NOVEMBER 1, 2021 READINGS... John 18:1-2 & Mark 14:32-42 & Matthew 26:36-46 &
Luke 22:39-46 & Mark 14:43-52 & Matthew 26:47-56 & Luke 22:47-53 & John 18:3-24
If you have remained with me through this year, you now are just two months away from reading the entire Bible. Great job! I know you have been blessed in reading God’s Word.
In today’s reading we come to the betrayal of Jesus, as He moves closer to the cross. Our reading begins with Jesus going to the Garden of Gethsemane. The word Gethsemane means to press down. This garden is an Olive grove, that had presses(gethsemanes), to get the oil out of the olives. If you go to Jerusalem today you can visit this garden on the side of the Mount of Olives. Incredibly, there are olive trees there that were there in the time of Jesus. It was in this garden that we have Jesus, as it were, pressed down with the thought of what He was about to face. He prayed to His Father, that if possible this cup of suffering could somehow pass without Him going through this, but more than anything Jesus wanted God’s will to be done. He took with Him His inner-circle of disciples, asking them to wait with Him as He prayed…sadly, they could not even stay awake. It was in this garden that Judas, the betrayer, led the crowd, and a contingent of Roman soldiers to come and take Jesus captive. There was nothing legal about this whole thing, and notice they did this at night, and in secret. They intended to take not only Jesus, but also those who were with Him, Jesus convinced them to let the disciples go. It is here that Peter cuts off the ear of the high priest’s slave, and Jesus heals him. It is also here that John runs away into the garden. It is here that Judas kisses Jesus, betraying Him with the kiss.
The last part of our reading has an interesting encounter between Jesus and the high priest Annas. Jesus challenges Annas concerning his questions. Part of this was because this “kangaroo court” was being done in secret. Jesus basically told him that He has spoken openly, and if Annas had any questions he could ask those who heard Jesus speak. One of the guards struck Jesus, and told Him not to speak to the high priest in such a manner. Then it says that Annas had Jesus bound and sent to Caiaphas, the high priest. So, who is the high priest? Well let me share my opinion with you that neither Annas or Caiaphas had a legitimate biblical claim to the position of high priest. That position was reserve for a man who was of the line of Aaron…which neither of these men were. I believe that Jesus’ response to Annas was in part based upon the fact that the Lord did not recognize Annas as the high priest. So, who was the high priest? The answer is that both these men held the position…and switch off…but neither were God’s high priest. If they were actually God’s high priest they would have recognized Jesus. Everything had become corrupted in Israel during this time…think about it. The house of Herod held the thrown…illegitimate! Annas and Caiaphas, held the office of high priest…illegitimate! Corruption is the way of mankind…especially mankind practicing a religion where humans are in control, rather than the Lord. May we learn this message and recognize only Jesus as the Head of the church.
Please share your thoughts from today’s reading.
TOMORROW’S READINGS… Mark 14:53-65 & Matthew 26:57-68 & Mark 14:66-72 & Matthew 26:69-75 & Luke 22:54-62 & John 18:25-27 & Mark 15:1 & Matthew 27:1-2 &
Luke 22:66-71
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