SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 10/25/2016 11:43 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Twelve Astonished Disciples
Bible Reading &
Meditation Reference: John 13:22-25
Message of the verses: “22 The disciples began looking at one
another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking. 23 There was reclining
on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 So Simon Peter
gestured to him, and said to him, "Tell us who it is of whom He is
speaking." 25 He, leaning back thus on Jesus’ bosom, said to Him,
"Lord, who is it?"”
I have been
mentioning in our Spiritual Diaries about not one of the disciples realizing
who the traitor was and how important that is in our lives today especially in
the church for remember Jesus telling the parable of the wheat and the tares
and how instructions were given to the farmer’s servant not to tear up the
weeds until they could properly be identified?
This tare is about to be identified as being Judas who Jesus actually
calls friend, and that is something else that has been hard for me to
understand as mentioned in our last SD.
I will
quote from D. A. Carson from MacArthur’s commentary: “The Twelve were already somewhat disoriented
by Jesus’ allusions to his suffering and death, categories they still could not
square with their conviction that he was the promised Messiah. Doubtless reference to betrayal and treachery
seemed similarly obscure. Perhaps some wondered if Jesus were referring to
disciples just outside the ring of the Twelve; others might have wondered if
betrayal would be inadvertent (not deliberate).
Perhaps the notion of betrayal did not seem very threatening to them,
since their Master could calm storms, raise the dead, feed the hungry, heal the
sick. What possible disaster could
befall him that he could not rectify?”
Now we know
that there was a lot of things that were happening to the disciples at this
time as they had just received a subtle rebuke at their foot washing, and then
they began to realize for real that Jesus was going to die which disturbed all
of them as they had just been arguing about who would be the greatest in the
coming kingdom, and now they learn that they had a traitor in their midst’s, a
traitor of a monumental kind. Yes these
men had a lot on their plate. I think
back to a couple of verses that have something to do with what is going on
here: “24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting
Himself to them, for He knew all men, 25
and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He
Himself knew what was in man (John 2:24-25).”
Next “Jesus answered them, "Did I Myself not choose you, the
twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?’ (John 6:70.” I have to believe that Judas did not realize,
nor any of the rest of His disciples realize who Jesus was talking about, and
yet Jesus knew all of the time as John 2:24-25 teaches us.
Yes it was
a mystery to all of them until Satan would enter Judas and then he would leave,
but even then the eleven did not realize it.
Let us look at Luke 2:23 “And they began to discuss among themselves
which one of them it might be who was going to do this thing.” Do you wonder what comments were made by
Judas at this time?
Peter had
to find out who it was and so he asks John to ask Jesus to tell him as John was
actually lying next to Jesus at the table.
Lying means that He was propped up perhaps on His arm as all were as
they did not sit on chairs but reclined at the table. We know who it is, but we won’t go into
detail as to what happened next until our next SD.
Jesus loved
Judas we know but Judas did not love Jesus as he was about to betray Him. Remember what Jesus said as He was about to
die on the cross? “Father forgive them
for they know not what they do.”
Spiritual meaning for my life today: If it were not for the wonderful grace and
mercy of Jesus I would be in the same boat as Judas.
My Steps of Faith for
Today: To appreciate more the love
that Jesus loves me.
Memory verses for the week:
(Romans 6:15) “15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law
but under Grace? May it never be!”
Answer to yesterday’s Bible question: I will give this answer so we can better
understand it: “45 inches long, 27
inches wide, and 27 inches high.”
(Exodus 25:10 NLT)
Today’s Bible question:
“When one is justified, he has what from God?
Answer in our next SD.
10/25/2016 12:20 PM
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