KNOWING GOD – THE GOD OF LOVE || Lesson 6 

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 Six

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):

Prediction of Judas’ Betrayal – Matthew 26:21-25; Mark 14:18-21; Luke 22:21-23; John 13:18-30.

Matthew 26:21-25 – ²¹And while they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”

²²They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely not I, Lord?”

²³Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. ²⁴The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

²⁵Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?”

Jesus answered, “Yes, it is you.”

Luke adds: Luke 22:23 – They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

John’s account:  John 13:18-30 – ¹⁸“I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: `He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’

¹⁹“I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He.  ²⁰I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”

²¹After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.”

²²His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant.  ²³One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.  ²⁴Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”

²⁵Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”

²⁶Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon.  ²⁷As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.

“What you are about to do, do quickly,” Jesus told him, ²⁸but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him.  ²⁹Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor.  ³⁰As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

But this is to fulfill the scripture: `He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’ (v.18) – See Psalm 41:9.

“Lord, who is it?” (v.25) – Matthew adds: Matthew 26:22 – They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely not I, Lord?”

Contrast: Matthew 26:25 – Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?”

Jesus answered, “Yes, it is you.”

Note that Jesus had washed Judas’ feet even though He knew this.

Refer to: John 13:19-20 – ¹⁹I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He.  ²⁰I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”

Note: The non-acceptance of Jesus by Judas was evident by the use of the word “Rabbi” instead of “Lord” and the process of betrayal had already begun, as recorded in Mathew 26:14-16; Luke 22:1-6.

As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. (v.27) – Note also: V.2 – The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.

(Luke 22:3-4 – 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.)

Contrast:  Acts 2:4; 4:8, 31; 6:5; 7:55; 9:17; 13:9-10.

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

And it was night. (v.30) – This was a highly significant “night” as the following passage shows:

Exodus 12:40-42 – ⁴⁰Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years.  ⁴¹At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the LORD’s divisions left Egypt.  ⁴²Because the LORD kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the LORD for the generations to come.

(MSG) – ⁴⁰The Israelites had lived in Egypt 430 years.  ⁴¹At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, GOD’s entire army left Egypt.  ⁴²GOD kept watch all night, watching over the Israelites as he brought them out of Egypt. Because GOD kept watch, all Israel for all generations will honor GOD by keeping watch this night–a watchnight.

Application: Let us thank The God of Love for the following instruction, under the New Covenant.  Hebrews 10:25 – Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.