Today’s selected reading continues in the New Testament gospel narrative of the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ as it was written and recorded by the apostle John. More specifically today’s passage is found in the sixteenth chapter of this New Testament gospel. “These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killers you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you. But not I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged” (John 16:1-11). “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them not. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and. Ye shall see me, because I go to the Father” (John 16:12-16). “Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? We cannot tell what he saith. Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father” (john 16:17-28). “His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now are we sure that you knowest all things, and neediest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:29-33). THESE THINGS HAVE I SPOKEN! THESE THINGS HAVE I SPOKEN UNTO YOU! THESE THINGS HAVE I SPOKEN UNTO YOU THAT YE SHOULD NOT BE OFFENDED! When you come to the sixteenth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John you will encounter a tremendous portion of text written by this apostle who walked with and followed the Lord Jesus Christ. If you take the time to read the words which make up the opening and beginning of this chapter you will indeed encounter a truly wonderful and powerful truth contained in the words which Jesus spoke unto His disciples. Upon reading the opening verse of this chapter you will find the apostle John writing and recording the words which the Lord Jesus spoke unto His disciples on this particular night—the night in which He Himself would be betrayed. If there is one thing that makes this truly astonishing when you take the time to think about and consider it it’s that Jesus would speak these words knowing that on this very night He would be betrayed by one of His own. Jesus would deliver these words and would indeed emphatically declare unto His disciples that one from among them would betray Him—words that would directly correlate to that which He had spoken unto them times before. In reading the four gospel accounts—specifically the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew—you will encounter the tremendous truth that Jesus would indeed prepare His disciples for the betrayal that would take place. What’s more is the Lord Jesus would prepare His disciples for a betrayal that would take place which would deliver Him up and over into the hands of the chief priests, the scribes and elders. As if this weren’t enough the Lord Jesus would also prepare His disciples for the fact that He would be betrayed and delivered up into the hands of sinners who would scourge and ultimately kill and crucify Him. The more I think about and consider the words which are found in this passage of Scripture the more I am brought face to face with the incredibly awesome and powerful fact that Jesus delivered these words on the very night in which He would be betrayed. What’s more is that He would deliver and speak these words after He had declared unto His disciples that one from among their own ranks would betray Him. At this particular point Judas Iscariot the son of Simon would have already left the upper room and the fellowship of the disciples never to return or be restored unto that fellowship again. It would be on this particular night Satan would both enter and fill the heart of Judas Iscariot thus enabling him to be able to conspire together with the chief priests, scribes and elders of the people. WHEN RELIGION CUTS A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL! Oh if there is one thing I find absolutely incredible when reading the words presented in this passage of Scripture it’s how both the physician Luke and the apostle John write and record how Satan entered into Judas on this particular night. After Jesus had given the sop unto Judas Scripture writes and records how Satan entered him and it would be at that moment Jesus would speak unto him and tell him to do what he was going to do quickly. There is something truly astonishing about this when you take the time to consider it for Scripture seems to suggest that Judas conspired together with the chief priests and scribes before participating in the Last Supper. It might even be true that when Judas was present in the upper room together with Jesus and His disciples he had the bag filled with the thirty pieces of silver which the chief priests and scribes had covenanted together with him to deliver Jesus up into their hands. I sit here today thinking about this and how absolutely incredible it truly is for it calls and draws our attention to the fact that although Judas had indeed conspired together with the chief priests and scribes prior to participating in the last supper with Jesus and His disciples they would still cut a deal with the devil. Scripture makes it very clear that after Jesus had given the sop unto Judas at the table on this particular night that Satan would enter him—and I would not only say enter him but also fill his heart that he might betray him into the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ. The words which the Lord Jesus would indeed speak unto His disciples on this particular night would be delivered on the very night in which He Himself would be betrayed by Judas Iscariot who was the son of Simon. Jesus knew in advance those things which He must suffer, Jesus knew that He would be betrayed, Jesus knew that He would suffer at the hands of the chief priests, the scribes and the elders of the