14.02 Encouragement And Final Passover

14.02.10 THE BETRAYER IS IDENTIFIED

Bill Heinrich  -  Dec 21, 2015  -  Comments Off on 14.02.10 THE BETRAYER IS IDENTIFIED

14.02.10 Mt. 26:22-24; Jn. 13:22-27a; Mt. 26:25 (See also Mk. 14:19-21; Lk. 22:22) The Upper Room

 

THE BETRAYER IS IDENTIFIED 

 

Mt. 22 Deeply distressed, each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?”

 

23 He replied, “The one who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl — he will betray Me.  

 

24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 

 

Jn. 22 The disciples started looking at one another — uncertain which one He was speaking about. 23 One of His disciples, the one Jesus loved, was reclining close beside Jesus. 24 Simon Peter motioned to him to find out who it was He was talking about. 25 So he leaned back against Jesus and asked Him, “Lord, who is it?”

 

26 Jesus replied, “He’s the one I give the piece of bread to after I have dipped it.” When He had dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son. 27a After Judas ate the piece of bread, Satan entered him.

 

Mt. 25 Then Judas, His betrayer, replied, “Surely not I, Rabbi?”

 

Amazingly, again and again Jesus demonstrated His love and loyalty to Judas; again and again Jesus tried to encourage him from his planned action of betrayal – but as with everyone else, Jesus permitted him to exercise his free will.

 

“As it is written about Him.” Where? What was written?  If the disciples had not understood what Jesus meant, they would have asked for a clarification. It may have been a reference to Isaiah 53.  This is another comment about a general theme rather than a specific quotation.[1]

                                                                                                                                    

“When He had dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son.”  This phrase clearly indicates that Judas sat beside Jesus in a seat of honor, close enough for Jesus to place a piece of bread in a bowl and give it to him.  Although Jesus knew that it was Judas who was going to betray Him, He offered him a seat of honor, giving him every opportunity to repent and not commit his intended crime. The offer was rejected. The highest honor was rewarded with the greatest treason. So Jesus then told him to be quick at his task, and only Judas understood what that meant.

 

“Satan entered him.”  Until this time, Jesus accepted Judas, even though He knew His beloved disciple was a thief and was committed to his goal. But this was a turning point and Jesus no longer accepted him.  Even though he would imply (next statement) that he would not betray the Master, his decision was final. God’s righteousness demands that believers, in order to maintain purity, break fellowship with anyone under satanic possession.

 

Satan entered Judas because the former disciple had an evil conspiracy in his heart and chose not to repent.  The act of Satan entering his soul was simply the fulfillment of Judas’ desire. He apparently served Satan for some time and desired to live for him.  It could be said that Judas hardened his own heart in a manner similar to Pharaoh, which was followed by God hardening both hearts, for this was their desire (cf. Ex 8:15).

 

In a related matter, the New Testament church is instructed to maintain purity and holiness, and those who live a sinful lifestyle are to be removed from the fellowship (cf 1 Cor. 15:33; Jam. 2:1-4).  Acceptance of those who remain active in non-biblical lifestyles has its limits.

 

“Surely not I, Rabbi?”  Judas realized that Jesus was aware of his intentions, yet he chose not to repent.  It has been said, at times, that he was a puppet of a sovereign God predestined for wrath and not mercy because he was needed to bring Jesus to the cross. Not so! Judas made his own decisions.  However, Jesus, in His foreknowledge of all humanity, knew what decisions Judas would make in the same manner that Jesus knows what decisions we will all make tomorrow. Judas chose to become a disciple of Satan and Jesus was aware of that.  He did not have to choose an eternal Hell and even been given had the opportunity to repent but chose not to.  This account demonstrates the total sovereignty of God, who is in control of the whole world, while mankind has total freewill and responsibility of his eternity.  Only God could make such an irony function perfectly in the life of every person.

