First, through the order of what happened in the last supper, we realized that there were apparent contradictions recorded in the Bible. Therefore, we ask what God wants to tell us through these apparent contradictions since the Bible is inspired by God. From here, we talk about logic as an instrument. Atheists “believe” that there exists no God, and Christians “believe” the Holy Trinity. Therefore, Christians live in faith. Next, we talk about the event when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. The verse says clearly, “I gave you an example.” Lastly, we discuss the foreknowledge that Jesus predicted the betrayal of Judas. We also see an example regarding the opening eyes. If God doesn’t open our eyes, even when he is saying things clearly and on surface, we think that we know but we really don’t. Spiritual things are often like this. We also need to mention at this point that in the future for a while, there is only one short article every two weeks until the completion of the translation work of the twelve booklets of the original version of Pocket Companion Series by Andrew Murray, which has priority and needs more time. We are currently working on the translation of Book eight.
(1) Logic
Last time, the time of setting up the ceremony of drinking cup is after the supper according to the Gospel of Luke [1]. But according to the Gospel of Mark, it is during the meal [2]. If those events only in the Gospel of John are mentioned according to the order, we still cannot make sure if the event of washing the feet occurs before or after the meal, since the Bible doesn’t say clearly [3]. In fact, the order isn’t more important than the messages themselves. Since man has free will, people tend to think differently. When the Bible doesn’t say it clearly, there is no way to know precisely.
At the beginning, I think that the description of what happened in the last supper has a definite order, particularly when the Gospel of Luke says so. I really believe that the Bible is inspired by the God, and He must know the apparent contradictions. Then we must ask what God wants us to know from the apparent contradictions. In the past, we discussed some examples [4]. Here, I believe that the order is not important but that the messages are. I thought originally that there was an order. This was to think in the aspect of human, me. But when I read out from the Bible, there is no such an order described. I had to change my viewpoint since it is what the Bible says, in the aspect of the Bible. Since the Bible is inspired by God, it is in the aspect of God. We talked about this before, but the converse is not true [5]. We cannot use the equality sign here.
In fact, we can use the mathematical proof as an analogy. Before we try to verify a theorem, we often start with thinking about the possible results. Then, we use logic to deduct such results. If everything is smooth, we can derive such results step by step. If during the tentative proof, we find a counterexample or not being able to go forward, we have to give up. So, when we talk about logic, it is just an instrument. It starts with some hypothesis which cannot be proven. From there, we can get a set of theorems. With different hypothesis, we can get different results. As an example, numbers in our daily life uses base ten to count. In computers, a number is represented by a string of zeros and ones. There are theorems worked in computer but not in our daily life. When you are only using logic, you cannot prove or disprove the existence of God. And those who only believe things that can be proven by logic are true and will lead to agnostic persons. Atheists “believe” there exists no God, and Christians “believe” the Holy Trinity. In other words, three of them believe different hypothesis in faith. With that, it definitely leads to different conclusions, reflected in life. Therefore, Christians has to live in faith by believing in God, who is true and His existence can only be proven in your heart.
(2) Washing feet (John 13:2-17)
This event is only mentioned in the Gospel of John and is very clear there. Thus, we directly quote the verses in John 13:2-17.
“During supper, …Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you. ” For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.” So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” (John 13:2-17)
It is clear in the verses that Jesus did so to give us an example. And we can see a spiritual leader is not like a worldly one who sits high above and gives orders. Instead, the spiritual leader is there to be an example. Peter understood this very well as said in 1 Peter 5:1-3, “Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder …shepherd the flock of God among you, …nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.”
(3) Foreknowledge regarding Judas’ betrayal
This event is so important. So, it is recorded in all four Gospels. Since the Gospel of John describes it in most details, it is sufficient to refer it in John 13:18-30.
“I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’ From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.” The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking. There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. So Simon Peter gestured to him, and said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.” He, leaning back thus on Jesus’ bosom, said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus then answered, “That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.” So when He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him. For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things we have need of for the feast”; or else, that he should give something to the poor. So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night.” (John 13:18-30)
We can see that Jesus predicted His betrayal is not for no reason. It is so “you may believe that I am He.” We can also see that we often need to face our true self, as said in Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” We can even deceive ourselves. Talking about the event that Satan then entered into Jude. Some people may think, “Does that mean Jesus is cooperating with Satan?” No, absolutely not. Jude was fallen long time ago as described in Matthew 26:14-16, “Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?” And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him. From then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus.” We also see an example regarding the opening of eyes. If God doesn’t open our eyes, even by saying clearly and on surface, we think that we know but we really don’t. Spiritual things are often like this.
References
[1] 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.”
[2] Mark 14:22-25, “While they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. …”
[3] John 13:2-5, “During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.”
[4] You can find the short article “1012 The first appearance of Jesus after resurrection ” on the link “https://a-christian-voice.com/on-spiritual-understanding-about-life/.”
[5] You can find the short article “1023 Bible says how to study the Bible” on the same link “https://a-christian-voice.com/on-spiritual-understanding-about-life/.”
[6] The other three Gospels described the event as follows. In Matthew 26:20-25, it says, “Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples As they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me. Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord? And He answered, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born. And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself.” In Mark 14:17-21, it says, “When it was evening He came with the twelve. As they were reclining at the table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me-one who is eating with Me.” They began to be grieved and to say to Him one by one, “Surely not I?” And He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who dips with Me in the bowl. For the Son of Man is to go just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”” In Luke 22:20-23, it says, “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. 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!” And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this thing.”
(Verses refer to those in NASB unless otherwise specified.)
(You can get all articles in “https://a-christian-voice.com/” under “On spiritual understanding about life.”)
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