Do we see God’s power in the Church and the world or just problems? Do we complain to God but not worship Him? All that can change the moment we see God for who He is. Let’s look at Job 42 and what happened after Job saw who God is.
Job’s final chapter must be seen in light of the first chapters. They introduce the purpose of Job’s suffering, not punishment, but a test. Job’s friends’ arguments are discredited from the beginning. That all suffering is the result of our personal sin, is heartless, and a false accusation against God.
Seeing God’s Power
Job 42:2 “I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” Job said this earlier, but did not submit to God, complained but did not worship God. He knew of God’s power but did not really see God and His love.
Job 42:3 “‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” Job reflects on God’s question from Job 38:2 “Who is this that darkens counsel By words without knowledge?”
Job 42:4 “‘Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me.’” Job likewise repeats God’s demand in Job 38:3 “I will ask you, and you instruct Me!” This is someone who has had a humble reality check. He is a mere human being.
Seeing God
Job 42:5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You”. The Bible is supposed to lead us somewhere, to God’s presence. We all need to come to a clear vision of God, not stop with the words of the Bible.
Job 42:6 “Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes.” Job abhors his previous arrogant words. A clearer insight into who God is, gives us a reality check that makes it easy to see our true powerless state, leaving no room for the delusion of human arrogance.
Falsely Accusing God
Job 42:7-9 God explains His anger at Job’s three friends. They had not spoken truthfully about God. We ought not falsely accuse God. They falsely assumed that prosperity comes from righteousness, and suffering comes from personal sins. That is sometimes true, but not in most cases in this world.
Praying for Others
Job 42:10-17 Intercessory prayer, prayer for others, is a powerful responsibility. Sometimes, God will answer our prayers, but not those of our friends in the world, until they repent, because He wants us to know that we are His representatives in the world, and that He hears our prayers.
Also notice, “The Lord restored the fortunes of Job WHEN he prayed for his friends, AND the Lord increased all that Job had twofold.” Will this always happen? Obviously no, many faithful have died not having received the promises in this life, but with full assurance of blessings in eternity.
If we have worshiped God without complaint, May the Lord bless us double like He did Job. If we are not yet there, where we see God more than the problems all around us, may He be ever so gentle as He opens our eyes to see a clear vision of Him.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Who Commands the Morning
When bad things happen, and we accuse God of being unjust, are we ready for His answer? Job had suffered terribly and demanded an audience with God to question His fairness. God now begins to challenge Job in Job 38. Let’s listen in.
Words without Knowledge
Job 38:2 “Who is this that darkens counsel By words without knowledge?” Words without knowledge could also describe many modern know-it-alls. What do we humans really know of the universe? Politicians, biologists, economists, sometimes even church leaders espouse arrogant, puffed-up theories as fact, when we really know so little.
Job 38:3 The Lord speaks to us through Job, “Now gird up your loins like a man, And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!” Gird up your loins? We might say, tighten your belt, get ready! Dare WE enter a debate with God? We are seriously outgunned.
Earth
Job 38:4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding”? The earth’s continental crust is 5-25 miles (8-40 kilometers) thick, and the oceanic crust is 3-5 miles (5-8 kilometers) thick. The earth’s crust floats on a mantle of molten rock.
Job 38:5 “Who set its measurements? Since you know. Or who stretched the line on it?” Our planet is just the right distance from the sun for life to exist. It is just the right mass to retain an atmosphere with the perfect percentage of oxygen to sustain life.
Job 38:6-7 “On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone When the morning stars sang together And all the sons of God shouted for joy?” Job understood God, “hangs the earth on nothing” (Job 26:7). It orbits one of 200-400 billion stars in our Galaxy.
Sea
Job 38:8 “Or who enclosed the sea with doors When, bursting forth, it went out from the womb”? 71% of earth’s surface is ocean. The world’s highest mountain is Mauna Kea, Hawaii, over 33,000 feet (10,000 m) above the ocean floor, a mile higher than Mt Everest.