people, Jesus knew that He would suffer at the hands of sinners, and Jesus knew that He would be killed and crucified at the hands of the Romans before being buried in the earth and being raised to life on the third day. What makes this truly astonishing and powerful when you take the time to think about it is when you consider the fact that Jesus would take the time to prepare and make ready His disciples ready for those things which He would suffer in the flesh before ultimately being killed and crucified. Before I present you with the words and language surrounding Satan filling and entering Judas I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the words which the Lord Jesus would speak unto His disciples concerning the suffering which He would face in the flesh before ultimately being killed and crucified: “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Bpatist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ” (Matthew 16:13-20). “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan; thou art an offense unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels: and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom” (Matthew 16:21-28). “And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist” (Matthew 17:9-13). “And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: and they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry” (Matthew 17:22-23). “And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again” (Matthew 20:17-19). “And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, Ye know that after two days is the feast of the Passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas. And consulted that they might take Jesus by bubtilty, and kill him. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people” (Matthew 26:1-5). We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of the tremendous truth that is found within these verses for within them we are brought face to face with the incredible reality of Jesus preparing His disciples for His betrayal. Well before the night in which he would celebrate the Passover and partake of the meal together with His disciples Jesus would prepare them for the reality that He would be betrayed. What’s more is that not only would He prepare them for the fact that He would be betrayed but He would also prepare them for the fact that He would suffer in the flesh. Jesus would declare unto His disciples that He would be betrayed before being delivered up into the hands of the chief priests, the scribes and the elders and suffer many things of them. Moreover Jesus also declared unto His disciples that He would be betrayed into the hands of men who would scourge and kill Him. Jesus knew those things which He must suffer in the flesh and knew that it was for this reason and for this purpose that He had come. There were multiple occasions and times when the Lord Jesus had deliberately and intentionally spoken unto the disciples concerning those things which He must suffer while not actually describing that which He would face and endure while in the flesh. Jesus knew that He would suffer many things in the flesh and I would dare say that He knew that He would be scourged, He knew that He would be spit upon, He knew that He would be slapped, He knew that He would be buffeted, He knew that He would be ridiculed, and He even knew that a crown of thorns would be plated and placed upon His head. Jesus deliberately and intentionally sought to declare unto His disciples those things which He must suffer in the flesh and that He must ultimately be killed and put to death before being raised from death to life on the third day. These truths are indeed incredibly necessary to think about and consider for they call and draw our attention to the absolutely wonderful reality that before Jesus would indeed be betrayed on the night in which the Passover meal would be celebrated He prepared and made ready His disciples for the fact that He would be betrayed. What’s more is that eventually Jesus would begin showing and revealing unto them that it would be one from among themselves who would betray Him. Jesus didn’t merely know that He would be betrayed but He knew that it would be one from among the twelve who would rise up against Him and betray Him. What would begin with Jesus declaring unto and preparing His disciples for His being betrayed would eventually culminate in the understanding that He would be betrayed by one of His own. This is something we must needs understand when reading the words which are found in this passage of Scripture for within this passage of Scripture we are brought face to face with the wonderful and beautiful truth surrounding Jesus’ understanding of exactly what would happen to Him. Jesus knew that He would be betrayed and knew that one of His own would betray Him and eventually He would begin disclosing and revealing this unto the disciples. ON the very night in which He would celebrate the Passover meal together with His disciples the Lord Jesus would be betrayed by one of His own—one who sat with Him at the table and one with whom He had enjoyed fellowship with. ON this particular night Jesus would be betrayed—not only by one who sat at the table on this particular night but also by one who had walked with and enjoyed fellowship together with Him for three and a half years. It is at this particular juncture where I find it absolutely incumbent to call your mind to the words which Jesus would declare unto His disciples as the time of His betrayal, suffering and death drew closer still. Eventually Jesus would speak in plain terms and would declare unto His disciples that it would be one of their own ranks and one of their