Communion Before The Cross 2

August 28, 2008

Communion Before the Cross, Part 2

Kathleen Maples

Jesus is in the upper room with the disciples. He has shared the passover meal with His beloved disciples, and washed their feet. Judas has left to betray Him and Jesus knows that Satan has entered the betrayer's heart, taking full possession. They linger after all this, on a night where spiritual wickedness and evil is fast moving to try to destroy this life of Christ among these men. The Pharisees, the scribes and priests are all plotting how they might destroy Him. He knows His time has come. He knows these 11 men will be tested beyond what their minds can comprehend by what is coming soon. But for a short time, before He goes to the Garden of Gethsemane, there is a period of ministry here. Jesus looks at these men He longs to baptize them with His Holy Ghost, He longs to give them the power to stand, but He knows that it is not yet time . In Luk_12:50 He makes reference to this. He had a cup of suffering to be baptized in before He could baptize them with the power of the Holy Spirit. But, on this night, when so many things are happening, and evil is moving to overtake Him, and scatter all his disciples, what does He do? He begins to talk to them. Everyone who will be His disciple, He has already told them, must take up their cross and deny themselves and follow Him daily. He knows there is much suffering to the flesh, to self, involved in this cross. He knows He is going to suffer greatly. He hears the passionate words of Peter and the other disciples as they swear to follow Him to the death if necessary. They are willing to go all the way and they will not deny Him, but Jesus lovingly corrects them. He even tells Peter he will deny Him three times before the rooster crows the next morning. He knows their hearts are in the right place, but they need a power they don't yet possess to actually withstand what is coming. These words must have felt like a slap in Peter's face. Can you imagine the fear, and unease these men were suddenly feeling? For the last period of weeks Jesus' message to them had changed from one of the kingdom of God to one of suffering, rejection, betrayal and murder. Their minds were battling depression, fear, uncertainty, and to top it all off, now He tells them they will flee and scatter when He is struck, and Peter, the strongest one, will deny Him, three times? He tells them He is going somewhere they can't follow Him now but afterward. Their time will come. My time, Lord? I will have to suffer, too? I have to die, too? Can't you just imagine the fearful thoughts racing through their minds? He reminds them to love one another, and then, seeing the fear on their faces, I can almost see Him, loving each one, smile reassuringly. He gives them a command that sounds strange in light of all the troubling things He has told them are soon to come. Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

He says don't let your mind be agitated or terrified, in turmoil. How can I help but feel upset and afraid, Lord? You have faith in God, well, have faith in Me. I am able to keep what is Mind no matter what happens. I have to go back to my Father so I

can prepare a place for you, and when I do I will return for you that where I am, you may be also. You know where I'm going and you know the way to get there. But they don't understand. You can only come to the Father through me, He tells them. If you understand who I am, then you should understand my Father, too. Now, you have seen Him. Jesus is telling them He has revealed the Father to them because He is a reflection of who the Father is. If you know Me, you know Him because we are just alike. Last time it was Thomas who spoke up (how can we know the way, Lord?) and now it is Philip. Show us the Father, Lord! Thomas means "a twin" and I wonder could that symbolize a double-mindedness? Philip means 'warlike, a lover of horses'. Horses often symbolize strength of the flesh in the Bible. But these are the two voices that begin to question the commands and instructions of the Lord to His own. Double-minded confidence in self. Joh 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not

known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

Still they didn't understand that Jesus was the accurate reflection of the Father. If they had seen and known Him, then they now knew the Father. The Son was like the Father in every way. There was no difference in personality or Word or deed. Jesus reminds them, it is the Father who lives in me that does the deeds I have done. I have done nothing of myself or for myself, but that you might know the Father and His love for you. Commit yourself, entrust your soul, your spiritual well being to what I am telling you. If you do this, if you commit yourself to Me, then the very works I have done, you will do because I'm going back to my Father. Whatever you ask (this means require for a Godly, Christ-like life-not want) on the authority and character of who I am, then I will perform that so My Father will be glorified in Me. He will be honored. If you love Me, don't let go, you guard the Word I have given you, you protect and don't forget it. Now, He wouldn't have told them to keep, or guard the Word given them if there wasn't someone out there who intended to steal it from them. That word "keep" in Joh_14:15 means to protect from loss or injury, to guard. Don't listen to the voices that would try to change My Word to you, like the serpent did Eve in the garden in the beginning. You keep My commandments if you love Me, and don't let anything or anyone take them from you. Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Joh 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

