Reflective Bible Study

During the night before Jesus’ crucifixion, He shared a special meal with His twelve closest followers. Included in this number, at least for the first portion of the meal, was Judas Iscariot, the disciple who was already plotting to betray Jesus. The reality that Judas Iscariot was the betrayer was not a surprise to Jesus, but neither were the failings and faults of the rest of Jesus’ disciples.

The passage we will be focusing on in this episode happens right after Judas the betrayer had left. Jesus knew that Judas’ departure signaled the countdown to the cross, and it also signaled an urgency in Jesus’ teaching with His disciples. We will be looking at this event using John’s gospel and it is found in chapter 13. Reading from the New International Version and starting in verse 31, John tells us:

³¹ When he was gone [that is, Judas Iscariot], Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. ³² If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.

³³ “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

³⁶ Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”

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

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

³⁸ Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

What I find amazing every time I read this event is that Jesus knows Peter better than Peter knows himself. Peter was quick to speak that he was willing to go anywhere Jesus went, and even giving his life for Jesus – and I believe Peter meant it. Just a few hours later, as the mob was coming to arrest Jesus, Peter is the first and primary one to resort to violence when defending Jesus. It appears as though Peter is bold and strong when he is with Jesus, but just a few hours later, when he is alone by a fire and not next to Jesus, his boldness has completely evaporated – allowing for Jesus’ prediction to come true.

But looking back on our passage, it appeared as though Peter derailed Jesus’ thought, and his question overshadows the powerful statement Jesus had just shared before.

In verse 33, Jesus tells the disciples: “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.” Peter responds to this statement in verse 36 by asking Jesus where He is going. It is likely that Peter completely missed hearing the two verses between Jesus’ statement about leaving and his response – and if Peter missed this two-verse message, I wonder how many of the other disciples missed it too.

We are also tempted to miss it, but less so because we already know that Jesus was referring to His death and then future ascension.

Let’s focus for a moment on the message that is included in these two verses. In verses 34 and 35, Jesus tells His followers (and this is all of His followers; not just His eleven remaining disciples): “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

On the surface, this new command seems redundant. After all, earlier in Jesus’ ministry on at least two separate occasions, Jesus referred to the two great commands as loving God and loving one’s neighbor. It really appears like Jesus is simply reemphasizing these two other commandments and grouping them into one. I have heard scholars who are much smarter than me with the original languages of the Bible present the case that Jesus is reemphasizing this command rather than introducing something completely new.

However, while the “loving your neighbor” command covers how we should relate to every other human being, I wonder if Jesus is taking the original command to love your neighbor and pushing it deeper. While no one would argue with Jesus’ explanation of the Good Samaritan being the best example of being neighborly, this too can be rationalized away because many times, the idea of loving our neighbors must also be present when there isn’t a clear need. Showing love was clear in the illustration of the Good Samaritan that the man dying on the road needed help. In cases where clear help is needed, we are called to help – even if it is a stranger we are helping.

In some ways, it is easier for us to help strangers and more difficult to help those we know really well.

As I read Jesus’ “new command”, I am challenged to think Jesus may be commanding his followers specifically to love each other – even if the other person has a strange or different understanding of a certain doctrine than we do.

In some ways, while Christians can rally together when helping a social cause, like caring for those who are homeless, defending the rights of those who are being persecuted, or even adopting orphans from countries on the other side of the world, some of the harshest criticisms come from scholars of different “Christian” backgrounds who are stuck debating the validity of certain doctrines. I wonder if Jesus’ command to “Love one another” has to do with Jesus telling His followers to love those other followers who believe something different about a certain doctrine or passage of scripture. If this is the case, Jesus’ command is a very high calling that has not been obeyed very well at certain points in history.

Jesus’ command does not mean that we must agree with everyone on every doctrine, nor does it mean that we must erase all differences and distinctions and be 100% united in thought, belief, and doctrine. In some ways, when any group – sacred or secular – does not allow for debate or challenges, that group stops being able to grow. If Christianity were to ever unify 100% in thought, belief, and doctrine, it would be inevitable that eventually the church would stop growing towards God because it would close itself off from all opposing thoughts. In some ways, certain denominations have closed themselves off in this way and have stopped growing as a group.