 

“You have said it,” He told him. Until now Caiaphas and his conspirators believed Jesus was unaware of their plans. However, when the high priest became aware that Jesus identified Judas as the betrayer, he was forced to accelerate plans for the trials and possible execution.  Caiaphas simply could not imagine that Jesus would be willing to die. Rather, the religious leaders assumed that Jesus and the disciples would try to escape, possibly fight, or use supernatural miraculous powers to escape death and then overthrow the temple system. Therefore, the trials and death sentence had to be immediate, even if it fell on Passover. In legal terms, “time was of the essence.”

[1]. A partial list of other problematic passages is listed in Appendix 13.

 



14.02.11 JESUS SENDS JUDAS OUT

Bill Heinrich  -  Dec 21, 2015  -  Comments Off on 14.02.11 JESUS SENDS JUDAS OUT

14.02.11 Jn. 13:27b-30

 

JESUS SENDS JUDAS OUT

 

27b Therefore Jesus told him, “What you’re doing, do quickly.”

28 None of those reclining at the table knew why He told him this. 29 Since Judas kept the moneybag, some thought that Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 After receiving the piece of bread, he went out immediately. And it was night.

At this point it is evident that the disciples had no idea of what Judas was about to do. He must have been the ideal actor because, if they knew – then they would probably have killed him immediately.  Peter and Simon, the former Zealot, would probably have been the first to pounce on him.

  

“Since Judas kept the moneybag.”  Judas was the financial manager of the group and evidently, he was less than honest since John labeled him as a thief (Jn. 12:6).  Most certainly he looked toward the day when, in his thinking, Jesus would establish an earthly kingdom and He would be the kingdom treasurer.  Judas went out to betray Jesus to the Sadducees and, most likely never returned to the Upper Room. He knew the habits of Jesus and therefore, expected Jesus and the disciples to be going to Bethany for the night.  He caught up with them in the olive grove of Gethsemane.



14.02.12 JESUS COMMANDS LOVE FOR THE BROTHERHOOD

Bill Heinrich  -  Dec 21, 2015  -  Comments Off on 14.02.12 JESUS COMMANDS LOVE FOR THE BROTHERHOOD

14.02.12 Jn. 13:31-35

 

JESUS COMMANDS LOVE FOR THE BROTHERHOOD 

 

31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. 32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself and will glorify Him at once.

33 “Children, I am with you a little while longer. You will look for Me, and just as I told the Jews, ‘Where I am going you cannot come,’ so now I tell you.

34 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

 

“Now the Son of Man is glorified.”  The glorification of Jesus was His death on the cross and resurrection.  The reason Jesus said “Now the Son of Man is glorified,” is that everything was now a “done deal,” meaning, that everything was set in motion and there was no turning back. The last requirement was fulfilled.

 

 

14.02.12.Q1 Was the new commandment of John 13:34 really new if it was written in Leviticus 19:18?

 

At issue is the statement by Jesus, who said, “I give you a new command.”  There are two words in the Greek language that mean new, and they have slightly different meanings.  The Greek word kainos (2537) means new in terms of a revival of something that is already in existence. Something which is new in its own way.[1]   The other Greek word is neos (3501) and it means new in terms of it having never existed previously; brand new.[2]

 

In this case, Jesus used the word kainos, meaning that He placed a new awareness on Leviticus 19:18. It reads, “Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself, I am Yahweh (God).”[3] In essence, people should be able to identify Christians by the love they have for others.  This type of “God-love” is not necessarily emotional, but seeks the highest and best good for others. It is encouragement.  It will give a caring rebuke when needed. It is an honest concern for the welfare of a brother or sister, while it maintains discernment. This concept was not a “new” idea, but was a common teaching in Jewish history and appeared in some pre-Christian writings.[4]

 

Throughout the Second Temple Period, Jewish men wore “signs” that identified them – not for identity reasons, but as reminders of God. The phylactery worn on the forehead and left arm were two of those signs.[5] Observance of the Sabbath and kosher foods also identified any person as being an observant Jew.[6]  Jesus now said there was to be a sign of love in the fellowship and the love of God flowing in and through His faithful followers that would identify them as Christians.

