TEACHINGS of JESUS
from: the Gospel of Matthew
(originally written 1998 )
It is time: Traitor, do your duty (Mat 26:17-25)
From A Voice In The Wilderness
The Teacher says, My time is near; toward you I will prepare the Passover with My disciples. (vs18 )[vw: Hmmm... from the funny grammar, it looks like I was using the LITV when this was written :] Mark 14 and Luke 22 tell how Jesus instructs the disciples to follow a man "carrying a pitcher of water" to whatever house he goes to, and basically 'invite themselves' in to prepare the Passover. It always intrigues me how Jesus would send somebody to do something, telling them what would happen, and what to do if they needed contingency plans. Like, when they went to get the donkeys... and He prepared them for the response when the owners would be yelling after them for "stealing" the donkeys.
In that culture, men typically did not carry pitchers of water. That was "women's work". And yet Jesus tells them to follow a "man" carrying water. Why was the man carrying water? I have read some speculations in the past, that the water he was carrying was 'ritual' water for 'purification' purposes. I don't know. But Jesus knew. Just like He knew the owners of the donkeys would release them to 'total strangers' when they knew He needed them. Since Jesus was the fulfillment of centuries of Mosaic rituals, where many things were ritually cleaned in water prior to sacrifice, and so were the priests; was that pitcherful of water for Jesus to use? Had that man received a vision from God to go get the water? An unnamed woman has already 'anointed' Him, God's High Priest. (Heb8:1) Perhaps the water was for other ritual fulfillment's?
Whatever the case, the group is now reclined, partaking of Passover. And of all things to talk about, Jesus says, "Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me." (vs21) Jesus already knew 'who' it was, because He picked him for the very purpose. (10:4, Jn6:64,13:18 ) The disciples, however, haven't a clue what He is talking about. And so He begins by quoting Scripture, "The one eating the bread with Me lifted up his heel against Me." (Jn13:18,Ps41:9)
They ask around, "Surely it isn't me??" (vs22) And Peter gets John to ask Him, "Who is it?" (Jn13:25) And Jesus responds, "The one dipping the hand with Me in the dish will betray Me." (vs23) "And dipping the morsel, He gave it to Judas Iscariot.." (Jn13:26)
And then Jesus says a little about God's sovereignty, and man's will. The purpose of God is fulfilled, "Indeed, the Son of Man goes, as it has been written about Him." Christ -will- die. It will happen no matter what. God's purpose -will- be fulfilled. But "woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed." (vs24) It would have been good if he had never been born! And Judas, the lying thief, has to cover his tracks, and cannot be different than the rest. He's the only one who by now hasn't asked, "surely not me?" So he asks, "Not I am the one, Rabbi?" You have said it. Judas already knew. He had already contrived with the rulers for 30 pieces of silver. (vs15-16)
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