But Jesus’ command is for all of His followers, regardless of denominational affiliation, doctrinal obedience, or church attendance. The true test of whether we are Jesus’ disciples is if we will be loving towards others who call themselves followers of Jesus, but who live, look, believe, and/or act differently than we do. If we truly love like Jesus loved, we will look past our differences and towards how we are unified through what Jesus did for us on the cross.

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

Choose to intentionally seek God first by obeying Jesus’ command about loving one another. Be sure to love and help your neighbor when they need help, and be doubly sure to love those who are Christians but who don’t believe along the same side of an issue as you do. Focus on where we are together, and be civil on the issues we don’t agree with.

Also, as I always say, pray and study the Bible for yourself and take to heart the other side’s argument for or against a certain doctrine. Only when we truly look at the positives of both sides of an issue will we be able to decide what is most likely accurate for us to believe. Rarely is one side 100% wrong while the other is 100% right. Usually both sides have valid arguments that must be reconciled.

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or give up on where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!

All too often, when we . . . actually I should probably say I, since this might just be me.

All too often, when I think of a well-known event, I think of only the gospels that are the most quoted from. Perhaps you are like this too. Many people have a preferred gospel for specific events, and where there are different details included, often we will simply lean towards the most detailed one, or the one that has the wording we like the most.

Unless this is your first or second podcast episode, you know that for the past several episodes, we have been moving through the week leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion. This episode marks the first big event that all four gospels include: the last supper.

One thing that fascinates me about this event is that each gospel writer seems to give some unique detail that the others leave out. Many of the gospel writers share similar details, but each one includes something the other three chose to leave out.

When reading about the Last Supper, most people seem to gravitate to reading either Matthew’s version of this event or John’s. I can understand this as those two gospel writers, when put together, include the most detail surrounding what many Christians today call the communion ceremony.

However, by focusing on only Matthew and John, we ultimately miss out on a detail that only Luke’s gospel includes.

I suspect that since most people see the Last Supper as being like many communion ceremonies, most people likely believe that this supper was a formal, somber, and quiet meal, and following Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, they were all in shock and were quiet for most of the rest of the meal.

But this was not the case. Luke’s gospel includes the detail that an argument breaks out among the disciples during the Last Supper, and Luke also includes Jesus’ response. Our passage is found in Luke, chapter 22, and we will read it using the New Century Version. Starting in verse 14, Luke tells us that:

²⁴ The apostles also began to argue about which one of them was the most important. ²⁵ But Jesus said to them, “The kings of the non-Jewish people rule over them, and those who have authority over others like to be called ‘friends of the people.’ ²⁶ But you must not be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the leader should be like the servant. ²⁷ Who is more important: the one sitting at the table or the one serving? You think the one at the table is more important, but I am like a servant among you.

When reading the context and order of events within Luke’s gospel, we learn that this argument breaks out after the supper itself, and when including the details found in John’s gospel, Luke’s argument would also have happened after the disciples’ feet were washed.

Those familiar with the gospels know that this argument was not the first time the disciples argued about who was the greatest among them. However, unless I’m missing something, this argument would be the last time. After Jesus’ betrayal and arrest that night, all of the disciples scatter, and after they all failed Jesus, they don’t seem very interested in comparing how great they are.

However, within Jesus’ response to the disciples in Luke’s gospel, we find a not so intuitive truth hinted at. While it is easy for us to get swept up in the cultural norm of thinking that the people at the top of the corporate ladder are the most important, and that those sitting at the boardroom table are the most significant, Jesus’ message to these arguing disciples says something different. According to Jesus, it is not those sitting at the table who are the most important; instead, those who are serving others are actually the most important. Within Jesus’ perspective, while decisions are made while sitting at tables, the service that happens independent of the decision-making is more important.

It’s worth pointing out that both the decisions at the table and the service that happens away from the table are important. However, if we understand Jesus’ words, those serving others are the true “friends of the people”.

This also brings out another subtle truth: those who have authority like to have the reputation that they are friends of the people. The implication is that they talk a good talk while they only superficially “help”. This stereotypical leader will do what is convenient for them in whatever moment they are in, and only if it is convenient do they help others. However, after helping someone, those who want to build themselves up talk about what they did and frame it as though it is a big deal. What was likely a 30 second act of kindness is ultimately leveraged into a story that is shared 3 or more years later about how they care – regardless of any caring actions done before or since.