 

The eleven disciples now confronted Him with several questions.  They wanted to know where He was going and why they couldn’t go with Him. These questions would have been quite normal, if the future would have been totally within the physical realm.  However, Jesus was about to transcend into the spiritual world; He would conquer death and return for a brief time.  No matter how well this would have been explained, such a discussion would lead only to more questions and possibly, confusion.  Nevertheless, Jesus answered them, knowing that understanding would elude them.  But after the resurrection they would fully comprehend His dynamic work.

[1]. Haarbeck, Link, and Brown, “New.” 2:670; Lang, Know the Words of Jesus. 52.

 

[2]. Haarbeck, Link, and Brown, “New.” 2:674.

 

[3]. See also Galatians 5:14.

 

[4]. Two examples are found within three books of The Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs. They are The Testament of Dan 5:3; The Testament of Zebulon 5:1; and The Testament of Issachar 7:6.

 

[5]. Thompson, “Phylactery.” 4:586-87.

 

[6]. Hellenized Jews did not always observe kosher dietary laws.

 



14.02.13 PETER MAKES A REQUEST

Bill Heinrich  -  Dec 21, 2015  -  Comments Off on 14.02.13 PETER MAKES A REQUEST

 14.02.13 Jn. 13:36-38; Lk. 22:31-34

 

PETER MAKES A REQUEST  

 

Jn. 36 “Lord,” Simon Peter said to Him, “where are You going?”

 

Jesus answered, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow later.”

 

37 “Lord,” Peter asked, “why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You!”

 

38 Jesus replied, “Will you lay down your life for Me? I assure you: A rooster will not crow until you have denied Me three times.

 

Lk. 31 “Simon, Simon, look out! Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

 

33 “Lord,” he told Him, “I’m ready to go with You both to prison and to death!”

 

34 “I tell you, Peter,” He said, “the rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you know Me!”

 

The disciples finally realized a dramatic change was about to take place; one that would be radically different from what they had been anticipating.  Jesus told them He was going to leave, and that He was going to die. According to their thinking, this was not what a Messiah would do!  They were confused and fearful with thoughts of being deserted, and simply did not understand what Jesus was telling them. Yet their worst nightmares are about to come to pass.  The declaration by Peter that he would die for Jesus was precisely opposite of what was about to happen.  However, Jesus had a deeper knowledge of Peter than Peter had of himself. From when Peter denied Jesus three times until Jesus forgave him three times, there was not one iota of self-sufficiency in him.  There was no greater emphatic way of denying or affirming anything other than to repeat it three times. Peter declared the ultimate denial and Jesus declared the ultimate forgiveness. Peter realized all of his devotion was human devotion. Only later did he receive the Holy Spirit empowered devotion.

14.02.13a

 



14.02.14 JESUS TO PREPARE A HEAVENLY PLACE[1]

Bill Heinrich  -  Dec 21, 2015  -  Comments Off on 14.02.14 JESUS TO PREPARE A HEAVENLY PLACE[1]

14.02.14 Jn. 14:1-4

 

JESUS TO PREPARE A HEAVENLY PLACE[1]

 

1 “Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also. 4 You know the way to where I am going.”

 

The phrase “to prepare a place for you” is wedding imagery that everyone in His audience understood. Verse 4 is the typical “stealing of the bride” when the bridegroom came with his friends to “capture” the love of his life and the entire group then went off to the wedding feast. But before that happened, a first century bridegroom would prepare a place adjacent to his father’s house or nearby where he and his bride would live side-by-side with or close to his father.[2] Visitors to the Middle East today will frequently see the house of an extended family, where parents live and several children have built additions to the home when they were married.  Likewise, Jesus will prepare “an addition,” or to use the biblical term, “a room,” or “an abode,” (Gk. mone, 3438) in heaven for each of His believers,[3]  which are more accurate descriptions than the term “mansions,” as used in some translations.[4]

