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Words of Jesus Part 59
- John 13:1 Now before the feast of the
Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour
was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved
his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
- 2 And
supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot,
Simon's son, to betray him;
- 3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and
that he was come from God, and went to God;
- 4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel,
and girded himself.
- 5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the
disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
- 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost
thou wash my feet?
- 7 Jesus answered and said unto him,
What I do thou knowest not now; but
thou shalt know hereafter.
- 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered
him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
- 9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands
and my head.
- 10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his
feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
- 11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all
clean.
- 12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and
was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
- 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
- 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought
to wash one another's feet.
- 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to
you.
- 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his
lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
- 17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
The church
throughout history has not remembered these words of Jesus. When we
set up popes, clergy and bishops to have supreme rule over what is
called the laity or common people, we are doing the opposite of what
Jesus taught. We are not to lord over one another. There have been
many who have risen to power in the church who think it is a sin to
disagree with them. They threaten the judgment of God if one dares
to oppose them. This is not what Jesus taught.
All of us are as
servants. Only God has all authority. We must submit to one another
in love that is true but we must always be allowed to study the word
so as not to be deceived if one comes along that teaches contrary to
the truth in God's word. There has to be accountability as long as
we are mortal men and women. God is perfect and we should strive to
be like Him but we must remember that we have limitations and make
many mistakes along the way. To set up a supreme church leader that
is seen as infallible with sole authority is dangerous. Read church
history and see the danger and suffering such thinking causes.
Jesus showed and taught humility. He knew
what was coming a few years after He went back to Heaven. He knew
there would be evil men not only bringing in false doctrine but
laying aside the word of God entirely and putting in its place
rituals, doctrines and church teaching that is contrary to the word
of God. At one point in church history the bible was forbidden to be
read by anyone except the clergy. This is not what Jesus taught.
It is certainly not wrong to have a
leader to lead the church and preach the gospel making sure that the
flock is protected from false teachers. It is when that leader
exercises power over the individual conscience of a believer, he is
usurping authority that God does not give. Jesus said that the ones
who are chiefs must be as servants. We are not to have a clergy and
a laity where the laity are not allowed to think for themselves,
worship God in spirit and in truth, study the bible on their own
time, and disagree if the occasion merits a disagreement.
There are too
many wolves that may come around usurping authority and taking
control. We can't blindly follow those that set themselves up to be
lords over the flock. Remember Jim Jones. All church leadership
should have accountability. No one should have supreme authority.
Only Jesus Christ can be trusted with that much authority.
The bible should never be chained up,
forbidden or hid from each and every individual whether child or
grown person. This does not give us freedom to disrespect church
leaders and pastors. Jesus also taught us to love one another and
treat everyone with respect. We are to serve one another, help one
another and even give our lives to help each other. Whatever we do
should be done in the spirit of meekness and love. The leaders
should possess this as well.
Never should a church have the power to
imprison, torture or harm one that does not agree with church
teachings even bible teachings. That is why Jesus said to be careful
when judging. Let God do the judging of those who reject the gospel
or church teachings. We are to be meek, harmless as doves, yet wise
as serpents. We must not allow false teaching that we knew is
contrary to scripture but we must never physically harm a false
teacher. Trust God to take care of things in which we are limited.
Learn to pray over problems instead of acting in fear, jealousy,
hate or violence.
This fulfills this verse in the Psalms.
-
Psalm 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar
friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath
lifted up his heel against me.
Judas pretended
to be in agreement while plotting to betray Jesus.
- John 13:19
Now I tell you before it come, that, when
it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
- 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that
receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him
that sent me.
Receive whoever God sends. We shall know
them by their fruits. We can judge by the word of God whether God
sent them or not. Use kindness. Refuse to listen to false teachers
but never lift a hand to harm anyone. Let God do the judging. Pray
without ceasing that we can discern and know the truth. Walk in love
and kindness. If a someone is sent by God we will be blessed if
we receive them and treat them kindly. God does not expect us to
follow anyone without discernment and questions but treat everyone
with gentleness and love. If we are faithful and walk in love, I
believe God will protect us from deception. He said that His sheep
shall know His voice.
-
John 13:21 When Jesus had thus said, he
was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily,
verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
Even though this was done that scripture was
fulfilled, our dear Jesus was still concerned about the soul of the
one who was to betray Him.
- John 13:22 Then the disciples looked one on another,
doubting of whom he spake.
- 23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one
of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
- 24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him,
that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
- 25 He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto
him, Lord, who is it?
- 26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall
give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to
Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
- 27 And after the sop Satan entered into him.
Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
- 28 Now no man at the table knew for what
intent he spake this unto him.
- 29 For some of them thought, because Judas
had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of
against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
I think they
purposely was blinded to Judas' intent because God knew they would
try to stop him.
- John 13:30 He then having received the sop went
immediately out: and it was night.
- 31 Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus
said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
- 32
If God be glorified in him, God shall also
glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.
- 33
Little children, yet a little while I am
with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot
come; so now I say to you.
- 34
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye
love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
This is the commandment that we have
forgotten. Love one another. This is how people will know God is in
us if we love one another. Love also enemies. If we love we will not
harm, persecute, imprison, torture and hate each other or enemies of
the gospel. Jesus never taught us to persecute heretics or
unbelievers. He never taught us to use force or physical punishment.
If we love each other we will not Lord over each other. If we love
each other, we will want everyone to have a personal relationship
with God himself and not have to depend on a church or group of
people for their faith.
True love also
will embrace truth. If we love one another, we will not go the
opposite extreme and allow false teaching and sin to continue in the
church without warning or telling the truth. Love does not mean to
get along to the point of forsaking sound doctrine. Love also does
not hate or persecute those that disagree with sound doctrine. Love
is the key to the proper way to run a church.
- John 13:35
By this shall all men know that ye
are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
- 36 Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but
thou shalt follow me afterwards.
- 37 Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I
follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.
- 38 Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy
life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till
thou hast denied me thrice.
This is a
prediction to the time Peter denied Jesus three times because of the
fear of those he was mingling with.
In all this chapter the main points are
walking in love and humility. If we remember these things our church
will be strong.
We have to be
firm and contend for the faith taught in the word of God but in the
spirit of meekness and humility. Wise yet harmless. Alert and not
deceived, yet with kindness and love. Only by the spirit of God can
this be possible.
Words of
Jesus Part 60
Words of Jesus
Index
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