Commentary on John 13 (5)

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Commentary on John 13 (5)

Not only was Judas Iscariot betraying Jesus, but even Peter refused, even though Jesus offered to wash Peter's feet in order to buy him off, because the Holy Spirit of truth had not yet come.

He didn't even know why Jesus was washing his feet, but he asked him to wash his hands and his head too.

Until then, Peter did not know how to truly buy into Jesus.

However, after the Holy Spirit came to this earth on the day of Pentecost, Peter said, “God has made Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:36)

Only then did Peter finally accept Jesus as his savior.

Because of this, he said to the people, “whether it be right in the sight of God to hear unto you more than unto God, judge you.” (Acts 4:19)

In other words, he risked his life to buy Jesus Christ as his Lord and Christ.

But when the Lord washed his feet, he did not buy the Lord.

So Peter said, “I will lay down my life to follow you, Lord, even if it means death,” but Jesus said, “No, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” (John 13:37-38)

So, in John 13, it is about buying and selling, and the Lord buys us and we buy the Lord.

This is reception.

So, the person sent by the Lord is the one who buys Jesus, but in fact, he is really trying to sell Jesus to other people.

These are people who try to sell him for free.

But receiving those people means buying Jesus Christ.

That is the true meaning of the ritual of foot-washing, the so-called foot-washing ceremony.

So, loving one another means washing each other's feet, being tolerant of one another, and receiving one another.

It means loving one's neighbors.

But Peter was still self-loving.

Take a look at Peter to see how his self-love is displayed.

Peter said, ‘Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.’ (John 13:37)” How can "I" not follow you? I will lay down "my" life for you.

This is loving the Lord with something that is his own.

On the other hand, the modern church has many Judas Iscariot-like elements.

Instead of trying to make the attributes of Jesus Christ their own, they simply try to sell Jesus Christ for their own benefit.

If we were to summon Judas Iscariot and hold a hearing to ask him why he did that, there would be a humanely understandable reason.

The Bible only says that Judas Iscariot is a sinner, but in reality, if you listen to what Judas Iscariot said, it makes sense.

Looking at Dong-ri Kim's 'Cross of Saban', Judas Iscariot's protest makes human sense.

Because he thought that if he followed Jesus Christ, he would liberate Israel.

But the strange thing is, why does he die with such incredible abilities?

So I felt so unfair that I sold it.

Although this is true from a human perspective, biblically and spiritually, it has become a stooge of Satan and an enemy of God.

If you look at the situation at that time from a human perspective, you can understand Judas Iscariot.

It's still the same now.

Some may ask what is wrong with selling out Jesus Christ to benefit people's lives.

Isn't the capitalist system about buying and selling?

So isn’t our whole life about buying and selling?

Selling your work to make money, selling your money to buy rice, etc. In a capitalist society, there is nothing wrong with people buying and selling.

However, the Bible rebukes us by asking why we buy and sell the truth.

The truth must be made mine.

We do not study the Word of God and be zealous in ministry in order to sell it.

In reality, ministry itself must benefit us through that ministry.

It is not about selling the ministry and benefiting myself through ministry or missionary activities.

It must be beneficial to my existence through that ministry.

I need to gain weight spiritually.

In fact, why would God tear down the tower that his servants worked so hard to build for a long time?

This is because God does not want a tall tower that requires effort, but rather the ability to build a tower that requires effort.

That is why, despite the hard work of the Lord's servants, God tears them down.

He wants to tear it down and rebuild it.

We humans always remember our achievements in buying and selling.

But not this.

God's achievements must remain within us forever.

That is God's will for us and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is the blessing of today, this day of salvation.

If we make a mistake, the modern church may end up criticizing Judas Iscariot to the fullest and end up following in Judas Iscariot's footsteps.

That's what happens when you follow the trends of the world.

Yesterday, a pastor read my morning post and sent me a message that resonated with me, so I am sharing it with you.

‘The church, the body of Christ, went to Rome and became an institution, went to Europe and became a culture, went to the United States and became a business, and came to Korea and became a large corporation’ (Michael More). I sympathize.

And even now, like Peter did back then, we can love the Lord with self-love.

The Church of Laodicea in Revelation 3 is a church of self-love (Laodicea)

They rule the people according to their will.

What is Catholic Church now?

Rather than inheriting the tradition of Peter in 1 and 2 Peter, who was born again and testified, confessed, and praised the Lord, the Catholic Church  has inherited the tradition of “I will follow the Lord, I will lay down my life for you."

Perhaps, if you asked the changed Peter to become the first Pope of the Catholic Church, he would have run away as far as possible.

And then I'm not that kind of person. I am not a follower of the Lord to become Pope.

For the lord, I will follow. This is me who said I would give up my life for the Lord, but then denied the Lord.

I'm the type of person who can't do that. Only the Lord can do that. You guys, I'll never be the Pope.

However, the Philadelphia church in Revelation 3 is a church of brotherly love and a church with open doors to one another.

Therefore, may we also be open to one another in Christ.

If a church becomes like now where you have to touch a barcode on the door to enter, it is no longer a church.

When someone comes for the first time, I hope that the church will be more open instead of asking, “What did this person do to get here?”

The Church of Laodicea is a closed door church that always places Jesus Christ outside.

Doesn't open the door.

They just always hear the voice of Jesus.

And what they are saying is that the Lord will always be there.

You will be there yesterday, today and forever, right? Please protect us there. It's like this.

We must once again think deeply about the issue of reception in John 13.

Only then will the words of the Lord come true, “A new commandment I give you, that you love one another. If you love one another, all man know that you are my disciples.” (John 13:34-35)

Now we must understand what the new commandment is and what the new covenant is.

Since the new covenant is not being propagated properly, some people are insisting that the Book of Revelation is the new covenant, which is a laughable situation.

That's not even heresy, it's just trash.

The Lord sold himself to buy us and receive us.

Then we must receive the Lord in his full name.

That is the new commandment.

This new commandment is given to us to love one another.

There is nothing more frustrating than trying to love one another without this new commandment for the Lord to receive us and for us to receive the Lord.

There is nothing in the world more difficult than this: to love without the Spirit and life of Christ.

When we go to church, people teach us to greet each other, “I love you in the Lord.”

Because people practice telling lies they don't want to, wrinkles appear on their faces.

Wrinkles appear around their mouth because they tell too many white lies and fake smiles.

There are very few people who have been in the business for a long time without wrinkles forming around their mouths.

When a customer comes, we always say, “Welcome.” Even when a child comes, we say, “Welcome.” Even when a 100 won bill comes, we say, “Welcome,” so the wrinkles are getting worse.

Perhaps, if you live as a deacon for a long time, wrinkles may form around your mouth.

Even if you hate her, even if you get in trouble, you say, “Oh, Deacon Kim is here. “I really like Deacon Kim.” If you do this, wrinkles may form around your mouth without you even realizing it.

This is the rank insignia of white lies.

But what do people lack in doing so?

This is because they try to love without having new commandments.

This is because it is self-love that strives to love one another without buying and selling with the Lord and without this new commandment.

That's why the face has deep wrinkles around the mouth.

This is what the Bible wants to point out.

As I will tell you in John 16, all the disciples, including Peter and John, completely change after Pentecost.

After the Spirit of truth comes and their natures are replaced through the pain of childbirth, they begin to love each other.

Hallelujah!

Written by Ptr. Yohan Kim.

Translated by  Nancy Chung

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