[1].  The significance of the messianic banquet was very important to Jesus (Heb. Yeshua). The wedding imagery between Himself and His church as it was reflected in a first century Jewish wedding is discussed by Dr. John Fischer, a messianic scholar and rabbi at 09.03.04.V1 and Professor John Metzger in video 14.02.05.V2. See the following as well: Wedding garments needed at the wedding in Mt. 22:1-14 (13.03.07); discussion of the “best place” in Lk. 14:7-14 (12.02.05); the great messianic banquet in Lk. 14:15-24 (12.02.06); the wise and foolish virgins in Mt. 25:1-13 (14.01.07); only the father knew Mt. 24:36 (14.01.05).

 

[2]. Harrison, E. A Short Life of Christ. 180; Packer and Tenney, eds., Illustrated Manners. 434.

[3]. Lang, Know the Words of Jesus. 214; Vine, “Mansions.” Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary. 2:392.

 

[4]. Vine, “Abide, Abode.”Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary. 2:2, and “Mansion.”2:392.

 



14.02.15 THOMAS WANTS TO KNOW THE WAY

Bill Heinrich  -  Dec 21, 2015  -  Comments Off on 14.02.15 THOMAS WANTS TO KNOW THE WAY

14.02.15 Jn. 14:5-7

 

THOMAS WANTS TO KNOW THE WAY

 

5 “Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where You’re going. How can we know the way?”

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

7 “If you know Me, you will also know My Father. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”

 

Great men of the Hebrew Bible often spoke of the way by which men ought to live and the ways of God.[1]  Jesus used this illustration to declare that He is the only Way to be redeemed unto the Father. He is the only Resurrection that bridges the chasm between death and the new life. He is the only Truth (Ps. 86:11), that reveals to mankind the nature of his spiritual condition and how to deal with it and, thereby, only He offers eternal Life (Prov. 6:23) with the Father.[2]

“No one comes to the Father except through Me.”  The difficulty of this statement lies in its simplicity.  How could anyone misunderstand a statement of such immense clarity?  Did Jesus really mean all those who lived before Him would never see the Father?  Or how about those who live in distant lands, such as America, and would not hear the gospel until centuries later? Are they all lost through no fault of their own?  Could a heavenly Father of love, justice, and mercy condemn both of these groups into an eternal lake of fire?

These theological questions are beyond the scope of this work, yet the phrase cannot go untreated.  In essence, God expects people to respond to His calling and they will be responsible for the amount of knowledge they possess.  Therefore, one who has heard the Word of God and has rejected it will be accountable for his decision, as opposed to someone who has never heard the Word, but realizes that there must be a God and lives accordingly.  In this case, Jesus is speaking of those who had heard His message. Nowhere in Scripture is anyone condemned because they did not hear the Word of God, but they are condemned because they rejected it.[3]

[1]. For example, see Deut. 5:32-33; 31:29; Isa. 30:21; 35:8; Ps. 26:3; 27:11; 86:11; 119:30.

 

[2] For further study on the significance of the physical resurrection of Jesus, see Geisler, Norman L. “The Significance of Christ’s Physical Resurrection.” Bibliotheca Sacra. 146:582 (Apr-June, 1989). 148-70.

 

[3]. Kaiser, Davids, Bruce, and Brauch, Hard Sayings of the Bible. 500.



14.02.16 PHILIP WANTS TO SEE THE FATHER

Bill Heinrich  -  Dec 21, 2015  -  Comments Off on 14.02.16 PHILIP WANTS TO SEE THE FATHER

14.02.16 Jn. 14:8-14

 

PHILIP WANTS TO SEE THE FATHER

 

8 “Lord,” said Philip, “show us the Father, and that’s enough for us.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time without your knowing Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I speak to you I do not speak on My own. The Father who lives in Me does His works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves.

12 “I assure you:

The one who believes in Me                                                                                                 will also do the works that I do.                                                                                      and he will do even greater works than these,                                                     because I am going to the Father.