He is going to bestow a Gift on you, to give you Someone, and it will be to your advantage that He grants this Comforter to you. He is going to furnish something (Himself and all His Divine ability) that is necessary to you. I'm going away but I'm going to commit you into the care of this Comforter. Now, this is the Son of God talking here and I want to listen very carefully with an open heart here. As I

studied these precious Words of my Lord, I was digging deeply into the Greek here. I'm paraphrasing for the sake of space and time, but this is what He is saying. He is not saying the Comforter is going to give us or make us better but He is going to be the power in us and with us to do what is necessary so we can live this life of Christ. He is not optional, He is necessary. I once thought He was optional but I praise God He showed me the truth. Just because I've not seen anyone baptized in the Holy Ghost, doesn't mean He isn't doing this still. Doesn't mean it's not for me. He is. He says this Comforter will provide and be everything we need to live a godly life and endure whatever comes. Folks, remember these are promises made by One who cannot lie to those who were about to face the biggest trial of their lives. Don't forget He is no respecter of persons. They were HIS and if we are HIS then this is for us, as well. This is the only way I know to tear down the lies of religion and the devil and the carnal mind is by digging into the truth prayerfully, trusting God's promise, that His Word would accomplish what He intends it to. This Comforter, this Necessary One, will stay with us, He will endure and wait for the Lord to call Him back Home and He will not leave this world empty-handed. He will bring with Him that beloved Bride of the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, Hallelujah to the Christ of God, my heart and my life! He's going to abide, be an ever present Help, to stand for us, against evil, until the end of this age. But to call Him just the Comforter, or Helper as some new translations call Him, is not enough. Some call Him Counselor, Comforter, Advocate, Helper, the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, Friend or Supporter, Intercessor and Consoler. He is all these things but He is also NECESSARY to our survival. He is going to remain with us, among us, and within us. He has a fixed position in the Believer in whom He comes to live, a resting place. He's not to be treated as a guest, even as an honored guest. He is to be Lord, Governor, Leader, our very Life Source, for without Him we are spiritually dead and blind. The world can't have Him, He isn't offered to them, nor would they accept Him. He is the Spirit of Truth-the Spirit of Christ who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life for all of us who believe. (Joh_14:6) Jesus says I will not-I am refuse to desert or abandon you alone, without One here to parent and comfort you. This is what that means! Consider this! The word "comfortless" in John 14:18 is orphanos and it means orphaned. (G3737) So, He's not just sending a 'helper', but One with complete, sovereign authority over us who only has our best interests in mind. Completely reliable and trustworthy. One who has a love for us, not a 'hireling'. He says I will become known to you, I will show Myself to you, I will return to you. His Spirit will come and live in us to show us who He is and what He did for us, and what He has for us! Talking about greater understanding of the provision and truth He has provided for us. Yet a little while, and the people of this earth will not see me anymore, but you know me, and because I live you will, too. He's saying I'm your Life Sourcebecause you know Me, you have My life and it will be in you. At that day-the day the Comforter fills you, you will know that I'm in My Father and in you. I'm the Connection between you and our Father. Hold fast My commandments, observe, guard and preserve them, for this is how you demonstrate your love for Me. I and My Father both love those who love Me and I will appear, to you, and show you, to

