(1) A Man Betrayed by His Numerous Disciples
A great multitude pressed up to the Lord, everyone swearing to be His Disciple. And the time came for our Father’s mighty hand to winnow them, to separate the wheat from the chaff. Now Jesus began His winnowing with His word, gathering His wheat into the granary and separating it from the chaff (Matt. 3:12)
He Began by saying [most assuredly, I say to you… I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which is come down from heaven that one may eat of it, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world] (John 6:47-51}. The chaff that was blown away by this first winnowing were the Jews. [The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, ‘How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?’] And they departed (John6:52).
But He did not cease here and continued His winnowing all the more forcibly on those who remained.
Jesus said to them, [Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in Him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven – not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever] (John 6:58). And [from that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.](John 6: 66).
And so, that great multitude professing to be His disciples all rejected Him and departed from Him; and the wheat that remained was shabby twelve. These twelve disciples were also sitting restlessly, disputing among themselves,[This is hard saying] (John 6:60).
And Jesus asked them a sad question, [Do you also want to go away?](John6:67). And Simon Peter answered Him, [Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God](John 6:68,69).
But in the eyes of the Holy Son was seen more chaff to be blown away among the shabby twelve. [Jesus answered them, ‘Did I not choose you, the twelve and one of you a devil?’ He spoke of Judas Iscariot, t5he son of Simon] (Jon 6:70,71).
With a yearning eat, Jesus saw those who had once been His disciples departing from Him who is the Life and the light of men. The consciousness that His compassion was unappreciated, His love unrecognized, His mercy slighted, His salvation rejected, filled Him with inexpressible sorrow, It was such hardships as these that made Him a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief. Without attempting to hinder those who were leaving Him, Jesus turned to the twelve and said, “Will you also go away?” This was the result of His work for which He had labored day and night, not sparing His energy, toil, sacrifice and service. Therefore, the Bible speaks of Him, [I have labored in vain I have spent My strength for nothing and in vain](Isa.49:4)/
Oh! Who can comfort our Lord’s exceedingly deep sorrow? [No one knows the Son except the Father [(Matt.11:27).
When Jesus was winnowing the multitude, He told them to eat His flesh and drink His blood. By this He meant that His blood was his sin-atoning blood, and the Holy Spirit gushing out from Him unceasingly as [the river of living water] (John 7:38, 39). His flesh was the bread of the word that proceeded out of His mouth which was bread of life to human souls (Matt.4:4). This interpretation is sure and right, for He Himself made it plain in the sixth chapter of John.
[When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples murmured about this, He said to them, ’Does this offend you?] I will tell you the real meaning. [It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh {My flesh and blood) profits nothing. The words that I speak to you (the living waters of the holy Spirit that is My blood and the bread of My word that is my flesh, they are spirit, and they are life](John 6:61,63). [But there are some of you who do not believe] (John 6:64).
(2) A man of Loneliness Within His Family Circle
Once He was teaching a great number of people in a house, [then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him] (Mark 3:31), [for they said,’ He is out of mind… He has an unclean spirit’](Mark 3:21,30). Therefore, [when His own people (family) heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him](Mark 3:21).
What a dismaying scene it was! How could they go so far In failing to understand Him? Had they not lived with Him for thirty years under one roof and eaten at one table together? What is more, had Mary His mother not received an angel’s direct message and vision several times when she had conceived Him? Then how is it that, listening to the voice of the Jews and scribes who had been stirred by Satan the enemy, they say, [He is out of His mind … and … has Beelzebub (devil)(Mark 3:2, 22), making such a commotion and sending for Him in order to confine Him at home for recovery? Who in this world can understand our Lord’s soul-anguish and loneliness? What a heart-aching, saddening fact it is that His own family, who were to surround Him with the warmest comfort, encouragement, and profound understanding, did not understand Him in the least but rather disturbed His work!
