Something interesting happened last Sunday at a young adults bible study. We were looking at John 13.
[sup]26[/sup] Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. [sup]27[/sup] Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”
At that verse someone just wondered, why is it that the devil enters Judas WHEN he takes the bread? What does the physical action have to do with the devil taking a man over?
Someone pointed out that receiving the dipped bread was the highest honor someone could receive in that time and situation. The study went on and then it clicked!
This represents what was really going on spiritually; Judas was being honored by God, but he was taking it to honor himself and for his own glory, which is exactly what the devil did. The Lord made Lucifer great, but Lucifer wanted to use it for his own glory. Judas did the same, and he accepted the highest honor to take it for himself. Then, he was like the devil, and so the devil entered him.
Then someone pointed to some verses just further in chapter 13.
[sup]31[/sup] So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. [sup]32[/sup] If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately.
The person pointed out how when Jesus received glory from God, he used it to give God glory. When "God pointed to Jesus, Jesus pointed back", so to speak. And that is how we must walk also.
The whole thing was quite interesting to me and a bit of a revelation from the Lord. I just thought I would share this... Feel free to share your thoughts on the matter
[sup]26[/sup] Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. [sup]27[/sup] Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”
At that verse someone just wondered, why is it that the devil enters Judas WHEN he takes the bread? What does the physical action have to do with the devil taking a man over?
Someone pointed out that receiving the dipped bread was the highest honor someone could receive in that time and situation. The study went on and then it clicked!
This represents what was really going on spiritually; Judas was being honored by God, but he was taking it to honor himself and for his own glory, which is exactly what the devil did. The Lord made Lucifer great, but Lucifer wanted to use it for his own glory. Judas did the same, and he accepted the highest honor to take it for himself. Then, he was like the devil, and so the devil entered him.
Then someone pointed to some verses just further in chapter 13.
[sup]31[/sup] So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. [sup]32[/sup] If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately.
The person pointed out how when Jesus received glory from God, he used it to give God glory. When "God pointed to Jesus, Jesus pointed back", so to speak. And that is how we must walk also.
The whole thing was quite interesting to me and a bit of a revelation from the Lord. I just thought I would share this... Feel free to share your thoughts on the matter