Verses 1-6, 21-23
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Judas, even though he was one of the twelve disciples, became the betrayer of the Christ and possessed by Satan himself. This was perplexing to the disciples.
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Remember that anyone can be deceived and led astray, as Judas was.
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Always watch out for your fellow believers and never assume that someone is okay just because it appears so.
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Also understand that Satan has the ability to enter people. Another man, the antichrist, will also be possessed by Satan (2 Thessalonians 2:9). This leads to the greatest deceptions and evils.
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Verses 7-13
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See teaching on Matthew 26 for more details.
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Verse 13. “They went and found it just as He had said to them.” When God speaks, it will always be proven to be true, and it will line up exactly with what He said.
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As you grow in hearing the Spirit, you can ask and listen for instruction for tasks. And what the Spirit speaks, if it's truly the Spirit, will always be true. Simply keep this in mind.
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Verses 14-20
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Just as Jesus fervently desired to eat the Passover meal with His disciples—to institute what we call the Lord's Supper—we should deeply respect and desire Christ as we eat and drink.
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When Christ returns, we will eat with Him (Revelation 19:9).
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Every time you eat and drink today, remember Jesus, and look forward to the fellowship you will share with Him when He returns.
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Remember that you live and enjoy a relationship with God, with all your sins forgiven, only because of Jesus' blood (Hebrews 8:7-13).
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So, when you eat and drink, remember Jesus so that you learn to believe that your life doesn't come from food, but from the blood of Christ. This will keep you trusting in Christ.
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If you remember Christ as often as you eat and drink, which is many times a day, you will be mindful of Christ often, which is powerful for your faith.
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Verses 24-27
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Don't think competitively with other believers, and don't seek prominence or advantage from others.
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In the world today, typically the one that is served is seen as greater than the servant. However, in God's eyes, the one that serves others is seen as greater.
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Don't live your life expecting others to serve you, so that you can succeed and be promoted. Instead, serve others by helping them to succeed in their endeavors for God. See yourself as living for the purpose of waiting on others, as to give them what they need.
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Jesus served His disciples by helping them to succeed as His representatives; and He served them so well that He said they would surpass Him in the works that they did for the kingdom (John 14:12). Jesus wanted His disciples to achieve more for the kingdom even than He did in their actions.
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Think this way! Work to help other believers prosper in their life and faith, and desire that they excel beyond you in what they accomplish for God's glory. This is serving!
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Verses 28-30
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If we suffer for our faith, Christ is suffering with us (Romans 8:17).
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Remember that suffering with Christ leads to great reward in heaven (Matthew 5:10-12).
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And remember that serving others must include suffering for them! Be uncomfortable for the sake of bring benefit to others!
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Verses 31-34
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Verse 31. Understand that Satan asks for permission, from God, to tempt us or bring trials upon us (Job 1-2, 1 Corinthians 10:13).
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Take this to mean that God will never allow the devil to bring against you something that you are unable to handle or recover from. Take comfort in this!
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Even though Jesus knew that Peter would deny Him, He also knew that he would recover. And when he did, he would be able to strengthen his fellow disciples.
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Your story—how you've sinned, recovered, and became stronger—is a story that can bring strength and encouragement to others.
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When others are discouraged about your failures, share how God strengthened you after your failures!
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Verses 35-38
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During this time, Jesus asked His disciples to bring weapons in order to defend themselves against dangers that they might have encountered.
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Understand that in times of danger, it is important to be well-prepared. Do be prepared for danger that you foresee in the future (Proverbs 21:31, 22:3).
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Later, Peter used his sword to attack one of those that was arresting Jesus. This was an improper use of his weapon.
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This tells us that the disciples were not meant to use their weapons to defend Jesus from those that arrested Him, but to defend themselves from other attacks that we are not told about in the Scriptures.
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All in all, be prepared with means of self-defense, should you ever encounter a situation where someone or something is trying to kill you (unless you are to be killed for your faith, in which case, do not use violence; simply flee if you can [Matthew 10:23]).
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There is one exception to this rule. The only case where violence in retaliation to persecution is authorized is during the time of the end (Revelation 11:5).
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Verses 39-46
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See teaching on Matthew 26 for more details.
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Verses 42-43. Luke adds the detail here that, after Jesus prayed for deliverance from death, yet still accepted it, He was strengthened by an angel.
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Pray when things are hard! And know that if you submit yourself to God and trust His will in all circumstances, God will send what is needed for to have the strength you need to endure.
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This is the only time, in His entire life, where Jesus made a request in prayer that could not be granted.
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Sometimes, when we pray and ask for things, it cannot be granted because it is not in the will of God. But know that God still hears you, as Jesus was heard (Hebrews 5:7), and praying will give you strength to endure what you must.
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Verse 44. Sweating blood is a real medical condition that can only occur under unbearable stress and turmoil.
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Jesus submitted to God in obedience under the greatest amount of resistance imaginable, even to losing blood.
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And we have not yet resisted sin and obeyed God to the point of bloodshed (Hebrews 12:3-4).
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Do not complain or become discouraged during your hardships. If Jesus was able to obey during His trials, you can certainly obey during yours. You have it easy compared to Jesus, and Jesus obeyed as a Man who experienced the same weaknesses that you do (Hebrews 4:15).
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Verses 47-48
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See teaching on Matthew 26 for commentary.
Verses 49-51
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Not only did Jesus not want His disciples to use their swords against His persecutors, but He even healed one of them of a wound inflicted by His own disciples!
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How often does God have to heal those who were hurt by believers?
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As Jesus taught, “Do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).
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Verses 52-65
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See teaching on Matthew 26 for commentary.
Verses 66-71
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Notice that Jesus did not say the words, “I am the Son of God,” in this passage, and yet His enemies concluded this on their own. Jesus simply agreed with what they said, after they said it.
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He knew they would not believe Him, so He knew He didn't need to say it.
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Do not let unbelievers toy with you, and don't answer their questions when you know they do not intend to listen to your answers.
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Verse 71. They actually did not hear it from His mouth; they heard it from their own mouths, and Jesus agreed.
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Very often, unbelievers will confess the very things they claim to disbelieve, which proves that they actually do know the truth.
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Don't try to force unbelievers to be convinced of something that they already know and are just stubborn to accept. If their heart is hard, they won't hear you anyway. Don't push in these cases.
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You can bring knowledge that they do not yet have, but if they do have knowledge, and yet disbelieve, don't be pushy; be gentle.
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