reveal Myself and to make clear who I Am to those who love Me enough to keep my commandments. Remember Isaiah said in Isa_26:3 He will keep those in perfect peace whose mind is stayed (always) on Him because he trusts in Him. You can't really trust the One you don't know. How are You going to do this, Lord? Judas asked, (not the betrayer, he had already left.) "If you love Me, you will keep My Words and my Father will love you so much He won't be content to just remain on the throne in Heaven, He will by His Spirit come with Me and we will come and stay close to you. We will reside with and in you. That boggles my mind. The Trinity-all the fullness of the Godhead bodily living inside of me. Amazing. Mind-blowing. Lord, help us be aware of Your presence, in us, with us, all around us, and help us turn our eyes and thoughts from evil things, consecrate us completely to Yourself! He said those who do not love Me, will not guard My Word or keep it close. The Holy Ghost that the Father will send with My authority, My character, My Name, will teach you and instruct you daily, in whatever you have need of and are able to know. He will teach you everything you need to know. He will remind you when you need reminding of what I have said. When you are weak and you need strength, He will remind you of the promises I have made. When you are faced with deceit, and error, He will remind you of Truth. When you are battling in a trial, He will encourage you with gentle reminders of who you are, Who is in You, and where you are going. The quietness and rest I have in my soul and Spirit, I leave with you. It is undisturbed by the temporal things of this world because it is secure in the knowledge and confidence I have in the ability of Him who is Eternal to keep what I have committed to Him, including Myself. I give this, I make this available to you. This peace I have you can have and it comes through Our presence in your life, and Our willingness to reveal ourselves to you, so that you may know Us and that We live within you. When you are aware of Who lives in you, and you have this kind of relationship with Him, with all 3 of them, how can what is temporary shake what is eternal? But we can't have this kind of revelation or understanding if we are not actively seeking Him. If we don't devote ourselves to Him. If we devote ourselves to the pleasing of ourselves, we miss out. If we are too busy to seek Him, we are too busy. This is why He said it's not as the world gives-the world can only give you temporary, deceptive relief. What I give you is true and eternal. So don't let your mind be agitated or terrified by what happens in this world. Don't let it disturb you for what you have been given cannot be taken from you. What I give you no man can take from you and no devil can either. So don't be timid or afraid in your mind by this world or by what is coming. I know you are about to face the biggest trial of your faith. You're going to see everything you trust in crucified and killed. You must have faith in God as I do, and have faith in Me that I have not lied to you. What you see and hear in the coming days will challenge everything you believe. Hold on to your faith in God and in Me and My Word for it is His Word that sent Me. Joh 14:28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye

loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater

than I. Joh 14:29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.

You have understood because I told you that you won't see Me anymore, that I have to go away, and I will return to you. Be happy about this, for it is to your benefit, your advantage. It's better for you that I do this. I'm telling you before all these things happen so when they do you will know and believe. After this, I won't have much time to talk to you for awhile because the one who rules here is coming, and there is nothing in Me he can find to accuse or use. The people will know that I do what I do because I love the Father so I will keep His commandment. Arise, let us leave here. Now, they begin the journey to the Garden of Gethsemane. It was dark outside as they headed out of the upper room, down the stairs into the courtyard, and out the door into the street. They traveled toward the All the inns were probably full as well with those who came to celebrate the Passover. There could have been people standing outside these establishments, doing their own things, as Jesus and His disciples passed along the darkened streets. They traveled toward the Temple, and as they are heading ultimately to the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus continues to speak to them Words of life that will strengthen and help them. It would not make much sense to them now but it would. He uses physical things such as vines and vineyards to illustrate spiritual things to them. Each one who belongs to the Lord is like a branch on the vine, connected to and in Christ. It is a spiritual connection. To maintain that connection is an absolute necessity. Since the Scripture warns us He will not join Himself to one who is of the world, or unclean, it is vital that we come out of the world and keep ourselves from the unclean things the world indulges in, be it in thought or deed. We can't allow anything that would separate or break our connection, our fellowship with Him. As we remain connected to Him, His life will flow into and through us and that is the power of the Holy Spirit. As a result, there will be evidence in our life of the Holy Spirit-a genuine love for God and for those He loves, including sinners. There will be all the fruit (or evidence) of the Spirit listed in Gal_5:22-23. If we abide in Him, His Spirit will produce and manifest these things in and through our lives, to the glory of God. We will be washed by the water of the Word (Eph 5:26). Independent from the vine, acting on our own, we are powerless, and helpless. We can do nothing. If we break our connection with Him, we wither and dry up just like a flower plucked from the ground. Separated from our Life Source, which is Christ, we die. As long as the connection is there, His divine life flows through and in us, sustaining us. Once broken, there is nothing but spiritual darkness and spiritual death as that Life Source is no longer flowing and what we had in us leaks out, not replenished. Those who are withered and dry are burned in the end. Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

