Hypocrite received communion!
Does it trouble you that in our schools, our homes, our society and even in our courts it can often happen that the wicked get away with their evil deeds? 1*. People are tempted to ask, "What is the use of trying to live honest lives when the dishonest seem to get away with their wrongdoing?"
Here is the true story of an evil man who was getting well paid for his evil lifestyle. 2*. This man, while carrying out his evil plans, continued to appear to be very religious and even received communion! He seemed to be getting away with it, but he certainly would not escape God's judgment! 3*.
We take up the story as "Jesus and His apostles reclined at the table" sharing the Passover feast together. Jesus "took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'"4*.
Jesus was NOT going to be around much longer, 5*. but He was leaving His disciples with a simple meal that would remind them of Him. The supper of bread and wine 4*. was to keep reminding Jesus' true followers of the body and blood Jesus sacrificed once and for all on the cross. 6*.
Because of that one sacrifice for all our sins 7*. every sinner who trusts Jesus as his or her only Priest and Saviour is forgiven and made acceptable to God. 8*.
If Jesus had done a miracle and changed the bread and wine into His body and blood HE WOULD NOT HAVE ASKED THEM TO EAT IT AS A SUPPER! Jesus would not want His followers to behave as cannibals and eat human flesh, nor would He want them to disobey God's clear command that forbids the drinking of blood. 9*.
As the disciples shared that supper Jesus said, "the hand of him who is going to betray Me is with Mine on the table."
There at the table with the other disciples was Judas Iscariot, a wicked, greedy and deceptive man. He appeared to be as religious as the others, willingly receiving the supper to remind him of Jesus' great love and sacrifice for him.
Judas, the hypocrite, received communion; but he did not deceive Jesus! Jesus said, "The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him." Judas faced eternal destruction for his unrepentant wicked living! Jesus said it would have been better for Judas if he had never been born! 10*.
Remember this - taking the bread and wine of communion never made anyone good and acceptable to God! It is faith in the real living Jesus in Heaven - whose body and blood were once sacrificed for you on the cross - that brings forgiveness and acceptance with God. 7*.
Don't you be like this hypocrite at communion in Luke chapter 22, verses 14-23. Repent and trust Jesus in Heaven for forgiveness!
Bye for now,
John Nixon, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
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Bible quotations from N.I.V.
1 See Psalm 73:1-16.
2 Luke 22:4-5.
3 See Psalm 73:13-22.
4 Luke 22:14-19.
5 John 7:34, 36. 8:21. 13:33
6 Hebrews 9:22-28. Luke 22: 20.
7 Romans 3:21-26. 5:6-11.
8 Hebrews 7:21-28. 1st Peter 3:18.
9 Acts 15:20, 29. Leviticus 17:11-12.
10Luke 22:21-22. John 17:12. Mark 14:21.