[And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, Look ‘Your mother and Your bothers are outside seeking You’](Mark 3:32). And He replied, [Who is My mother, or My brothers? And He looked around at the circle of those who sat about Him, and said, ‘Here are My mother and My brothers! Whoever does the will of God are My brother and My sister and mother.] “My mother and brothers who are calling Me now outside without knowing the will of God, saying , ‘He is out of His mind, He has Beelzebub,’ may perhaps be called My mother and brothers physically, but according to heaven’s standards of a family relationship, they are not My mother and brothers” (Mark 3:33-35)
Sorrowed by an inconsiderate lack of understanding at home, He often sought comfort elsewhere. There was a home He was frequently pleased to visit, the home of Lazaruz, Mary and Martha. He found peace at heart in the atmosphere of confidence and love in their home. However there was no one on earth who knew and understood His sacred mission and the weighty burden He was to carry for the human race. His only true comfort was in pouring out His heart before the heavenly Father in communion with Him.
And so My wish is that all my brothers and sisters who are following our Lord today, will not be discouraged and displeased because of family, friends or fellow believers who do not understand us, but press forward until we get to heaven, remembering Him and keeping our eyes only upon our Lord.
(3) A Man Rejected By the Religious World
[When morning came, all the chef priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death. And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor](Matt. 27:1, 2).
The religious leaders who had been teaching the Scriptures to the people, who should have rejoiced most at the coming of the Savior (Messiah) and most enthusiastically welcomed and received Him, paradoxically did not receive Him but hated and rejected Him most fiercely. They were the first to be stirred up hating Him and finally putting Him to death. In reality, theirs was a religion of formalism and hypocrisy. What is more, since ancient days, these blind religious leaders who go up and down from the pulpit like theatrical actors constitute the miserable and deplorable world of religion even today.
What a great, painstaking effort Jesus put forth two thousand years ago to arouse them and call them back! But having been persistently rejected by them, He left for Golgotha wailing aloud, [O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! (Matt. 23:37).
This Jesus who wept and lamented over Jerusalem two thousand years ago is now weeping and wailing over the earth today. He draws near the earth and weeps over it, saying, [If you had known, even you, especially in this (your) day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes}(Luke 19:41, 42).
[He (or a church) who has an ear, let him hear] Jesus weeping over the earth (Rev. 2:11)!
[Most assuredly, I say to you, [the churches that] hear the voice of the Son of God (and repent) will live] at the day of the world’s destruction (John 5:25).
Jesus, the Savior of man sent from heaven has been betrayed and rejected by the religious world and its leaders both yesterday and today. That is why He cannot have close access to His beloved children but is always wandering around them weeping and wailing. Ah! We need religious leaders and a world who will receive Jesus, today! This earth needs them!
(4) Our Jesus Betrayed By Judas His Disciple
Our Lord had not called nor chosen Judas, but He earnestly endeavored to turn him back and lead him to repentance especially so because he was more attached to riches than were the other disciples. And so, He entrusted him with the money bag, giving him an opportunity to help the poor and needy, so that his selfishness could be removed, cultivating a spirit of charity and sympathy. But ignoring his Teacher’s earnest wish toward him, he helped himself to what was put into the money bag. He was declared before God as [a thief, and had the money box; he used to take what was put into it](John 12:6).
He once loved the Great Teacher and felt a desire to have his harsh character and life changed; however, he did not cooperate with his Teacher in His labor to mold his character by surrendering himself to Him. On the contrary, he began to walk the path of a straggler, cherishing worldly ambitions of fame, position, the love of money, and nurturing a spirit of criticism and accusation toward others. Always comparing himself with the other disciples, he flattered himself that the church would often be brought to perplexity and embarrassment, and the work of God meets great difficulty were it not for him. In this way, while other disciples were striving to empty their hearts for the transformation of character, Judas was providing a good, advantageous ground for the enemy by always exalting himself. Even when he returned after having made a pledge to sell his holy Teacher for thirty coins of silver, the price of a slave, Jesus persistently and earnestly endeavored to the end to turn to repentance. As He was washing Judas’ feet yearningly, the obstinate heart of Judas moved violently like the waves of the rolling sea. For an instant, by the influence of the Holy Spirit, he finally lost his last golden opportunity.