Job 38:9-10 “When I made a cloud its garment And thick darkness its swaddling band, And I placed boundaries on it And set a bolt and doors.” Oceans control the weather, as they bring rain and wind, and moderate the world’s temperature. Oceans are a major source of food.
Morning
Job 38:12- “Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, And caused the dawn to know its place…”? God created earth to rotate, giving us day and night, seasons and beneficial wind patterns. The speed of rotation gives temperature differences between day and night that make life possible.
Job 38:16- “Have you entered into the springs of the sea Or walked in the recesses of the deep…” The average ocean depth is over 12,000 feet (3,700 m). The deepest point is over 36,000 feet (11,000 m) in the Mariana Trench in the Pacific.
Stars
Job 38:31- “Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades, Or loose the cords of Orion…” Pleiades (Greek: plee-AH-daiss), the seven sisters, found on a Subaru. The Pleiades are a star cluster bound together in Taurus, and are relatively close to earth. Which of us chained these stars together?
Next time we see the sunrise, let’s remember who commands the morning. Next time we follow Orion’s belt to the Pleiades, remember who binds that star cluster together. When God sometimes allows bad things to happen, remember that the One who made earth, sea and stars knows what He’s doing. Life on earth involves suffering and death, but God’s plan is resurrection and salvation. The path to life eternal and salvation from sin sometimes takes us through the valley of the shadow of death. Let’s never forget that God is there too with us every step of the way, and at the other end is life and joy forever more.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Words without Knowledge
Job 38:2 “Who is this that darkens counsel By words without knowledge?” Words without knowledge could also describe many modern know-it-alls. What do we humans really know of the universe? Politicians, biologists, economists, sometimes even church leaders espouse arrogant, puffed-up theories as fact, when we really know so little.
Job 38:3 The Lord speaks to us through Job, “Now gird up your loins like a man, And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!” Gird up your loins? We might say, tighten your belt, get ready! Dare WE enter a debate with God? We are seriously outgunned.
Earth
Job 38:4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding”? The earth’s continental crust is 5-25 miles (8-40 kilometers) thick, and the oceanic crust is 3-5 miles (5-8 kilometers) thick. The earth’s crust floats on a mantle of molten rock.
Job 38:5 “Who set its measurements? Since you know. Or who stretched the line on it?” Our planet is just the right distance from the sun for life to exist. It is just the right mass to retain an atmosphere with the perfect percentage of oxygen to sustain life.
Job 38:6-7 “On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone When the morning stars sang together And all the sons of God shouted for joy?” Job understood God, “hangs the earth on nothing” (Job 26:7). It orbits one of 200-400 billion stars in our Galaxy.
Sea
Job 38:8 “Or who enclosed the sea with doors When, bursting forth, it went out from the womb”? 71% of earth’s surface is ocean. The world’s highest mountain is Mauna Kea, Hawaii, over 33,000 feet (10,000 m) above the ocean floor, a mile higher than Mt Everest.
Job 38:9-10 “When I made a cloud its garment And thick darkness its swaddling band, And I placed boundaries on it And set a bolt and doors.” Oceans control the weather, as they bring rain and wind, and moderate the world’s temperature. Oceans are a major source of food.
Morning
Job 38:12- “Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, And caused the dawn to know its place…”? God created earth to rotate, giving us day and night, seasons and beneficial wind patterns. The speed of rotation gives temperature differences between day and night that make life possible.
Job 38:16- “Have you entered into the springs of the sea Or walked in the recesses of the deep…” The average ocean depth is over 12,000 feet (3,700 m). The deepest point is over 36,000 feet (11,000 m) in the Mariana Trench in the Pacific.
Stars
Job 38:31- “Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades, Or loose the cords of Orion…” Pleiades (Greek: plee-AH-daiss), the seven sisters, found on a Subaru. The Pleiades are a star cluster bound together in Taurus, and are relatively close to earth. Which of us chained these stars together?