own members who would betray Him. Oh Jesus didn’t disclose the actual name of the one who would betray Him nor would Jesus describe how the betrayal would take place and what it would look like. The only thing Jesus would declare unto His disciples was that one from among their own ranks and number would betray Him. Even when He gave and offered a clue as to who would betray Him the disciples did and could not understand who it was who would actually betray Him. Even when Jesus declared unto His disciples that one from among them would indeed betray Him they would all ask among themselves whether or not it was they who could betray Him. With this being said Jesus would prepare His disciples for the fact that one from among them would betray Him—and not only betray Him but betray Him into the hands of the chief priests, the scribes and the elders of the people. On this particular night religion and religious leaders would conspire together with the devil himself for it would be after Judas had taken the sop from the hand of Jesus that Satan would enter him. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for it brings us face to face with the incredibly awesome and powerful truth surrounding the fact that on this night religion and the religious leaders would indeed conspire together and cut a deal with the devil for Satan did and would in fact enter into Judas. Oh with this in mind I invite you to consider the following words which are found concerning Jesus speaking of that one who would betray Him there at the table in the upper room at the Last Supper: “Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man goeth as it is written of Him: but woe unto the man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! IT had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said” (Matthew 26:20-25). “And in the evening he cometh with the twelve. And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me. And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? And another said, Is it I? And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish. The Son of man indeed goether, as it is written of him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! Good were it for that man if he had never been born” (Mark 14:17-21). “But behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed! And they began to inquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing” (Luke 22:21-23). “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 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 saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, 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” (John 13:21-30). It is within this particular passage found in the thirteenth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John we find Jesus being troubled in his spirit at the table in the upper room. Jesus had finished eating supper together with His disciples and had even finished washing the disciples feet and would indeed become troubled in his spirit. Scripture reveals that the reason Jesus was troubled in his spirit was because He knew that one who was present among them at the table would indeed lift up their hand against Him and would betray Him into the hands of the chief priests, the scribes and the elders of the people. This is something we must needs recognize when considering these words for in this passage of Scripture we find Jesus being troubled in His spirit and declaring unto His disciples that one of them would betray Him. The disciples themselves would look upon each other asking and inquiring whether or not it would be them who would and perhaps even could betray Him. Simon called Peter would beckon unto that one who was leaning upon Jesus’ bosom and asked him to inquire who it was that should betray Him. Jesus would respond by declaring that it would be to whom He would give a sop when He had dipped it. Immediately after this Jesus would dip the sop and give it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. The apostle John writes how after Jesus had given the sop unto Judas and he did take it Satan entered into him. It would be immediately after Satan entered into Judas the son of Simon Jesus would speak directly unto him and instruct him to do what he did quickly. None of the disciples knew that for which the Lord Jesus had spoken and thought that he was giving Judas instruction to give something to the poor or even get something for the purpose of the feast. Upon hearing these words Judas would indeed depart from the upper room, and from the presence of Jesus, and from the fellowship of the disciples and would set forth from that moment on to put in motion those events which would lead to the seizing and laying hands upon the person of the Lord Jesus. I find it necessary to also call and draw your attention to the following words which are found in the New Testament gospel narrative written by the physician Luke. The words which I am going to present unto you now are directly connected to each of the passages which have previously been mentioned in this writing, however, they are more closely aligned with that which is found in the thirteenth chapter of this New Testament gospel written by the apostle John. The words which we find in this passage of Scripture indicate that after Jesus had dipped the sop and gave it unto Judas Satan would enter into him. Scripture doesn’t reveal anything more about this particular exchange and event which would take place within the life of Judas—only that Satan had entered into him. It would be immediately after this Jesus would instruct—perhaps even command—Judas to do what he would do quickly. It would be at that particular moment Judas would