And a few minutes later, he walked out on the feet that his Teacher had just lovingly washed, to accomplish his purpose of betraying his Teacher. He acted as an agent and guide to lead wicked men carrying weapons, cudgels and clubs to capture Jesus. And in front of His beloved disciple, Jesus was bound and led away. This was the treatment that our Lord received from Judas until the end.
(5) Our Jesus Betrayed by Peter His Disciple
[But Peter denied it before them all, saying, ‘I do not know what you are saying’](Matt. 26:70).
Had not Jesus poured upon Peter the greatest love and affection, treating him as the greatest disciple? And now he is denying his Teacher before all people, saying, “I do not even know what it means when you say I am one of His disciples.” How do you think our Lord felt in His heart upon hearing these words from His beloved disciples?
Again, Peter’s lips were spoken more positive words of betrayal, [But again he denied with an oath, ‘I do not know the Man’](Matt. 26: 72).
Oh! Peter did you not, just a few days ago, confess to Him with your own lips that He was the Christ, the Son of the living God, the Second Person of the triune God in heaven (Matt. 16:16). And now, how is it that you degrade “the Christ” to “a Man” and deny Him with an oath saying, “I do not know the Man? What made you so stingy as to refuse giving Him the proper treatment even as a human Teacher? And what could break the intimate relationship between you and your Teacher? Who could make you so lightly forsake your teacher’s love that has been thicker than the blood and stronger than the death for you? Is this all that you can render to your
Teacher, your God who has forsaken heaven and come down to find you?
After a little while, a louder and more blunt answer came out from Peter’s mouth. [Then he began to curse and swear saying, ‘I do not know the Man!’](Matt. 26:74).
Oh how can it be! Was it not you, Simon Peter, who swore with such big words just a while ago, saying, [Even if all are made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble] (Matt.26:33). Did the Lord not choose you to have the privilege of seeing the Father’s glory on the Mount of Transfiguration with the holy men, Moses and Elijah? Did He not put special confidence in you and ask you to pray for Him in the Garden of Gethsemane? And this is your recompense for His love and grace? Oh you wretched disciple! Wretched Peter!
This is all that our Lord Jesus received from the world and from His disciples until His last hour.
(6) Our Jesus Betrayed by the Whole World
[He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him, He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.] [They all said to Him, ‘Let Him be crucified’] (John 1: 10, 11; Matt. 27: 22, 23).
[And all the people answered and said, ‘Hs blood be on us, and on our children’ … (And so Jesus) was delivered to be crucified] (Matt. 27:25, 26).
This was the treatment that Jesus received from the world, He who had loved the world so much, abandoning heaven’s ivory palace to come down and save it … He [loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end,] and praying for them who crucified Him, He said, [Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.] [And having said this, He breathed His last] (John13:1, Luke 23:34, 46).
This was His last hour upon the earth, and this was the treatment He received from a world that did not love Him though He loved them so completely to the end.
When He came as a baby in order to save the world, He had to borrow a stall, for the world did not provide Him a room. And soon after, He became a fugitive escaping the sword of the wicked King Herod. In His childhood, growing up in an unfortunate family, He did not have one carefree day of rest. He was always busy making money in order to pay the living expenses of His family even while receiving all kinds of harsh scornful treatment and hatred from His step-brothers. But He never spoke a word of complaint about His step-brothers, nor did He ever murmur a word about His toilsome daily tasks. As a child, Jesus lived a life of loneliness, receiving constant misunderstanding and contempt from His family. After He began His ministry, He had to go through the constant pain of rejection and betrayal even by his professed disciples. In the end, He was ostracized on a cross. Indeed His life was a succession of insult and contempt, loneliness, sorrow, and persecution. The world indeed had no place for Him as He said [Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no-where to lay His head] (Matt. 8:20).
We have so far learned the life of Jesus in six phases, paths that we, His disciples of today, must follow.
Praise the Lord! May peace and joy be with all His disciples who clearly know their Lord’s way and follow Him!
Praise the Lord!
No comments:
Post a Comment