Judas listens beyond the door
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Fifth Sunday of Easter
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/042813.cfm
John 13:27-35
After Judas took the morsel of bread dipped in wine, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” So he took the morsel and left at once. And it was night. Â
When Judas had left them, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and God will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
We are old patchwork rags met by a seamless perfect and pure garment woven by God. Such a poor lot of disciples we are, attending the Messiah. How can we ever measure ourselves against him? I admit it. I am jealous of his power, I am jealous of his understanding, I covet his prophetic insight, and I am even jealous of his ability to love us.
I can’t love like he does even on my best day. He asks more than I can give. He insists I see the work from his point of view, but I can’t rid myself of my own. His quiet spirit of peaceful resistance works for him because he can out-think his enemy. We cannot, and so we must fight. He can only lead us if he fights with us.
What is Jesus thinking of me now? Is he thinking of me at all? Suddenly he seems full of himself, his own glory, his own destiny. He is preparing to die. And once again he settles into his favorite train of thought. Love. Love each other like I’ve loved you.
How has he loved me? He washed my feet tonight. His hands were tender on my skin.  He kissed my foot and looked into my eyes. Of course I didn’t know what to say. Thank you? For loving me? And what do I do now?
He has promised to die here in Jerusalem, and I can’t allow that to happen. I only know one way to stop him, though, and it’s very risky. When they are forced to act, the high priests and Pharisees will have to side with Jesus to avoid a rebellion by the people. That kind of rebellion would be crushed by the Romans, and so many would be killed. With the priests to blame? No, they will not let that happen.
It will be wise for Jesus to accept their support, and for them to accept his. His ridicule of them will be forgotten, and together they must forge an alliance strong enough to assert our independence and receive our freedom. The Roman Empire cannot stand against the Messiah-led people of God.
Truly, these are dark days. It is the dead of night now, and dawn is far off. I must walk with strength and carry myself with head held high. I see the path, and I am following it, step by step by step.
When this night is over, I must remember to say my prayers.
We are impatient, Lord, for your coming. Because your dwelling is with the human race. You will dwell with us and we will be your people and you yourself will always be with us as our God. You will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away. You sit on the throne, Lord, and in quiet strength you tell us all, “Behold! I make all things new.” Let me learn to wait for you, Lord, and not to rush into this victory on my own. (Rev 21)
http://www.christiancounselingservice.com/archived_devotions.php?article_id=1194