While this sounds negative and perhaps a little cynical, the reason for me sharing this is because Jesus says that His followers are to be different. Instead of focusing on our reputation or what people think of us, Jesus challenges His followers to step down and serve. Instead of trying to look successful, we should serve our way into being successful. However, instead of focusing on looking successful to others, we should strive to be successful in God’s eyes.

For Jesus’ followers, serving others is more important than claiming to serve; stepping down is more important than leading from above. Not only did Jesus serve the disciples by washing their feet, He served all humanity by stepping down from Heaven and taking on the role of a human.

When reading Jesus’ life in the gospel record, we find example after example of Jesus stepping down to help and serve. It is as though Jesus continually was looking for ways He could step down and help. If Jesus had a ladder, He would use it to climb down to help those further down. Jesus stepped down and became a human, He stepped down and became a servant, He stepped down and became a criminal sentenced to death row, and He stepped down into death. The death Jesus stepped down into was not an instant death, but a long painful torturous death that would make most of us feel uneasy if we were to see it live.

Jesus calls us to step down too. For a follower of Jesus, it is not about getting a seat at the table; it’s about serving those lower on the ladder and stepping down to help them.

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

As I always challenge you to do, seek God first and intentionally model Jesus in your life by choosing to step down and serve someone else. By stepping down to help others, we are being like Jesus and we are doing what He has called us to do.

Also, continue praying and studying the Bible for yourself. While other people have ideas to think about, only you can grow a personal relationship with Jesus. I would encourage you to take a few minutes before our next podcast episode to read the crucifixion stories found in Matthew chapters 26 & 27, Mark chapters 14 & 15, Luke chapters 22 & 23 and John chapters 13 through 19. Over the next few episodes, we will be focusing on several of the details leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion, and while we won’t cover everything in this chronological year of podcasting, it is always worth being reminded of what Jesus faced for us when He faced the cross!

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or abandon where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!

As we come near the point in Jesus’ ministry that He is crucified, it seems like many of the gospels slow down their narrative and focus on all the details they can about what happened. If we look at each gospel, it would seem – at least to me – that the gospel writers focused heavily on the last week, and even the 24-hour period prior to Jesus’ crucifixion.

The time of year that this happened was during the annual Passover celebration, and this commemorated the last plague in Egypt where the angel of death passed over the homes that had a lamb’s blood spread on parts of the doorway. It was this last plague that marked the Israelites being kicked out of Egypt, and as a result, they celebrated this event each year as a reminder of what God did for them, and as a memorial of the blood that was put on their doorposts, the Israelites sacrificed a lamb to remind them that their lives had been spared.

Leading up to the weekend Jesus was crucified, we read in the gospel of Luke about a special task Jesus gives to two of His closest disciples. This event can be found in the gospel of Luke, chapter 22, and we will be reading from the New International Reader’s Version of the Bible. Starting in verse 7, Luke tells us:

⁷ Then the day of Unleavened Bread came. That was the time the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. ⁸ Jesus sent Peter and John on ahead. “Go,” he told them. “Prepare for us to eat the Passover meal.”

⁹ “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.

¹⁰ Jesus replied, “When you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house he enters. ¹¹ Then say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks, “Where is the guest room? Where can I eat the Passover meal with my disciples?” ’ ¹² He will show you a large upstairs room with furniture already in it. Prepare for us to eat there.”

¹³ Peter and John left. They found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover meal.

When I read about this event, I am amazed at a couple of things. The most obvious thing to be amazed at is Jesus’ exact knowledge of what Peter and John would find when they entered the city. When Luke tells us that a man carrying a water jug would meet them at the entrance to the city, I am curious if Luke describes a man giving these two disciples a friendly greeting, or if as they enter the city, they would simply see a man carrying a large jar of water.

If we wanted to get a better understanding of this exact portion of the event, we could look in one or both of the other gospels that include this event. But regardless of exactly how the disciples knew which person to follow, the fact Jesus knows what happens in detail is amazing, but it isn’t the most amazing thing in my mind when I read about this event.