Next time we see the sunrise, let’s remember who commands the morning. Next time we follow Orion’s belt to the Pleiades, remember who binds that star cluster together. When God sometimes allows bad things to happen, remember that the One who made earth, sea and stars knows what He’s doing. Life on earth involves suffering and death, but God’s plan is resurrection and salvation. The path to life eternal and salvation from sin sometimes takes us through the valley of the shadow of death. Let’s never forget that God is there too with us every step of the way, and at the other end is life and joy forever more.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Rest from our Burdens
Where do we find true rest in a world gone crazy? Like Israel do we find true rest in a Sabbath or a land? Is there a land anywhere in this world where we can find true rest from all our problems and worries? Let’s find out what our true rest is, by looking at Hebrews 4.
Is His Rest the Sabbath
Hebrews 3:8, 11 “Do not harden your hearts as when they provoked Me, As in the day of trial in the wilderness… As I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’” They rested each Sabbath, but did not enter rest? Is His rest the promised land?
Hebrews 3:18-19 “And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.” Disobedience is here directly linked to unbelief. Is entry into His rest by faith?
Is His Rest the Land
Hebrews 4:1 “Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it.” Keeping Sabbath and entering the land did not give rest. They only picture His real rest. What is it?
Hebrews 4:6 “Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience” They kept Sabbath. So, the Sabbath is not the rest. There is something deeper. Why did they not enter His rest? Disobedience.
Another Day
Hebrews 4:7 “He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, “Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.” Sabbath and land did NOT give Israel His rest. It is available today, any weekday.
Hebrews 4:8-9 “For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.” Joshua led Israel into the land but not to rest, there remains another rest and another Joshua, (Yeshua) Jesus.
Hebrews 4:10 “For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.” Salvation’s gift is not of works (Ephesians 2:8-9). “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
Neither Moses nor Joshua gave Israel rest. Sabbath and promised land were only a foretaste of the true rest God promises. Otherwise in Psalm 95 David would not have said that today, if we would hear His voice, we can enter the rest that neither Sabbath-keeping, nor Promised-Land-inheriting Israel entered.
Enter that Rest
Hebrews 4:11 “Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.” A greater rest than mere cessation of labor is intended, a rest from sin. We enter that rest because Jesus has already accomplished the work.
Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” God sees our sin weariness.
The written, spoken and personal Word of God is alive and powerful. The Word of God cuts right through all pretense to perform spiritual exploratory surgery, discovering our innermost thoughts and intentions. “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
Hebrews 4:13 “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” Nothing is hidden and nothing is secret with God (Luke 8:17). God knows our thoughts (Psalm 139:2).
Hebrews 4:14 “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” Jesus, our high priest, passed through the heavens, to enter heaven’s Holy of Holies. Hold fast; don’t fall away from this truth.
Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” Jesus was not a cold and aloof high priest. He fellowshipped and suffered with sinners, but without sin.
Hebrews 4:16 “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” This is His rest, not a day or a land in this world, but rest in His mercy and grace.
Conclusion
“She [Mary] will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) One way to think of salvation is as a rest from all our mistakes and the consequences of our wrongdoings. Jesus said, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28-30) Let us come!
Hebrews 4; Matthew 11:28-30; Luke 8:17; Psalm 139:2; Matthew 1:21
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Is His Rest the Sabbath
Hebrews 3:8, 11 “Do not harden your hearts as when they provoked Me, As in the day of trial in the wilderness… As I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’” They rested each Sabbath, but did not enter rest? Is His rest the promised land?
Hebrews 3:18-19 “And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.” Disobedience is here directly linked to unbelief. Is entry into His rest by faith?
Is His Rest the Land
Hebrews 4:1 “Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it.” Keeping Sabbath and entering the land did not give rest. They only picture His real rest. What is it?
Hebrews 4:6 “Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience” They kept Sabbath. So, the Sabbath is not the rest. There is something deeper. Why did they not enter His rest? Disobedience.
Another Day
Hebrews 4:7 “He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, “Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.” Sabbath and land did NOT give Israel His rest. It is available today, any weekday.
Hebrews 4:8-9 “For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.” Joshua led Israel into the land but not to rest, there remains another rest and another Joshua, (Yeshua) Jesus.