13 Whatever you ask in My name,                                                                                                      I will do it                                                                                                                                    so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14 If you ask Me anything in My name,                                                                                          I will do it.

 

“The one who believes in Me.”  Another rendering of this phrase is “Anyone who has faith in Me.”[1] The English words believes and faith are both translated from the Greek term pisteuo, meaning complete faith, trust, and belief.  None of these terms carry the modern idea of an “opinion” as is often associated with believe today, but rather, the Greek word affirms a solid and secure knowledge and trust. It is not the quantity of faith, but the quality of faith.  With that as a foundation, Jesus used these expressions to emphasize what could be done in His Name:

 

  1. A mountain could be tossed into the sea (Mk. 11:22-23)

 

  1. A mulberry tree could be tossed into the sea (Lk. 17:5-6). Unfortunately, faith is often quantified, meaning that if one had more faith as in Luke 17:5, then God would respond. Neither the disciples nor anyone else can acquire faith, as in “faith dollars,” and then spend those “faith dollars” for whatever is desired. The passage of John 14:8-14 assumes that one understands God’s will and desire and expects God to respond in His time and His way.

 

  1. Anyone will be able to perform greater miracles than what He did (Jn. 14:12)

 

“Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it.”   The context of this phrase is that the believer is completely engulfed in the will (desire) of the Father and, therefore, will ask only in accordance with the divine will of God.  Furthermore, the previous statement, “so that the Father may be glorified in the Son,”  is  the  central  focus  of  the  speech,  as  illustrated  on the central line when written in the style of Hebrew poetry. Obviously, not all of our prayers will be answered, but only those prayed in His Name.[2]

Jesus prayed this as He was facing the agony of the cross.  He was deeply and painfully concerned about a humanity choosing the road to Hell. Compare that request with the typical prayer, that modern Christians would ask for various comforts of life with little concern about the lost, the dying, the sick, the broken hearted, and the other casualties of life.  This is not to say that God has no interest in the welfare of His believers, but there clearly is a disproportionate concern for materialism over the real eternal issues of life.

 

Note carefully the two parts of His message.

 

  1. These are directed only to believers: those who have repented from their old lifestyle and are living a life directed by Scripture and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

 

  1. The context indicates the believer will ask according to the will and desire of the Father. This means that, like the phrase in our Lord’s Prayer, the believer’s request is identical to the desire of the heavenly Father.

 

This passage affirms that believers are to pray to God by the authority of Jesus Christ.  Once one has accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior and lives a lifestyle that emulates Jesus as our Lord of their life, that person’s life has come under His authority.  Therefore, prayers that end with the phrase, “in the name of Jesus,” will be meaningful and authentic; these reflect the believer’s faith and authority as one who is in covenant with Jesus. To pray “in the name of Jesus” is not a formula or magical phrase for any desire.

 

The Lord will respond according to His desires, which may or may not always be the same as the believers’ (see 2 Cor. 12:8 concerning Paul and his thorn). It is imperative that the believer is fully committed to Christ and Christ is in him (Jn. 15:1-8).  Only then will the petitioner pray a prayer in the will and desires of God, which He can answer.

[1]. New International Version (1984) translation.

 

[2]. Barclay, “John.” 2:165-66.



14.02.17 JESUS PROMISES THE HOLY SPIRIT

Bill Heinrich  -  Dec 21, 2015  -  Comments Off on 14.02.17 JESUS PROMISES THE HOLY SPIRIT

14.02.17 Jn. 14:15-21

 

JESUS PROMISES THE HOLY SPIRIT 

15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. 17 He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn’t see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.

19 “In a little while the world will see Me no longer, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live too. 20 In that day you will know that I am in My Father, you are in Me, and I am in you. 21 The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father. I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him.”

 

“If you love Me, you will keep My commands.”  This is a basic concept in ancient near eastern thinking.  To love or believe in Jesus and not do what He commands is an oxymoron – two opposites. If a person professes to truly believe in Him, he will do as Jesus desires, if he loves Christ he will obey Him.

