The Purpose
To Be Lived When Jesus Prepares His Disciples.
The
Preparation Of The Twelve. The main purpose of Jesus of coming into the world
was to die as the Lamb of God to heal the broken relationship between humanity
and God and rise from the dead to give eternal life to human beings. However,
his life, death and resurrection for the world would be useless unless the
world would know about this. If the men to whom he entrusted his work were
unfaithful to him, his coming unto earth would have been in vain. Jesus could
have brought several hundred crews of Angels to proclaim his kingdom here, but
the Bible tells us that angels desired to do this, but God gave this task to
human beings. Their preparation was not easy because they were being trained
for a work totally different from what they imagined to be the objective of the
training. They began to follow Jesus without any intention of becoming
preachers. Their hope was that, because it is the Messiah, he would establish a
world political empire of which they would be administrators (v.tb. Mt.13).
The method
by which Jesus changed their concept about the work he and the twelve had to do
was by introducing Himself to them with all the fullness of his divine glory;
so that no matter how different his way of speaking and acting was from the way
in which they expected the Messiah to speak and act, they still would believe
it was Christ, the Messiah. That's one of the reasons he performed miracles and
was transfigured before their eyes, verify how John describes it in chapter
20.30,31. (According to Halley's Biblical Manual, Pg. 448, Ed Life).
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Jesus
explained in several occasions to his disciples that he would be crucified and
rise again, but the twelve had difficulty understanding it at first. The
passages in Matthew and Luke 16:21-23. 9:22 show us this scenario. In Mark.
8:31-33, Jesus clearly states here that it was necessary for the Son of man
must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and
scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. In chapter 9:30-31
Jesus once again foretells his death and resurrection, and in chapter 10:32-34.
While Jesus was beginning his journey here on earth as the Messiah he chose his
disciples and from the first day He already started training them. This was the
practical in the training , the coop-practice so to speak. They watched Jesus
do His Ministry and as they observed Him, they were trained to do so as well.
Jesus knew
that transforming these laymen into apostles was not an easy task, so with
patience and with great wisdom he led them in every step of the way. It was
necessary to make them aware that he Jesus was the Messiah as required to in Scriptures
fulfill them everything that was written about Him. He used these twelve to
start the Church of Christ here on earth, the Bride of the Lamb. Peter calls
our attention in his letter, of the fact that the angels desired the task of
preaching the Gospel; was not given to them, but to the human being - 1 Peter
1:12. The last week before the Crucifixion was very intense for both Jesus, the
Christ, as well as for his disciples. The disciples had difficulties to
understand some things that Jesus tried to teach them. The disciples witnessed
several scenarios where Jesus was literally going through tough trials. They
observed, and often did not understand what was going on.
Let's look
at some of what goes on in the following situation. Jesus enters Jerusalem and
is applauded by everyone as King; we know this passage as the triumphal entry
of Jesus into Jerusalem. Here another episode happens that the disciples did
not understand at the time.
In verses
14 to 19 of John chapter 12 describes the following:
Ø V. 14 -15 "Jesus found a young
donkey and sat upon it, as it is written, "Do not be afraid, O Daughter of
Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt". Jesus did this
because He was fulfilling what was written by the Prophet Zechariah about him,
and the Messiah had to fulfill all that was written about him: "Rejoice
greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes
to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a
colt, the foal of a donkey" - Zech. 9:9.
Except that on the day that this happened his disciples did not
understand it.
Ø The apostle herein mentioned that
they remembered after Jesus was glorified that these things were written about
him. Vs 16 - "At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only
after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written
about him and that they had done these things to him".
Ø Vs. 17-19 = “Now the crowd that was
with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead
continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had
given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. So the Pharisees said to one
another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has
gone after him!"
Both in my
life and in yours, we go through similar experiences. Some things happen and
God tries to speak to us through the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us, but we do
not heard or do not understand it and we are afflicted. Later on we go through
another experience and it reminds us of what happened before and it seems like
a light goes on in us and everything starts to make sense. I believe that after
Pentecost when the Holy Spirit began to clarify things to them, the apostles
must have said: now it sure makes sense what he said that day. Now there were
some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. They came to
Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir,"
they said, "we would like to see Jesus." Then we read that Jesus instead
of introducing himself to the Greeks, at least the text does not tell us if he
actually spoke to the Greeks or if he said the following to all who were there:
Vs. 14-18 =
24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of
wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it
dies, it produces many seeds.
25 The man who loves his life will lose it,
while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where
I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
27 "Now my heart is troubled, and what
shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason
I came to this hour.
28 Father, glorify your name!" Then a
voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it
again." Jo. 12:24-28.
Jesus
explains that unless a kernel of wheat which falls into the ground and does not
die, it stays alone: but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Jesus was referring about his own death here.