One of the other things that stand out in my mind relates to the owner of this mysterious home. Jesus describes the man carrying the jar of water as one of the servants of this homeowner. Either that, or the man carrying the water may have simply been an angel that only these two disciples could see. But when we look at the details surrounding this home, it would appear like this owner was a secret follower of Jesus, or at the very least, someone who didn’t fully support the Jewish leader’s campaign to arrest Him.

When we stop and look a little closer at this event, it seems amazing in my mind that a homeowner would open his home to a group of wanted men so that they could share a meal together. This is essentially what was going on, because at this point in Passover week, the religious leaders had put the word out calling for information from those living in and around Jerusalem so they could arrest Jesus. What this homeowner did by letting Jesus and His disciples enter his home would have made him an enemy of the religious system.

The only way this makes sense is that either this man was already opposed to the religious system currently in place, or He had dedicated His home to God and was willing to let God use this location whenever and however God saw fit.

What this homeowner essentially did was side with Jesus during some of the tensest points in spiritual history, and this too is a powerful thought we should remember: When we are faced with spiritual tension, we should always side with Jesus!

Another perplexing angle on this event is that the disciples are simply instructed to refer to Jesus as “the Teacher”. Whether this was because not everyone in the household was friendly or sympathetic to Jesus, or whether this was a key undercover phrase that this homeowner would recognize, what matters is that this phrase was the key to unlocking access to this upper room.

While we can dig into and marvel at the details surrounding this homeowner, and speculate over the details surrounding how the upper room was opened to Jesus and His disciples, we should not overlook the role of the disciples. I wonder if they just went along with whatever Jesus said at this point in His ministry. When we read how this passage concludes, we don’t see any questioning, any doubt, or any hesitation written. Luke tells us in verse 13 that “Peter and John left. They found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover meal.”

If it were me, I might have wanted to know a little more what the man who was carrying the water jug looked like, just in case there was more than one man at the entrance to the city that fit this description. I might have wondered or asked for a secondary phrase to say if the homeowner wanted more details regarding who the vague “teacher” referred to.

But this is me, and this might show that I have a more doubtful or skeptical mind than these two disciples. The biggest things I see in this passage that are powerful thoughts are the duel ideas that Peter and John obeyed Jesus’ instructions, even if Jesus’ instructions didn’t make any sense, and the homeowner was willing to open his home when God had called Him to do so.

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

When faced with spiritual tension or a spiritual challenge, always side with Jesus, and with the God of love. When in doubt, this is the best direction to lean towards. Continue intentionally seeking God first and be sure to intentionally place Him first in your life at the beginning of each day.

Also, continue praying and studying the Bible for yourself, because no pastor or podcaster is going to have 100% of the message God wants to share with you, and even if you are able to learn from someone else, nothing can take the place of personal study and learning from the Bible personally!

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or deviate away from where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!

If you have ever wondered what criteria is used for Jesus bringing people into His Kingdom, you don’t have to search the Bible for very long before coming to our passage for this episode. For many Christians living today, despite what the media likes to portray, our passage for this episode has been a banner challenging Christians to love and help others ever since it was written. After we read it together, if you are not already familiar with this passage, I’m sure you will be able to see why.

As we said in the intro, our passage is found in the gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, and we will be reading out of the Holman Christian Standard Bible translation. Starting in verse 31, Matthew writes Jesus’ challenge to His followers, saying:

³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. ³² All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on the left. ³⁴ Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

³⁵ For I was hungry
and you gave Me something to eat;
I was thirsty
and you gave Me something to drink;
I was a stranger and you took Me in;
³⁶ I was naked and you clothed Me;
I was sick and you took care of Me;
I was in prison and you visited Me.’

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or without clothes and clothe You? ³⁹ When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You?’

⁴⁰ “And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’ ⁴¹ Then He will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels!

⁴² For I was hungry
and you gave Me nothing to eat;
I was thirsty
and you gave Me nothing to drink;
⁴³ I was a stranger
and you didn’t take Me in;
I was naked
and you didn’t clothe Me,
sick and in prison
and you didn’t take care of Me.’

⁴⁴ “Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help You?’

