End of the Story

March 26, 2013

Opening Hymns:
357 Just as I am http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh357.sht

Scripture Reading:
John 13:21-31

²¹ After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”
²² His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. ²³ One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. ²⁴ Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”
²⁵ Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
²⁶ Jesus 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, the son of Simon Iscariot. ²⁷ As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” ²⁸ But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. ²⁹ Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. ³⁰ As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

Message:
The disciples know that Jesus has never been wrong about anything. Hearing that someone was going to betray Him must have come as a shock to them. Who would do such a thing? How could someone so close to Jesus betray Him? We know that it was Judas who would betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver… he would not be able to live with what he had done, and would kill himself. Did Judas think that Jesus would die because of his betrayal? It is hard to know what motivation would cause such actions from a close disciple of Jesus.

When Jesus comes back from the dead He visits His disciples. He talks to Peter who had denied Him, and forgives him for denying. I wonder what would have happened had Judas not taken his life. He would have been able to see God’s plan unfold and he would have seen that death was not the end of the story.It was only sin that died, and love prevailed!

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for allowing us to see the end of the story. Thank you for sending Jesus down to show us how to love and to die for our sins on the cross. Amen


The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
64 Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh064.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God