 

“He will give you another Counselor.” At this point Jesus made His first reference to the coming of the Holy Spirit.[1] But the disciples did not understand until the Spirit came (Jn. 20:22) upon them. Yet it wasn’t until the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 that the Spirit came upon them “in power.”[2]

 

Various translations translate Counselor as Comforter or Helper (Gk. parakletos 3875 literally, called to one’s side), attributes by which Jesus obviously referred to the Holy Spirit.  The word parakletos,[3] is essentially untranslatable.  The closest understanding of it is Someone who is called in. However, this word is to be associated with the question “Why?” someone is called in.  Again, the English language has its limits because the word Comforter is generally associated with sorrow or mourning.  Rather, while the word includes that element, it is also associated with victory concerning challenges believers face, especially as the result of being faithful.[4] That is why Jesus said He would not leave us as orphans (Gk. orphanos 3737), meaning desolate (Jn. 14:18) or without a father (Jas. 1:27).[5]

 

“I will not leave you as orphans.”  The role of the father was extremely important in biblical times and, unfortunately, Western culture has lost its significance. The term father (Gk. pater 3962) is from a root word that signifies a nourisher, protector, and upholder.[6] Jesus desires to function as the loving father for all humanity, and He will not leave His children as orphans. The term orphans is from the Greek term orphanos (3737; Jas. 1:27) but is sometimes translated as desolate (Jn.14:18). A term used for one who had no genealogical record is agenealogetos (35), meaning orphan, as in Hebrews 7:3.[7]  The role of the father was so important, that a child whose father was dead was considered to be an orphan even if his mother was still alive (Job 24:9).[8] For that reason, Jesus said that He would not leave us as orphans – unprotected, forgotten, and desolate. As to a genealogical record, the names of all believers are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

[1]. cf Jn. 14:26; 15:26; 16:7-15.

 

[2]. When God created Adam, He gave him the “breath of life” which in Hebrew is ruach and in Greek pneuma. Both words mean both breath and spirit. Therefore, the Spirit of Acts 2 is often seen as giving life of a “second creation.”

 

[3]. Vine, “Comfort, Comforter, Comfortless.” Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary. 2:110; Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament. 2:243-44; Lang, Know the Words of Jesus. 135.

 

[4]. Barclay, “John.” 2:166-68;

 

[5]. Barclay, “John.” 2:168; Vine, “Fatherless.” Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary. 2:229.

 

 

[6]. Vine, “Father.” Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary. 2:227.

 

[7]. Vine, “Genealogy.” Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary. 2:262.

 

[8]. Ryken, Wilhoit, and Longman, eds., “Orphan.” Dictionary of Biblical Imagery. 615.

 



14.02.18 APOSTLE JUDAS QUESTIONS JESUS

Bill Heinrich  -  Dec 21, 2015  -  Comments Off on 14.02.18 APOSTLE JUDAS QUESTIONS JESUS

14.02.18 Jn. 14:22-24

 

APOSTLE JUDAS QUESTIONS JESUS

22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it You’re going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?”

23 Jesus answered, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 The one who doesn’t love Me will not keep My words. The word that you hear is not Mine but is from the Father who sent Me.

“Lord, how is it You’re going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?” The disciples had lived with Jesus for at least three and a half, possibly four and a half years.  They were with Him every day except for those brief times when He secluded Himself to pray. Still, they did not fully comprehend His mission nor would they until after the resurrection. This question reveals that they were still expecting Him to be the political-messiah who would come to the temple steps, reveal his identity, deliver them from Roman occupation, and re-establish the kingdom of David.  The concept of a Messiah who would deliver them from the bondage of sin was still not in their thinking.



14.02.19 JESUS PREDICTS HIS RETURN

Bill Heinrich  -  Dec 21, 2015  -  Comments Off on 14.02.19 JESUS PREDICTS HIS RETURN

14.02.19 Jn. 14:25-31

 

JESUS PREDICTS HIS RETURN   

25 “I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit — the Father will send Him in My name — will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.