depart from the upper room and from fellowship together with the person of the Lord Jesus and His disciples. What we must needs realize and recognize when reading the words found in this passage of Scripture is that there is another place where it is written how Satan would enter into the person of Judas Iscariot. It would be the physician Luke who would write concerning Satan putting into the heart of Judas to betray Jesus into the hands of the chief priests, scribes and elders. This is something that we must needs recognize for when reading the gospel narratives it’s necessary to know and note that Judas might now have been able to carry out betraying the Son of man into the hands of the chief priests, scribes and elders were it not for Satan putting into his heart to do so and Satan even entering him. Oh with this in mind I invite you to consider the following words which are found in the twenty-second chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the physician Luke: “Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people. Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains how he might betray him unto them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude” (Luke 22:1-6). I am absolutely convinced we must needs pay close attention to the words which are found in this passage of Scripture for on the same night in which Jesus was betrayed He would take the bread, bless and break it and give it unto His disciples. We know that on the same night in which the Lord Jesus was betrayed He would take the cup which was the cup of the new covenant in His blood which he would not partake of again until He did so in the kingdom of his Father with them. It would be on the night in which Jesus was betrayed He would also prepare His disciples for that which ahead for them in His absence after His departure from this earth. It is absolutely important to recognize when reading these words that not only did Jesus prepare His disciples for His betrayal, not only did He prepare them for his suffering, not only did he prepare them for his crucifixion and being put to death, and not only did He prepare them for His resurrection but He would also prepare them for His departure. With this being said we must recognize that His preparing them for His departure from this earth would also carry with it His preparing them for what to expect in the wake of His absence from the earth. What we find within these chapters bring us face to face with Jesus preparing His disciples for his departure from this earth and His return unto the Father from whom He had been sent and from whom He had come. With this being said the Lord Jesus would prepare His disciples for the arrival of the person and presence of the Holy Spirit who would indeed be the Comforter and the Spirit of truth. Although the Lord Jesus would prepare His disciples for His departure from this world and return to the Father He would also prepare them for His coming again—and not only His coming again but also the coming and arrival of the Spirit of truth. The Lord Jesus would indeed prepare and make ready His disciples for the arrival of the Holy Spirit and would declare unto them that until and unless He departed from them and returned unto the Father the Spirit would and could not come. In addition to Jesus preparing His disciples for His departure from this world and the return unto the Father who was in heaven He would prepare them for the arrival of the Holy Spirit. Jesus knew that the Holy Spirit would come and that they would need the Holy Spirit to be able to live faithfully in the days which would be ahead of them. While it was indeed true Jesus knew those things which would befall Him He also knew those things which would befall the disciples in the coming days in His absence yet in the presence of the Holy Spirit. IN THE ABSENCE OF THE SON YET IN THE PRESENCE OF THE SPIRIT! It is important to recognize that in the days which were ahead for the apostles they would live absent the Son whom they had walked and had fellowship with for three and a half years. Despite the fact that they would live in the absence of the Son they would live in and enjoy the fellowship of the presence and presence of the Spirit. Although Jesus would depart from them and would ascend and return unto the Father who was in heaven He would send the promise of the Father who would come unto them. With this being said we must needs understand that Jesus knew those things which would befall His disciples in the coming days. Jesus knew the days ahead would indeed be marked by the person and presence of the Holy Spirit and that the disciples would need the person of the Holy Spirit to be able to remain confident, courageous, bold, committed and faithful unto the Father. Jesus knew the Spirit would not speak of nor testify of Himself but would testify concerning Him and bring to their remembrance all those things which He had spoken unto them. I sit here today thinking about and considering the words which are found in this passage of Scripture and I am brought face to face with the incredible truth surrounding the Lord Jesus preparing and making ready His disciples for the days which were ahead for He knew that they too would suffer, that they too would be persecuted and that they too would be hated. With this being said we must needs recognize that there would be multiple times within those three and a half years Jesus would prepare His disciples to be hated of all men and all nations for His name’s sake. Jesus deliberately and intentionally prepared and made ready His disciples for the reality of their being hated, their being persecuted, their suffering and the afflictions they would