Book of Luke - Ch. 22, Vs. 21-29 (11/14/2004)

That's better. But behold the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.

Now you'll have to go back to John to understand the chronology of all of this.

This was said before the Lord's Supper was instituted, and John gives us all of that.

And he closes with, he then having received the sop, went immediately out and it was night.

And this is Judas. He did not return anymore till he come into the garden to betray his master.

And the sop is the clue to it. The sop could not be dipped and given while there was meat on the table.

And they removed all of that before the Lord's Supper. 22.

And truly the Son of Man goeth as it was determined, but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed.

The Son of Man goeth as it was determined. Russell, when was all of this determined?

That's true.

So if it is determined, how is it that he can say woe unto the man by whom he is betrayed?

Russell, that is so true.

Although the decree of God's providence necessarily comes to pass, yet it does not excuse the fault of those who bring it to pass.

Man can't understand that. I don't understand it, but I believe it.

God has determined everything. The Lord has. Even down to you being here and my speaking.

It's all predetermined. But we have to say the right words.

You have to listen. You have to form your own opinions. But everything is of God.

Well, the disciples. And they began to inquire among themselves which of them it was that should do this thing.

Now the thing is to betray me. And they began to ask each other who could this be.

Now I ask you why did they say that?

Why did they discuss among themselves, Bill? I think it was because they each knew that they could do it.

But the Lord did not tell them. Yes, that's right.

So you have to guard what you do.

Not what you think, but what you do. And there was also a strife among them which of them should be accounted the greatest.

Now here's the Lord. He's trying to prepare them for his crucifixion.

He's going to die. And they immediately began to argue about who's going to be the greatest.

Who's going to. I think it was in a frame of mind of the whole world that Jesus was going to come, the

Christ, the Messiah, and he'd set up his kingdom. Well, they could understand the word kingdom because every king ahead of this

Messiah had governors. He had potentates. He had people that took down the minutes and people, the treasurer and all.

So their mind at this moment was no different than the world.

Yes. Yes. I think that Judas also thought,

I've seen him get out of difficulties before. And he will escape this somehow.

And I'll make a profit. Well, they had before them a situation not unlike it is today.

You see how the Holy Spirit does for us. We'd be contending, arguing.

Nothing can be more humiliating than that the disciples should have such contentions.

And in such a time and place that just as Jesus was contemplating his own death and laboring to prepare them for it, they would argue among themselves as to which officer am

I going to get. That's so like the world. And he said unto them,

The kings and Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

But ye shall not be so, but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he that is chief as he that does serve.

The kingdom of Christ is coming. I just wonder how many times do

I feel that I won't be anything or that I will be everything.

In his kingdom, one of his ministers was not to have dominion over the others.

They were all brethren, and he would be greatest who should be the most humble, the most ready to perform all useful services.

For whether is greater he that sitteth at meet, or he that serveth, is not he that sitteth at meet, but I am among you as the server, as he that serveth.

He is putting himself among his disciples. I am in the midst of you just now.

Look, I am sitting here with you. You can see it with your own eyes.

I take no state upon me, but sit in the midst on a level with the lowest of you.

Jesus the Christ, the one that is going in a few moments to death, is going to establish our salvation.

He is sitting here among them. Russell, that's hard for me to comprehend.

Sitting here with you all. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.

Those who are partakers of the afflictions of Christ will also be partakers of his kingdom.

And I appoint unto you a kingdom as my Father hath appointed unto me, that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit upon thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

I want to stop there. And I appoint unto you a kingdom as my

Father hath appointed unto me. We'll take up with twenty -nine next week.