Bible Question #9


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Bible Question #9
	WHY THE SECRECY about certain Biblical events? During the last few days of Jesus' life on this earth, He sent two of His disciples into the city to find a man who was bearing a pitcher of water, and in whose house they would celebrate the last Passover dinner together. (Mark 14:13-16) In those days, it was women who carried the water, so the man they were seeking would be fairly easy to find. The two disciples sent by Jesus are identified as Peter and John in Luke 22:7-13.
Why the secrecy about the man they were to find? (Matthew 26:14-16) Because, after Jesus had rebuked Judas at the dinner party in Bethany (Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-6), Judas went to the chief priests and, for a sum of money, promised to show them where they could find Jesus apart from the crowds and arrest Him. They gave Judas 30 pieces of silver, and from that very moment, he looked for an opportunity to betray the Lord. (John 13:1) Satan always tries to frustrate the plan of God, so he motivated Judas to betray the Lord, and if Judas had known where the Passover supper was to be held, he may have arranged for Jesus to be arrested at that time, but it was not the Father's timing. (John 13:1) On their way to the room where they would eat the Passover meal, the twelve had been arguing about which of them would be the greatest in the Kingdom, and they failed to wash their feet before coming to the table. (Mark 9:34; Luke 9:46) While dinner was still in progress, Jesus got up from the table, removed His outer garment and girded Himself with a towel. Then He filled a basin of water and began to wash the disciples' feet. Peter had been watching very intently, and when Jesus reached him, he drew back and said, "Lord ... you're never going to wash my feet!" Jesus responded, "If I don't wash your feet, Peter, you cannot have fellowship with Me." Then Peter said, "Well then, Lord ... don't just wash my feet, but wash my hands and my head also!" Jesus replied, "Those who were once cleansed all over need to have nothing but their feet washed periodically. You are all clean except one. (Jesus said that because He knew which man would betray Him. (John 13:10) By washing their feet, Jesus was teaching them how necessary it is for believers to name known sin in their lives before they can have fellowship with Him, and also that they are responsible to teach other believers to do the same.. Jesus knew that the devil had motivated Judas to betray Him (John 13:2), so He made a point of telling them that one in their group was not a believer. (John 13:10-11) They were truly shocked, and began to ask which of them was the betrayer. Jesus told them it would be the guest to whom He would give a particular morsel of bread that was dipped in a special sauce. When Judas asked Jesus if it were he, Jesus dipped the bread in the sauce, gave it to him and said, "what you are about to do, do quickly!" At that precise moment, Satan entered into Judas. He immediately left the room, and it was night. (John 13:26-30) The others saw Judas leave, but they assumed that Jesus had sent him out to buy provisions or to give some money to the poor because he carried the money bag. (John 12:6;13:29) As soon as Judas was out of the room, Jesus began to teach them about the ministry of God the Holy Spirit during the Church Age that would follow His death. (John 13:31 through 16:33) Satan cannot be in more than one place at a time, so when Judas went out, Satan did also, and they did not hear what Jesus told the eleven about the mysteries of the Church Age, and how all three members of the Godhead would be indwelling believers during the Church Age. (John 14:16, 17; John 14:18-20; John 14: 23) After that they went into the Garden of Gethsemene where Jesus prayed all night. Early in the morning, Judas appeared with a great many soldiers from the chief priests and scribes. Judas identified the one to arrest by giving Jesus a kiss as he said, "Hail Master." The soldiers bound Jesus and took Him to the High Priest. Jesus said of Judas, "It would have been better for that man if he had never been born." (Mark 14:21)