⁴⁵ “Then He will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me either.’

⁴⁶ “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

This passage marks the last parable Jesus shares with His disciples before meeting with the disciples to eat the last supper, and as I commented leading up to reading this passage, it is easy to see how it calls followers of Jesus to help others.

However, it is worth paying attention to the detail that this passage doesn’t focus us on just helping others; this passage challenges us to help the “least of these”.

Too often, we think of help as being generous towards others, and this is one aspect of it. Being generous towards others is one aspect that we could understand within Jesus’ praise for those who are welcomed into His kingdom.

However, in this passage, Jesus is calling us to help the lowest of the low in society: The hungry, thirsty, naked, stranger who is sick and in prison. While I don’t think this list is describing a single person, what it is describing is someone who does not have the means to repay you. In many ways, this is a much more specific type of help than we might naturally think.

Someone who is hungry, thirsty, or naked and who has money simply has to stop by grocery or clothing store and their problem is solved. Also, sickness is often helped by doctors who appreciate being paid as well.

However, “the least of these” in Jesus’ words seem to describe a person who is clearly in need of help, but who cannot repay the help they need in any way. Jesus’ challenge in this passage is a call to help those who cannot help you back. It is surprising, at least in my mind, that both groups of people in Jesus’ illustration share a common characteristic:

Both groups of people did not recognize Jesus in those they chose to help or not help.

Before continuing further, I want to point out that I don’t believe Jesus or angels are going to sneak down to earth to let us help them, especially when there are so many real people who need help at the lowest ends of society. Instead, Jesus draws the point that by helping those who cannot help us back, we are representing God well and it is like we are helping Him.

As I say this, it makes sense that when we help others in God’s name, we are helping God because at the very least, we give God a good name and a good reputation. Giving God a good reputation, when most people are inclined to think he is mean, vengeful, and looking for opportunities to punish them, is truly helping Him.

It is also worth mentioning that all throughout the gospels, Jesus modeled this type of love. Jesus loved helping people who could not help themselves, and most, if not all of the healing miracles Jesus did helped in a way that truly could never be repaid. Through Jesus’ example, we can understand that God helps those who cannot help themselves – and Jesus challenges us to follow His example in this passage.

However, what about the reward included within this parable?

In this parable, God promises a reward, but it is only after this final separating. It is worth paying attention to the detail that those who are righteous on the King’s right hand side do not receive their reward early. Instead, those who are separated on the King’s right hand side are promised it. In contrast, those who are wicked on the King’s left hand side do not receive their punishment early either, but they are promised it as well. While some might say this understanding is taking the details of this parable too far, I still find it interesting that this parable has all nations and humanity being rewarded and judged at the same time, as opposed to the time of their death, which is different for everyone.

The parable Jesus shares is a parable we can trust, because Jesus is trustworthy. We can trust what Jesus says. We can also fully know that He has given us the simple choice of which side we want to be on. If we intentionally work into our character and lives the opportunity to help those who are in need who cannot help us back, we are acting like those who Jesus calls blessed by His Father – and we can look forward to receiving the kingdom He has promised us.

Before closing out this podcast episode, I want to point out that I don’t believe helping others is a replacement for developing a relationship with God, or for putting our faith in Jesus. I also don’t believe that one can be saved who is against Jesus but who helps those who are helpless. Instead, I believe that faith in Jesus is how we live, work, and love God in the spiritual area of our lives, and helping the helpless is how we truly show our faith in God in the world around us.

Helping others with no strings attached is the best way we can truly be like Jesus. He came to take our place, and when Jesus died in our place, this was a gift given without any conditions.

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

As I always challenge you to do, intentionally seek God first in your life and focus on growing your relationship with Him. While growing your relationship with God, continue helping those who are in need who cannot help themselves. This is one great way we can model Jesus’ life and ministry, as well as following the challenge Jesus shared with us in our passage for this episode.

Also, as I always challenge you to do, continue praying and studying the Bible, for yourself, because regular prayer and Bible study help you grow your personal relationship with God. While pastors, podcasters, or other people can give you ideas to think about, never let your personal relationship with God depend on someone else. Choose to grow personally closer to God today while also being a blessing to others.

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or ignore where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!