If we stay in Him, if we tarry in His presence, remain in our place in Him, and we hold closely His Word, His commands, as our Treasure, our Life, then what we crave and desire more of Him will be ours. It will be our portion-performed for us by HIM. It will be shown to us, fulfilled in us. His Divine Nature, manifested in and

through us, as it was in Christ and as it was in Paul. His will shall come to pass in us because if His Word abides in us, it will cut us loose from that which is unlike Him. What a promise! The more we see and learn of Him the less we will want what is unlike Him! He says, the things I have spoken to you, I said them so that when the things you will soon face happen, you may have MY calmness, my delight, in your heart, in fullness. Heb 12:2 says He despised the shame of the cross but for the joy set before Him He endured. We must remember this. We may despise the trial and the shame and reproach the world will throw on us and at us. But HE is our EXCEEDING GREAT REWARD. Hold on to that, no matter what happens. Hold on to HIM. Mansions in heaven aside, gold streets aside, gates of pearl-who cares? HE did these things for His reasons. He prepared a place for His Bride. But HE is our Prize. HE is our Reward! Earthly praise and acceptance of men? Keep it. Reputation among men? He didn't have it so neither should I. Wealth and Fame? On earth-nah. But in hell I want to be known as one who will not let go of faith in the Word and will refuse to be shaken loose from the Rock on which I stand! In heaven, I want to be known as the one who loves Him enough to give Him all and be satisfied with just HIMSELF. His fellowship. I didn't say miracles, or visible ministry known by crowds. I said known by HIM, in private. That is my reward. Him and Him alone. Oh, God help us be willing to lay down our lives for you, for our friends, as You did. You laid down Your life for us. You know in the Greek, that word for 'lay down' is tithemi. (G5087) Could that be where we get the word 'tithe' from? That means you laid down what wasn't yours anyway, but what was set apart for God before you ever got it to start with. He laid down everything, His heart, mind, soul, the very essence of His life in that body was nailed to that cross for us. His whole person. Nothing was reserved for self. No provision was made for self. All to God's will. He says "You're no longer My servants, but you are My friends. My beloved, dear to My heart. You will revelation, understanding of all things of the Father. I make them known to you. I declare spiritual truth so you can understand. You did not choose Me, I chose you. I made the choice to call you to Myself, for a purpose. You will lead others into this same life I have for them that I share with You. Because My life is in you, you will be able to ask of the Father and He will give you what you require. You must love one another unselfishly as I have loved you. The world does not love this way, so they will not understand or like you or accept you. Know that now. They did not accept Me and they will not accept you. They will persecute and despise you as they have Me. When this happens, you must remember what I have said. You will drink the cup I drink. The Comforter, the One I send to parent and take care of you, on whom you must depend totally, He will bear record of Me to you. He will reveal who I really am to you. He shall know My heart and share it with you. He will give you the power to bear witness (G3140) martureo, the root word for martyr, in the same family with the Greek word "martus" (Act 1:8). He is telling them that they will give a firsthand account based on their personal experience with Him and intimate knowledge of who He is to others. In short, He's saying because you yourself KNOW me, you can reveal me to others. You can't teach or show what you yourself do not know. That is hearsay and not reliable. You will testify to them what you yourself know, not what others say or think.