27 “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful. 28 You have heard Me tell you, ‘I am going away and I am coming to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens so that when it does happen you may believe. 30 I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over Me.   31 On the contrary, I am going away so that the world may know that I love the Father. Just as the Father commanded Me, so I do.

“Get up; let’s leave this place.

 

The disciples, in effect, attended the best Bible college that ever existed. Yet there would be times when they did not have the appropriate answers when confronted with questions of faith. To this, Jesus said the Holy Spirit would teach them.

“But the Counselor … will teach you all things.” This passage has at times been taken to mean that those entering the ministry need not study. This is hardly the case.  Those who argue this point forget the length of time the disciples spent with Jesus.  Today, some may think they have no need for further training, yet the Apostle Paul was a scholar of Hebrew studies and told Timothy, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).  The phrase, “handling accurately the word of truth” is a Hebraic idiom for “study.”

The most significant feature of this passage is the promise of the Holy Spirit for the believer. Even though Jesus had given them the apocalyptic forecast of horrendous events that were to come, yet He said that He will be with each of His followers regardless of the hostility or situation that should arise. Through Him there is victory for every believer.

“Peace I leave with you.”  The Hebrew word shalom meaning peace may be one of the most difficult words to translate. It includes an understanding of wholeness, completeness, and soundness.[1] While it certainly contains all of the definitions of Western understanding, it also encompasses a sense of comfort and even salvation. It was and still is used as  a common greeting and farewell, but for first century Jews, it had messianic overtones because of the words of Isaiah.

For a child will be born for us,

a son will be given to us,

and the government will be on His shoulders.

He will be named

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

 

This sense of shalom peace was emphasized again when the Apostle Paul spoke of the peace that transcends all understanding – a shalom of God in Philippians 4:7.

 

14.02.19.Q1 Was Jesus equal or less than the Father in heaven (Jn. 14:28)?

 

The question is, of course, centered on this statement: “ “The Father is greater than I.”  This phrase reveals the fact that Jesus functioned in a subordinate role to the Father during His limited capacity as a human being.  It is difficult to understand this in light of the number of times He said He was equal to the Father (Jn.1:1, 18; 5:16-18; 10:30; 20:28).  This matter is compounded by the fact that Jesus clearly stated His dependence upon the Father (Jn. 4:34; 5:19-30; 8:29; 12:48-49­).  Since these two themes are presented a number of times by the same gospel writer, it can be safely assumed that John not only understood them, but by repetition he emphasized their importance.  The parallel themes are dependence and equality.

It should be noted that John 14:28 is not to be interpreted that Jesus was/is a lesser God.  Two thousand years of church history has not only rejected this concept, but the doctrine was at one time known as Arian heresy.  For Jesus to hold this “lesser God” position would contradict all other biblical concepts of God and, most notably, introduce polytheism.

The dependency of Jesus upon the Father was only while He was in human form.  In that sense and time frame, God the Father was greater than He, as Jesus left His glory and some of His divine attributes to live among men.  However, in the broad space of eternity, He and the Father are one and the same, being equal in all things.  Finally, it is impossible for mortal men to understand an immortal God and even more so, to understand the Holy Trinity.

 

14.02.19.Q2 Why was the omniscience of Jesus sometimes clearly noticeable and other times it wasn’t?

 

Prior to answering this question, it is important to examine the theological term “omniscience.” It means to have full knowledge or to be “all knowing;” to have infinite awareness. Jesus was 100% human and 100% man. That is known as the hypostatic union, and is a concept that is impossible for any mere human to understand. Jesus took on a human nature and submitted the use of His divine attributes to the will of His Father.  Therefore, there are times when His “full knowledge” or “omniscience” is clearly recognizable.[2] However, there were other times when it was hidden or veiled by His humanity (Mk. 13:32).

[1]. Pilch, The Cultural Dictionary of the Bible. 3.

 

[2]. Mt. 9:4; Jn. 2:24-25; 4:17-18; 11:11-14; 16:30.

 



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