Ephesians– overview of 3:9; The unworthy messenger servant, part 3

Wednesday December 11, 2019

 

All believers are unworthy and bring nothing to offer God, and yet they have been called by God to go forth in all His will in the image of Christ in all holiness and blamelessness.

 

The simple meal that came to be known as the Last Supper became one of the most popular events in human history. Peter and John were chosen by Jesus to prepare it. When the other ten arrived and their lacked a servant boy or girl to wash their feet as they entered, either it never entered anyone’s mind to take the position of a servant and wash the feet of the others, or it did and they deemed it beneath them. Jesus was sure to celebrate this last Passover with the twelve alone for several reasons, and this was one of them. If they went on after His death and resurrection in this type of mental framework, then the church wouldn’t have a chance.

 

There is a betrayer in their midst, but the biggest problem among the eleven is the betrayer within them: ignorance and pride.

 

LUK 22:19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 

 

LUK 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.

 

Is not God telling the world that the betrayer and the liar are in your midst, beware of them, but also, that His body and blood are yours by faith if you will have them.

 

LUK 22:21 "But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Me on the table.

 

LUK 22:22 "For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!" 

 

It is the most incredible thing that Jesus would allow the betrayer to sit among them. He will tell Judas to leave, but not yet. Before Jesus tells them the doctrines of the coming age He tells Judas to go, but before that, He allows Judas to stay for the offering of Himself, His cross.

 

We cannot understand anything of the doctrines of life if we reject the life given on the Cross.

 

LUK 22:23 And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this thing.

 

The battle of the cosmos, of the universe, of the Son of God vs. Satan is silently playing out at their Passover table, and in the midst of it, their blind minds are only filled with who is the greatest of them.

 

Don’t shake your heads at them. Rather, open your eyes to the battle that rages around you and within you. Very big things are at stake and victory, peace, joy, and love are only found in one Man, the One who was born into the world while angels announced His presence and who died in Jerusalem so that the world could have His life.

 

Each of the eleven know that they hadn’t betrayed Jesus, but each of the eleven hadn’t seen the betrayal in Judas. They start wondering who it is and their minds are filled with judgment and fantasy. “John? Hmmm. Probably… hmmm… Oh yeah, I knew it was John!” “Peter… hmmm…” Then, “Not me for sure. I’m better than that. In fact, I’m better than most of them, I think I’ve known it all along.”

 

The reality that there was a “worst” one among them easily led to a board meeting about who was the greatest.

 

GAL 6:1 Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted.

 

So much in the life of Christ depends upon love, and not human love, but God’s love: giving, sacrificial, loss of self, and joy in doing it all. All who are Christ’s have been gifted with it.

 

How we think and behave in every situation with every person every day is of the most importance, for making men of a certain type was the entire purpose of God for the universe.

 

EPH 3:10 in order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.

 

EPH 3:11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,

 

Men and women who are of the type of the new humanity in Christ Jesus think and behave in a certain way, empowered by God. And with all the lies, distractions, and oppositions around them, and the fact that these very real dangers can rob them of the expression and experience of what they are in Christ, they must be diligent to grab hold of their life with all expedience.