Hated on Entry & Betrayed on Exit - Merry Christmas!
Dear Saints:
In the midst of expressing His ocean of love, the Son of man is betrayed on exiting this world. Jesus doesn't get any respect on entry and on exit.
When He was born, there was no room in the inn (Luke 2:7) for Him. What a welcome we gave the God who made all things. Further, king Herod does his best to kill the baby Jesus. What a demonic hatred! (Matthew 2:16-18).
Now in our study of John 13 (please read the entire chapter), we see the worst betrayal. Hear apostle John's recording:
“Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” John 13:1-5.
Notice the love Jesus poured out even to the very end – “having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.”
Then in expressing His love, one of the disciples, Judas betrays Him. Have you been hated and betrayed? I have. If you have not yet, your hatred and betrayal is coming. If it was done to our Master and Lord, we cannot escape it.
Hallelujah, none of these entry or exit encounters made God to change His mind. Jesus has loved us even to the end. His love should be our focus at all times. "For God so loved the world that He gave...” His love in the midst of hatred and betrayal is what draws us to Him.
Jesus goes on to demonstrate His love by washing the stinking and dusty feet of His Disciples. He didn't stop there; He went on and allowed Himself to be crucified for our sins on the cross.
Jesus then leaves us with this: “14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”
Wouldn't you love a God who loves you this much? That is what Christmas is all about. It's more than buying people gifts when on the inside you may not really like them and spending money you may not have. We must be like Jesus this Christmas and forever. He has given us His Holy Spirit to enable us to be like Him. We cannot live Christ’s life on our own strength.
Can we pray for those who obviously hate us and/or may have betrayed us? May we give the gift of forgiveness to one another and to all. There's however a catch. If you have not experienced the forgiveness of God, you absolutely cannot forgive another. If you have not, will you repent of your sins and ask Jesus to forgive you because He died for your sins. Believe in Christ and put all your trust in Him. Amen.
Jesus is coming back again as King of Kings and we His Church (who trust and believe in Him) will give Him a resounding welcome because He is taking us with Him. Praise God!
Merry Christmas! Give the gift of Forgiveness to all. Wash someone’s dirty feet this season. We all have had dirty feet.
In the midst of expressing His ocean of love, the Son of man is betrayed on exiting this world. Jesus doesn't get any respect on entry and on exit.
When He was born, there was no room in the inn (Luke 2:7) for Him. What a welcome we gave the God who made all things. Further, king Herod does his best to kill the baby Jesus. What a demonic hatred! (Matthew 2:16-18).
Now in our study of John 13 (please read the entire chapter), we see the worst betrayal. Hear apostle John's recording:
“Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” John 13:1-5.
Notice the love Jesus poured out even to the very end – “having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.”
Then in expressing His love, one of the disciples, Judas betrays Him. Have you been hated and betrayed? I have. If you have not yet, your hatred and betrayal is coming. If it was done to our Master and Lord, we cannot escape it.
Hallelujah, none of these entry or exit encounters made God to change His mind. Jesus has loved us even to the end. His love should be our focus at all times. "For God so loved the world that He gave...” His love in the midst of hatred and betrayal is what draws us to Him.
Jesus goes on to demonstrate His love by washing the stinking and dusty feet of His Disciples. He didn't stop there; He went on and allowed Himself to be crucified for our sins on the cross.
Jesus then leaves us with this: “14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”
Wouldn't you love a God who loves you this much? That is what Christmas is all about. It's more than buying people gifts when on the inside you may not really like them and spending money you may not have. We must be like Jesus this Christmas and forever. He has given us His Holy Spirit to enable us to be like Him. We cannot live Christ’s life on our own strength.
Can we pray for those who obviously hate us and/or may have betrayed us? May we give the gift of forgiveness to one another and to all. There's however a catch. If you have not experienced the forgiveness of God, you absolutely cannot forgive another. If you have not, will you repent of your sins and ask Jesus to forgive you because He died for your sins. Believe in Christ and put all your trust in Him. Amen.
Jesus is coming back again as King of Kings and we His Church (who trust and believe in Him) will give Him a resounding welcome because He is taking us with Him. Praise God!
Merry Christmas! Give the gift of Forgiveness to all. Wash someone’s dirty feet this season. We all have had dirty feet.
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