Friday, August 14, 2009

MkITN XIV, Verse 12 - 26

12. When the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived...the day when it was customary to sacrifice the traditional Passover lamb...Jesus' disciples asked Him, "Where do you want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover meal?"

13. In answer to their question He sent two of His disciples, saying to them, "I want you to go into the city, and when you get there, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Just follow him wherever he goes.

14. Whatever house he enters, enter as well, and say to the owner of it, 'The Teacher asks, 'Where is My guest room? Where may I eat the Passover with My friends and followers?'

15. When you say those words, he will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and already ready. Make the preparations for the meal there."

16. So the disciples did as they were told, went into the city, and walked right into the scenario exactly as Jesus had described it. And there they prepared the Passover supper.

17. At evening time, Jesus arrived with the rest of the Twelve.

18. And they partook of the supper, but while they were reclining at the table eating, as was their custom, He said to them, "I need to tell you the truth about a situation which is about to unfold in the next few hours...simply put, one of you is going to betray me...one of you sitting right here, eating with me."

19. They were taken aback by these startling words, and then immediately were depressed by them, knowing that He always spoke the truth. So, bypassing denial altogether, and going right into acceptance of His prediction, one by one they said to him, "Please, Lord, tell me that it's not me!"
20. "All I can tell you is that it is one of the Twelve of you," He replied, "And I will tell you that it is the one who dips bread into the bowl with Me.

21. Everything that I've said would happen to The Son of Man will happen to Him...it is inevitable at this point...it's already written down. But the one who betrays the Son of Man will be irreparably damaged by his actions...at least in this dimension. In fact, this betrayal will affect him so deeply, and cause such pain in his heart, that it will seem to him that it would be better for him if he had not even been born."

22. Having no further response to these troubling words, the disciples just sat and ate in awkward silence. Then, while they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks for it, He broke it and gave it to His disciples, saying, "Go ahead...take it...and as you eat it I want you to have a paradigm shift...I want you to see beyond the appearance of the bread...visualize a new reality...I want you to know that 'this'...this group...this fellowship...this occasion...and even this bread is my body."

23. Then He took the cup of wine, and when He had given thanks for it as He did for the bread, He also served it to them...and they all drank from that one, common cup, Judas included.

24. As they were passing the cup around the table, He said "This is not just a common cup of wine...this is My blood of the covenant...the blood that creates a common bloodline...the covenant which provides atonement for the common man.

25. And the truth of it is, I will not drink again of the vineyard's harvest until I experience it through your new revelation of the Kingdom of God."

26. And when they had sung a familiar worship song, they all went out to the Mount of Olives.

24 comments:

Donald said...

In my first semester of college, I had a history professor who actually made the subject exciting. She would narrate the stories sort of like what Andy Griffith did when he was telling the boys about the gun that fired the shot that was heard clear around the world.
I almost felt like I was a part of the story the way she could pull me into the situation.
Bishop, the way you are paraphrasing the scriptures has much the same effect as that of my college history professor.
Great job, keep it up.

PattiL007 said...

Donald,
I agree completely...we are so fortunate to have such a dynamic instructor in the Word!

Bishop...you're getting to that part again...it's always a little difficult for me at this point because of the level of involvement with the events. I assume it's very difficult for you to do this a third time, yes?

I know I had times during the others in which I realized I wasn't breathing while I absorbed it. Maybe I won't read this one word for word...who am I kidding...of course I will...I should prepare for it.

I suggest everyone does the same...when you're really involved with it...it's powerful! Hold on to your emotions...

Blessings Bishop...and Blog Fam!

Anonymous said...

This is one of those events that could only happen one time in the course of human events. I love how perfectly well you described the internal torment that Jesus predicted of Judas with the act of betrayal. Thank God for grace and mercy beyond measure or else we all would live short depressed lives and die by our own hand. Some may argue with their doctrines of punishment in this life and the one to come that is precisely what we are doing but they are missing the whole point of our existence and consciousness of that existence.

Donald is right about your ability to make this part of the gospel real for us and this gospel in its fulness is about the complete recovery of our relationship with God through the recognition of the whole body. I love how that is outlined in verse twenty two. Then verse twenty three seals the deal of our common bloodline.

Once again this is an enlightening view of the covenant established to remind us of our human birthright as children of the most high God.

The blessed communion of God and man is forever established and sealed with an unbreakable seal that none but the precious Lamb can reveal as it was done here.

Northern Light said...

I love this particular event, always have, always will. What occured to me reading it just now, (and never before) was in verse 19 when Jesus tells them that one of them will betray him; it then says one by one they said to him, "Please, Lord, tell me that it's not me!"

One way of interpreting it (and the way I always had before now) is that they were indicating to Jesus, that it would not be "he" who would be the one.

Today I wonder, WHY would you even think it may be you, to have tried to get assurance from Jesus that it would not be you, was there some point at which they all may have "drawn a line" in their devotion?

HHmmm..........I don't even know where that perception came from.

Peace,
Northern Light

Friend4Life said...

Hey Bishop,

I haven't blogged here in awhile, but wanted to say I read MKITN today. I had to comment b/c verse 15 just stood out.

For me personally; it brought tears to me. I am so grateful!! God loves us and thinks of us all the time. Hasn't forsaken us at all. Prepared the supper before we even thought about what and where. Reminds me that the table is ready and set for me; for us.

