The book about the life of Jesus Christ,
the Son of God
“Verse by verse”, the deeper meaning of this Bible book,
explained in the light of the Israelitic tabernacle.
Participation in the Nature of God by His excellent grace
(Part I)
Their 7 distinguising marks
The chapters 13 and 14 of John tell us that we are called unto an intense union with our almighty, holy God! This is a divine plan, which already existed before the foundation of the world (Genesis 1:26; Ephesians 1:3-6; Revelation 21:3-7).
Seen in the light of the Israelitic tabernacle, this perfect union is being expressed by the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:10-22; Hebrews 9:3-5). This covenant chest, made of shittim or acacia wood covered with leafgold, typifies the perfect (Bride-)Church. Inwardly she is united with God in His threefold revelation forms, depicted by:
- tables of the two Law (type of the Father);
- the bowl of manna (type of the Son);
- Aaron’s budding staff (type of the Holy Spirit).
But also outwardly she is in a profound (marriage) union with our God. With the Ark of the Covenant this was expressed by:
- the gold mercy seat (type of the Son);
- the two cherubs of pure gold (type of the Father and the Holy Spirit).
This mercy-seat with over it the two cherubs had to be made of one lump of gold. The goldsmith had to forge this entirely in the form desired by God. Through this symbolism the fact is being expressed that our God is one Being, one Person, one Lord, and thus NOT a trinity (not three divine persons, together forming a spiritual unity) as is taught by many. In Deuteronomy 6:4 it is literally written: “Hear, O Israel, YaHWeH is our God, YaHWeH is One (Person)“.
In order to be equal to Him the Christ-nature must be poured into (planted in) us (1 John 3:2; Romans 5:5; 8:29; Philippians 3:20-21; 2 Peter 1:4), that we, together with the Son, might be images of God for all eternity (Genesis 1:26; Ephesians 3:10; 1 Peter 2:9). Romans 8:17 and Genesis 15:1 also speak of this union with and in God.
1.
As His images we must share His loving care and meekness
John 13 verse 1-17: “Now before the feast of passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done unto you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”
The Church, as the (spiritual) Body of Christ, must share the same loving care for each other, which lived and lives in Jesus too. She must also share the same meekness He had; Who, being Master and Lord, humbled Himself and washed His disciples’ feet. Therefore we, too, no matter what wonderful calling we may have in the Body of Christ, should never consider ourselves higher than any other in that Body (Philippians 2:3), but must submit ourselves unto each other in the (holy) fear of God (Matthew 11:29; Luke 17:10; Ephesians 5:21).
Jesus was their Master and Lord, yet towards His disciples He showed the shape of a servant (1 Peter 5:1-3). Hence true leadership in the Church is also a serving leadership, which means that one is willing to serve the other(s), and care for them unto the (spiritual) maturity in Christ (Ephesians 4:12-16).
On the other hand we also should be willing to gratefully undergo/accept this being served by the other, that we, in ever increasing measure, may share Christ and, through Christ, God!
Not all in the (earthly) churches belong to Christ.
John 13 verse 18-30: “I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom (or: sitting close to Him) one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus’ breast (or: leaning over to Jesus) saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop (i.e. a piece of bread), when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.”
Already in the first group of future fellow-laborers there was a Judas Iscariot, who would betray Jesus… So also in the “model-church” of Philadelphia “synagogues of satan” were found in the midst of the true believers (Revelation 3:9). And so also, in the last days, many “Christians”, often without realizing it themselves, will have been influenced by satan, and will come to false (satanic) “Pentecost experiences”, to a (satanic) imitation of the Holy Spirit. These are people who receive their charisma from hell (Matthew 7:13-23; 24:5, 11 and 23-26; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 2 Thessalonians 2:9).
Personally I, in a night vision (i.e. dream, vision), saw the following: I saw a cheering and singing group of people rise up and all disappear in a gaping tiger’s mouth!
The “Pentecost experience” (the experience of the infilling with the Holy Spirit) borders on spiritualism! For we, too, who are (really) filled with the Holy Spirit, have contact with the “paranormal/super-natural”, but we have this contact with (and seek it with) Jesus Christ, our risen Savior (1 Corinthians 2:2), and His Holy Spirit, Which He sent to us (John 14:15-17; Revelation 5:6).
If we move into the “paranormal/supernatural” without Jesus – Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life (unto the Father) (John 14:6) – we make contact (and will have contact) with the lie and death, with the satanic world of spiritualism; even if they seem to be “angels of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15; Deuteronomy 8:9-14).
2.
True discipleship is characterized by divine brotherly and sisterly love
John 13 verse 31-35: “Therefore when he (Judas) was gone out (from them), Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say (it) to you. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye (so) also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
Jesus (through the offer of His life on the cross of Golgotha) fulfilled the will of God unto the salvation of humanity from satan’s power. Thus He shall bring all, who (sincerely) are willing, in the righteous-ness of God. He did, and does, this driven (motivated) by the love of God in Him (Hebrews 10:5-10; Psalm 40:7-11). And, because this love of God towards humanity was expressed through Him (John 3:16), the Father was glorified in Him (verse 31). Hence the Father would also glorify Jesus soon, by making Him to return unto and in Him (John 16:28; 17:4-5; 1 Corinthians 15:28).
We, too, will glorify God already here on earth, if we reveal His divine nature and love (2 Peter 1:4); if we, as members of His Church show each other God’s love. This divine love (the ripe fruit of God’s Spirit in us; Galatians 5:22) is the mark of true discipleship. This divine nature and love are also the characteristics of the eternal, divine life within us, the Christ-life, wherein we share and which makes us victors over satan and all his hordes (Romans 8:35-39; Colossians 3:14).
3.
Members of the Body of Christ are further characterized by the courage of the Lion of Judah
John 13 verse 36-38: “Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards. Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.”
Human religious courage will soon turn out to be weakness. Through the grace of God our personal weakness must develop unto the courage of the Lion of Judah (type of Jesus as Victor) (Joshua 1:6-9; 2 Timothy 1:7).
By E. van den Worm
A Dutch Bible teacher
To be continued
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P.S. :
Translated from Dutch into English
See our Dutch site https://eindtijdbodeBijbelstudies.wordpress.com with far more studies you can translate by Google etc.
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