Hebrews 4:10 “For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.” Salvation’s gift is not of works (Ephesians 2:8-9). “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
Neither Moses nor Joshua gave Israel rest. Sabbath and promised land were only a foretaste of the true rest God promises. Otherwise in Psalm 95 David would not have said that today, if we would hear His voice, we can enter the rest that neither Sabbath-keeping, nor Promised-Land-inheriting Israel entered.
Enter that Rest
Hebrews 4:11 “Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.” A greater rest than mere cessation of labor is intended, a rest from sin. We enter that rest because Jesus has already accomplished the work.
Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” God sees our sin weariness.
The written, spoken and personal Word of God is alive and powerful. The Word of God cuts right through all pretense to perform spiritual exploratory surgery, discovering our innermost thoughts and intentions. “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
Hebrews 4:13 “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” Nothing is hidden and nothing is secret with God (Luke 8:17). God knows our thoughts (Psalm 139:2).
Hebrews 4:14 “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” Jesus, our high priest, passed through the heavens, to enter heaven’s Holy of Holies. Hold fast; don’t fall away from this truth.
Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” Jesus was not a cold and aloof high priest. He fellowshipped and suffered with sinners, but without sin.
Hebrews 4:16 “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” This is His rest, not a day or a land in this world, but rest in His mercy and grace.
Conclusion
“She [Mary] will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) One way to think of salvation is as a rest from all our mistakes and the consequences of our wrongdoings. Jesus said, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28-30) Let us come!
Hebrews 4; Matthew 11:28-30; Luke 8:17; Psalm 139:2; Matthew 1:21
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Communion Confusion
Is Communion a sacrament, an ordinance, or a memorial? Are bread and wine mere symbols or is there something deeper? Let’s look at what Jesus said in Luke 22:14-27.
Passover
Luke 22:14 “When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him.” The appointed hour that the Passover was to be killed was culturally from three to six p-m (Exodus 12:6), and eaten shortly thereafter. Jesus reclined rather than stand (Exodus 12:11).
Luke 22:15 “And He said to them, ‘I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer’” The letter-of-the-law time of Passover was actually 24 hours later. It is clear that Jesus was not legalistic. Christians understood this freedom and later changed the time of Easter.
Until
Luke 22:16 “for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Passover is not fulfilled by looking back to the Exodus but forward from the cross. “I will… dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20)
Luke 22:17 “And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, ‘Take this and share it among yourselves’” Jesus gave thanks (eucharisteo) for wine, not grape-juice, 6 months after the grape harvest, with neither refrigeration nor pasteurization. Wine is not forbidden, only drunkenness (Ephesians 5:18).
Luke 22:18 “for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.” Culturally, this meant fruit of the GRAPE-vine. These verses show that Jesus will eat lamb and drink wine again when God’s Kingdom comes.
This Is
Luke 22:19 “And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This IS My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’” How IS the Bread Jesus’ Body? Eastern Christians rightly call this a “mystery.”
The new covenant, is also the New Testament, because a testament involves the death of the testator. In this case, the death of Jesus. Communion is a sacrament[1] (“this IS” not “this symbolizes”, but also not “this transubstantiates”), an ordinance (“do this”), and also a remembrance (“in remembrance of me”.
[1] The most ancient Christian definition of sacrament is a mystery now revealed to the Church (Mark 4:11, Colossians 1:26, Colossians 2:2, 1 Timothy 3:16). It is also a visible expression of an invisible grace. Ancient Christians believed that all of life was a sacrament and thus it could not be limited in number.
Luke 22:20 “And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you IS the new covenant in My blood.’” The early church knew this was more than mere symbol because of Jesus’ teaching in John 6:53–55:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink.”
Betrayed
Luke 22:21-22 “But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table. For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!” Another of over 300 prophecies fulfilled (Psalm 41:9).
Luke 22:23 “And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this thing.” What innocence of character must they have had, to not even suspect Judas? They probably already deeply understood that none of them was of perfect character.
Greatest
Luke 22:24 “And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest.” No shocks here; we still witness this between Christians from different nations, regions, and denominations. Ancient writers often ignored chronology, focusing on lesson structure, an appropriate communion lesson!
