Today's Reading: Matthew 26: 14-25
**For a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please click this link: Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf.
Please click this link to read Matthew 26: 14-25
Bible Study
A contrast with yesterday's act of devotion of the woman, today we have the famous man who moved from grumbling to killing. The traitor, Judas, who were among the Twelve all the time with Jesus for those three years. He wasn't any different from the rest of them, but he betrayed Jesus.
No one knows why he did that to Jesus. And, N.T. Wright gives us his wisdom today, he says:
Evil isn't like what you can think of. It's ultimately absurd. That's part of its danger and darkness...
Jesus was going to his death wounded by the wounds common to humanity. Greed, lust, ambition: all kinds of natural drives and desires turned in on themselves rather than doing the outward-looking work the creator intended them to. When we say that Jesus died 'because of our sins', we don't just mean that in some high-flown, abstract sense. We mean that what put him on the cross was precisely the sins that we all not only commit but wallow in. 'It isn't me, is it, Master?' Only when you've said that, knowing that it might well be you, can you begin to appreciate what it meant for Jesus to sit at that table and share that Passover meal with them, with Judas too.
How faithful you are to Jesus?
Do you think Jesus answer to your question of, "It isn't me, is it. Master?" would be, "Yes, it is you! Judas!"
How would you take that kind of betrayal if you have a Judas or many Judas you personally trained? Quit? Or, just like Michelle asked our son Ignatius a few years ago when he decided to become an Anglican priest,"Son, do you know that you will face the same betrayal your dad has been suffering all these years when you become a priest. Are you ready for that?" We were in tears when he answered, "Dad, mom. I know that it will happen to me too. I am prepared!"
Are you prepared?
No one knows why he did that to Jesus. And, N.T. Wright gives us his wisdom today, he says:
Evil isn't like what you can think of. It's ultimately absurd. That's part of its danger and darkness...
Jesus was going to his death wounded by the wounds common to humanity. Greed, lust, ambition: all kinds of natural drives and desires turned in on themselves rather than doing the outward-looking work the creator intended them to. When we say that Jesus died 'because of our sins', we don't just mean that in some high-flown, abstract sense. We mean that what put him on the cross was precisely the sins that we all not only commit but wallow in. 'It isn't me, is it, Master?' Only when you've said that, knowing that it might well be you, can you begin to appreciate what it meant for Jesus to sit at that table and share that Passover meal with them, with Judas too.
How faithful you are to Jesus?
Do you think Jesus answer to your question of, "It isn't me, is it. Master?" would be, "Yes, it is you! Judas!"
How would you take that kind of betrayal if you have a Judas or many Judas you personally trained? Quit? Or, just like Michelle asked our son Ignatius a few years ago when he decided to become an Anglican priest,"Son, do you know that you will face the same betrayal your dad has been suffering all these years when you become a priest. Are you ready for that?" We were in tears when he answered, "Dad, mom. I know that it will happen to me too. I am prepared!"
Are you prepared?
Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage of scripture we have just read. Offer this time up to Jesus as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe"
Spiritual Journal
What I heard from Jesus today is: Yes, it is you! Judas!
What I got from Jesus today is a horrible answer to our question, "It isn't me. Is it. Master?"
I think every Christian has played a Judas role in our lifetime. Peter did that, but he repented! N.T. Wright said that people take that Judas role when we have "an angry disappointment" and when the plan does not go our way.
It's so true that "angry disappointment" do come any time to those who work together so long in churches. Just as N.T. Wright said:
Sharing their common life, a trusted and valued friend and comrade.
Then suddenly your trusted comrade betrays you!
That's how Satan tries all his best to turn everyone into a Judas without knowing they have become a Judas. Have you trusted your bishop, priest, pastor or leader, for many years you are good friend with him, then slowly the trust is being pulled away, and you join in those group of people to have "an angry disappointment" with him, leaving him, deserting him to die or even betray him and take part in the process of killing him?
Watch out! It's so easy to be a Judas, is just that you do not know it is so easy to step into that evil trap!
Don't do anything not honoring God. If you keep this rule, then you have a lesser chance to be a Judas!
I think every Christian has played a Judas role in our lifetime. Peter did that, but he repented! N.T. Wright said that people take that Judas role when we have "an angry disappointment" and when the plan does not go our way.
It's so true that "angry disappointment" do come any time to those who work together so long in churches. Just as N.T. Wright said:
Sharing their common life, a trusted and valued friend and comrade.
Then suddenly your trusted comrade betrays you!
That's how Satan tries all his best to turn everyone into a Judas without knowing they have become a Judas. Have you trusted your bishop, priest, pastor or leader, for many years you are good friend with him, then slowly the trust is being pulled away, and you join in those group of people to have "an angry disappointment" with him, leaving him, deserting him to die or even betray him and take part in the process of killing him?
Watch out! It's so easy to be a Judas, is just that you do not know it is so easy to step into that evil trap!
Don't do anything not honoring God. If you keep this rule, then you have a lesser chance to be a Judas!
Dear Lord Jesus,
Lead us to be a faithful servant of you honoring you and appreciating other people. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
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