These words were very concentrated and a profound teaching; short, but
contained the essence of what he was go through in a couple of days. I believe
he said all this, to these Greeks to learn as well, that Whoever loves his life
will lose it, and whoever hated his life in this world will keep it for eternal
life. Jesus makes it clear to them, if you love your life, you will lose it,
and if you hate life in this world, you will gain eternal life. I think if I
would have been there for the first time listening to Jesus say this, I would
have said like some of the disciples said, what a tough speech this is who can
understand it? The disciples and the Greeks, and all who were around him there;
they probably did not understand at the time what Jesus meant by this speech.
They expected that Jesus, the Messiah would reign now and get a wonderful
future for the nation of Israel; and Jesus begins to speak about to fall in the
ground and die? I think we would have been somewhat confused that day as well;
with an explanation that made no sense at the time to anyone.
“On hearing
it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept
it?" - Jn. 6:60. Some translation say: who can understand it? So if I like
my life I will lose it. But, is this what Jesus really meant? Jesus knew their
thoughts and knew what was going on in their hearts. Jesus makes a point of
emphasizing that it is necessary to make a choice. Like Jesus did with Peter,
He asked him: Peter do you love me, then take care of my sheep, stop running
after something that you believe will give you success; in this case I cannot
use you in my kingdom. Jesus goes on to say: Whoever serves me must follow me,
and where I am, there shall also my servant be. And if any one serves me, the
Father will honour him. The Greeks received this education, you want to follow
me, then come, but you need to make a decision whether you will be by my side
or not, this is what Jesus clarified. This message also serves for you as for
me as well. And then he gets anguished, and everyone there witnessed this time
as well. Can you imagine what the disciples must have thought at this hour?
Surely, they were uncertain what they should be thinking at this time. A little
fear, and puzzled as well.
He speaks
in front of the public: "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I
say? 'Father, save me from this hour'?
No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your
name!" And God heard His prayer and answered: "I have glorified it,
and will glorify it again." Jo. 12:27-28. Look at that beautiful
fellowship between God the Father and God the Son on earth. When the Son spoke
God heard and answered. Hallelujahs! And then we read that the crowd heard a
voice. "The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered;
others said an angel had spoken to him. Jesus said, "This voice was for
your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the
prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the
earth, will draw all men to myself." He said this to show the kind of
death he was going to die" - Jn. 12: 29-33.
The people
were confused; they did not really know what it was. I believe they failed to
understand that this was God's voice sounding there, because Jesus himself said
that people that are in the world do not see the Holy Spirit and do not know
Him; but we know do. This reminds me of two verses that speak of the fact that
the person that is not of God does not hear His voice; therefore they concluded
that it was a thunder.
Let's read
the verses:
o
“The Spirit of truth. The world
cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him,
for he lives with you and will be in you” - Jn. 14:17.
o
“We are from God, and whoever knows
God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is
how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood” - 1 Jn. 4:6.
We know
that the disciples saw it, as the Apostle John describes us what happened there
at the time. Then Jesus says that: "This voice was for your benefit, not
mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world
will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all
men to myself." He said this to
show the kind of death he was going to die" Jn12:30-33. Jesus makes a
point to explain why all this happened. There were enough witnesses to declare
that the Messiah had been introduced to them by the voice that came from
heaven, God was speaking there to them. Many heard it, and it's something that
cannot be disputed is many witnessed this. Please note as well as Jesus
prepares his disciples, He prepares you and me at this hour. Jesus says: Now is
the judgment of this world.
Jesus knew
that with his death on the cross there, if he would fall as the wheat in the
earth and die, this would bring the judgment to this world, the prince of
darkness would be judged. And Jesus says, when I am lifted up from the earth, I
will draw all men unto me. He explains it briefly, everything we need to know
that He is the Messiah who came to save that what was lost. We read in another
passage in which Jesus says that no one takes his life away from Him, and yes,
he who gives it of himself..
"No
one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to
lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my
Father" - Jn. 10:18. Jesus makes it clear that He is always in control of
the circumstances; he clearly states that no one can take away his life away
from Him. So, of no one can take His life away from Him, and He gave it
willingly for us; then we must agree that there was a very high purpose behind
this action of His, relinquishing act of giving his earthly life, so that we
can live. Jesus said He had the power to give it up and to take it back. He
said: I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.
This is how
Jesus gave us the purpose to be lived in “God is Love”.
“Then the
Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your
authority to do all this?" Jesus
answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three
days." The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this
temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?" But the temple he had spoken of was his body.
After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said.
Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken” –
Jn.2:18-22.
As Jesus
said destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days, in reality
He was telling them that they could not do it; unless Jesus allowed them to do
it. Everything was and is, and always will be in complete control of our
God." And we read that after Jesus
was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they
believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken. In this passage
Jesus also indicates that he would resume his life after three days, after they
crucified Him. Jesus, The Messiah is in control of everything. If, Jesus said
if they did it with him, they will do it with us. Jesus was in control when
they did it with Him, Jesus is also in control over what they will do to us or
not. Oh glory, Praise God, Praise our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ.
In the Lord's Service
I greet you in His Love
Antonina Penner.
Missionary
Masters inTheology..
ISBN- 978-0-9881063-1-4
Copyright 2012/11/26 by: “Ministério Visão de Águias”.
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