Luke 22:25 “And He said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called Benefactors.’” A fault of Church history, lording it over people’s faith, forcing meat down the throats of those only ready for milk, bossy brutality.
One Who Serves
Luke 22:26 “But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.” Humility is not fake, but a simple realization that a leader’s job is not to boss, but to serve.
Luke 22:27 “For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.” Arrogance is NOT godly leadership. God have mercy on our failures.
Conclusion
As we partake of the bread and wine, we partake of a mystery, eating and drinking eternal life, Christ who IS the Bread from heaven, we obey His ordinance to eat and drink, and we remember the sacrifice of one who came to serve all humanity.
Luke 22:14-27; Exodus 12:6; Exodus 12:11; Revelation 3:20; Ephesians 5:18; John 6:53–55; Psalm 41:9; Mystery Mark 4:11; Colossians 1:26; Colossians 2:2; 1 Timothy 3:16
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Passover
Luke 22:14 “When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him.” The appointed hour that the Passover was to be killed was culturally from three to six p-m (Exodus 12:6), and eaten shortly thereafter. Jesus reclined rather than stand (Exodus 12:11).
Luke 22:15 “And He said to them, ‘I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer’” The letter-of-the-law time of Passover was actually 24 hours later. It is clear that Jesus was not legalistic. Christians understood this freedom and later changed the time of Easter.
Until
Luke 22:16 “for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Passover is not fulfilled by looking back to the Exodus but forward from the cross. “I will… dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20)
Luke 22:17 “And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, ‘Take this and share it among yourselves’” Jesus gave thanks (eucharisteo) for wine, not grape-juice, 6 months after the grape harvest, with neither refrigeration nor pasteurization. Wine is not forbidden, only drunkenness (Ephesians 5:18).
Luke 22:18 “for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.” Culturally, this meant fruit of the GRAPE-vine. These verses show that Jesus will eat lamb and drink wine again when God’s Kingdom comes.
This Is
Luke 22:19 “And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This IS My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’” How IS the Bread Jesus’ Body? Eastern Christians rightly call this a “mystery.”
The new covenant, is also the New Testament, because a testament involves the death of the testator. In this case, the death of Jesus. Communion is a sacrament[1] (“this IS” not “this symbolizes”, but also not “this transubstantiates”), an ordinance (“do this”), and also a remembrance (“in remembrance of me”.
[1] The most ancient Christian definition of sacrament is a mystery now revealed to the Church (Mark 4:11, Colossians 1:26, Colossians 2:2, 1 Timothy 3:16). It is also a visible expression of an invisible grace. Ancient Christians believed that all of life was a sacrament and thus it could not be limited in number.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink.”
Betrayed
Luke 22:21-22 “But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table. For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!” Another of over 300 prophecies fulfilled (Psalm 41:9).
Luke 22:23 “And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this thing.” What innocence of character must they have had, to not even suspect Judas? They probably already deeply understood that none of them was of perfect character.
Greatest
Luke 22:24 “And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest.” No shocks here; we still witness this between Christians from different nations, regions, and denominations. Ancient writers often ignored chronology, focusing on lesson structure, an appropriate communion lesson!
Luke 22:25 “And He said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called Benefactors.’” A fault of Church history, lording it over people’s faith, forcing meat down the throats of those only ready for milk, bossy brutality.
One Who Serves
Luke 22:26 “But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.” Humility is not fake, but a simple realization that a leader’s job is not to boss, but to serve.
Luke 22:27 “For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.” Arrogance is NOT godly leadership. God have mercy on our failures.
Conclusion
As we partake of the bread and wine, we partake of a mystery, eating and drinking eternal life, Christ who IS the Bread from heaven, we obey His ordinance to eat and drink, and we remember the sacrifice of one who came to serve all humanity.
Luke 22:14-27; Exodus 12:6; Exodus 12:11; Revelation 3:20; Ephesians 5:18; John 6:53–55; Psalm 41:9; Mystery Mark 4:11; Colossians 1:26; Colossians 2:2; 1 Timothy 3:16
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
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