reading of His precious Word to our hearts this year.

"The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.
The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
They are sweeter than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned;

In keeping them there is great reward."

(Psalm 19:7-11)

Monday, March 29, 2010

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus/The Last Supper (Luke 22: 1-38)

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.



1 comment:

darlayoo said...

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.