Had to comment and let you know..how GRATEFUL I am TODAY! For everything!

~Amen~

Anonymous said...

Willie Bush said...

Your words make the passages feel "real", and true to life. excellent. the painting perspective is unlike any supper painting I've seen before. very interesting. maybe i will see the original one day. do you know the painter's name?

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

Thanks, Donald...what an ancouraging word!

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

Yeah, I know Mystic...it all gets really real, especially at this point...

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

Beautifully stated, Anon@909...thanks...

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

I've actually taught on that, NL...the fact that each of them asked the quation meant that it was in the realm of possibility for each of them...the thought of betrayal had apparently crossed all of their minds at some point...it's a scary thought, but it also humanizes these men whose lives were interrupted by Jesus, and gives us some insight into human relationships...

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

Thanks Friend4life...nice to see you here...

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

Thanks, P. Willie! I don't remember where I found the pic...looks like it may be a Russian Orthodox icon, and those artists were usually anonymous...

Anonymous said...

Teresa A. Wilkerson Mason said...

This is awesome! What version of the bible is this? I've never read this passage in these particular words before, not written this way! Do you still collect bibles, Bishop? I bought the Message Bible on your recommendation and I love it. But I still love NIV and King James (it's so poetic) and I now use Holman.

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

This is my own paraphrase, Teresa, called Mark In The Now...John in the Now was published a couple of years ago and is available @ www.churchinthenow.org...I've just finished Matthew, have 2 more chapters to do in Mark, and then get started on Luke (I post the passages on the blog as I complete them)... The combined Gospels In The Now will be out by Christmas...

Anonymous said...

Teresa A. Wilkerson Mason said...

Wow, Bishop you are such blessing! I thank God for you! It is such a good thing that you were born into this world. I gotta get this Bible!

Izumi/JOY said...

I appreciate how the pic (and v. 12) seems to flow with Romans 13:10,11.

What I especially enjoy is how His disciples didn't question amongst themselves when Jesus told them about the water bearer. (is it just me? I love wondering if it was a cameo from John the Baptist! Remember... he was a forerunner, and the Lord's baptizer.)

13. I never thought about it. How many instances did Jesus say, "I want..."

Great imagery, and so much to discuss! (dinner hour, but back later)

Anonymous said...

Melissa Mason said...

I heard you were writing a book, but I didn't know that book was a version of the Bible. THAT IS SO AWESOME!!!

Izumi/JOY said...

14. Love the sensation of co-laboring, as well as juxtaposition when I read John 14:2,3.

Anonymous said...

What the 11 befor me said, it does really pull you in and grab you. great stuff as always . ***Keith

karl cobos said...

hmmm...covenant.

For this is like the days of Noah to Me: when I swore that the waters of Noah would never flood the earth again, so I have sworn that I WILL NOT be angry with you or rebuke you.

Though the mountains move and the hills shake, My love will not be removed from you and MY COVENANT OF PEACE will not be shaken, says your compassionate Lord. Isiah 54:9,10

Son of Zadok said...

Things are heating up.

Karl said...

It's always good to read things in context, which I suggest you do, but I pulled a few things here out of Isaiah that really spoke to me today, for it seems to me, to speak to all of us as spiritual Israel, the church. You can agree or disagree, just puttin' it out there.

...My righteous servant will justify many and He will carry their iniquities. Therefore I will give Him the many...He bore the sin of many and interceded for the rebels. (taken from Isaiah 53:11,12)-this reminds me of when Jesus said, "pray for your enemies."...He didn't condemn them, not even on the cross, He cried to the Father, "forgive them."

The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;...the Lord has called you...and will take you back with great compassion, with everlasting love. (from Isaiah 53:5-8)

...so I have sworn that I WILL NOT BE ANGRY WITH YOU OR REBUKE YOU.
Though the mountains move and the hills shake, My love will not be removed from you and MY COVENANT OF PEACE will not be shaken," says your compassionate Lord. -from Isaiah 54:9,10

...you will be established on a foundation of righteousness...their righteousness is from Me. Isaiah 54:14,17
-------
Your Father's love is a firmer foundation than mountains and hills....nothing can separate you from His love that is in Christ Jesus. Jesus doesn't condemn you. You may condemn yourself or others may judge and condemn you like the woman caught in adultery, but He said, "where are your accusers?"...and back in Isaiah, you will refute any accusation raised against you in court, this is the heritage of the Lord's servants-Isaiah 54:17

I heard a song today also that sang something like this..."so I'm working 9-5 trying to earn my own salvation, but there's no condemnation for me now"..."child, you're forgiven and loved."

Right after this song I flipped open a devotional (A Year In The Now), to read, uh, while eating my burrito, and the first thing my eyes hit was this statement..."Today I will overcome condemnation by the words of my mouth!"

So...proclaim peace, bring news of good things, proclaim salvation, say to all, "Your God reigns!"
...lift up your voice, shout for joy together, burst into song! For the Lord has redeemed us and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.

Izumi/JOY said...

15. Oh man.... when you say those words. Which?

His.

Izumi/JOY said...

v. 15. Reading this version illuminates that Jesus was referring to Himself, when He said, "Make the preparations for the meal there." (v.22)

Love how this verse reminds me of 2 Ti. 3:16,17.