KNOWING GOD – THE GOD OF LOVE || Lesson 3 

KNOWING GOD – THE GOD OF LOVE

[With Reference to the Events Concerning Jesus’ “Passion,” note how Jesus’ love is amazingly displayed throughout and therefore ‘stand in awe of God, the Most High.’]

Lesson Three

AT THE COENACULUM, name of traditional place of the Last Supper.

Text:  (NIV) Matthew 26:17-35 (Mark 14:12-31; Luke 22:7-38; John 13 & 14)

Events Relating to the Coenaculum (Cont’d):

Institution of Washing of Feet – John 13:1-17.  Part One:

John 13:1 – It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.

It was just before the Passover Feast – Matthew 26:20 – When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.

[Re “reclining at the table” – CEV note (John 13:12): “On special occasions the Jewish people followed the Greek and Roman custom of lying down on their left side and leaning on their left elbow, while eating with their right hand.”]

Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father – John 12:20-23 – ²⁰Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast.  ²¹They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.”  ²²Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

²³Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love – (AMP) … And as He had loved those who were His own in the world, He loved them to the last and to the highest degree.

Re theme, “Knowing the God of Love,” this is an example of how Jesus’ love was amazingly displayed throughout His ‘passion.’

John 13:2 – The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.

The devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus – Luke 22:1-6 – ¹Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, ²and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.  ³Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.  ⁴And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.  ⁵They were delighted and agreed to give him money.  ⁶He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

Agreed to give him money (Luke 22:5) – Matthew 26:14-15 – ¹⁴Then one of the Twelve–the one called Judas Iscariot–went to the chief priests ¹⁵and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty silver coins.

This was in fulfillment of Zechariah 11:12 – I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.

Then Satan entered Judas (Luke 22:3) – The following indicates that Judas had already begun to “give the devil a foothold” (Eph. 4:27):

John 12:4-6 – ⁴But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, ⁵“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.”  ⁶He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

Note: James 1:13-15 – ¹³When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.  ¹⁵Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

1 Peter 5:8 – Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

See Acts 5:1-11.

Note Judges 8:22-27 – ²²The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us–you, your son and your grandson–because you have saved us out of the hand of Midian.”

²³But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you.”  ²⁴And he said, “I do have one request, that each of you give me an earring from your share of the plunder.” (It was the custom of the Ishmaelites to wear gold earrings.)

²⁵They answered, “We’ll be glad to give them.” So they spread out a garment, and each man threw a ring from his plunder onto it.  ²⁶The weight of the gold rings he asked for came to seventeen hundred shekels, not counting the ornaments, the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian or the chains that were on their camels’ necks.  ²⁷Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town.  All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.

Is this Gideon?  Application:  Matthew 26:41 – “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

James 4:7 – Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

This will be accomplished by:

Galatians 5:16 – So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Ephesians 5:18 – Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.  Instead, be filled with the Spirit.