experience. If there is one thing we must needs recognize and understand it’s that the Lord Jesus never promised the disciples a life of comfort nor a life of ease. If you take the time to read the words which are found within these gospels you can and will encounter and come face to face with the absolutely wonderful and powerful truth surrounding the Lord Jesus preparing His disciples for those things which they too must suffer. Jesus Himself would indeed suffer many things at the hands of the chief priests, the scribes and the elders of the people and Jesus would indeed suffer many things at the hands of the sinners before being killed and crucified. With this being said it is absolutely necessary for us to recognize and understand that Jesus deliberately and intentionally prepared his disciples for those things which they themselves must suffer in the flesh for He knew they would experience suffering, affliction, persecution and the like. In fact we might in fact say that while the disciples walked in fellowship with the Son they would be somewhat shielded from suffering, from affliction and from suffering. When, however, the person of the Holy Spirit would be present among them in the absence of the Son the suffering, the persecution and the affliction would begin. I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to certain passages found within the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew before returning to the New Testament gospel narrative which was written by the apostle John. There are certain passages found within the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew that not only present us with the picture that Jesus prepared His disciples for those things which they must suffer but also preparing them to love even when they were hated of all nations for His name’s sake. Not only this but Jesus would also prepare them to forgive when they were sinned and trespassed against—and not only forgive but forgive seventy times seven. How absolutely incredible it is to think about and consider the fact that Jesus would indeed prepare His disciples to love when they were hated, to bless when they were cursed, to pray when they were persecuted, to forgive when they were sinned against and to be salt and light in the midst of the earth. Oh if you want to truly understand the kingdom of heaven you must needs understand these words and how absolutely incredible they truly are. These words call and draw our attention to the absolutely wonderful and powerful truth that Jesus deliberately and intentionally prepared and made ready His disciples for those things which they too must suffer in the flesh for they would not escape suffering, persecution, affliction and the like. As early as the Sermon on the Mount Jesus would prepare His disciples for persecution and for those things which they would face as He would teach them the principles of the kingdom of heaven—that which was completely contrary to how the Romans lived and even how many of their own chief priests, scribes, elders of the people and rulers lived during those days. Oh it is with this at the forefront of your mind I invite you to consider the following words which are found in the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew beginning to read with and from the fifth chapter: “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father with is in heaven” (Matthew 5:10-16). “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:38-48). “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. But when they persecute yhou in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciples that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach. Ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10;16-33). “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loveth his life for my sake shall find it” (Matthew 10:34-39). “At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woke unto the world because of offences! For it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire” (Matthew 18:1-9). “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:4-14). “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the son of man be. For Wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her lights, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall al the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect form the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:21-36). FORGIVE WHEN YOU ARE TRESPASSED AGAINST! PRAY WHEN YOU ARE PERSECUTED! BLESS WHEN YOU ARE CURSED! LOVE WHEN YOU ARE HATED! Oh these are words which we must needs carefully consider when seeking to understand that which the apostle John presented in the fifteenth and sixteenth chapters of the New Testament gospel concerning the life and ministry of Jesus. If you take the time to read the words which are found in these chapters you will find the apostle John recounting the words which the Lord Jesus preparing and making ready His disciples for those things which they must suffer and those things which they would walk through and experience in the coming days. Jesus knew that He Himself would suffer many things in the flesh and He knew that He would ultimately be killed and crucified, however, He also knew that His disciples would indeed be hated of all men and all nations’s for His name’s sake. Jesus knew that in the wake of His departure from this earth and in the absence of the Holy Spirit they would walk through intense persecution and suffering such as what they had not experienced while He was present among them. Important to note is that so long as Jesus walked among them in the flesh it would be Jesus Himself who would be persecuted and who would be the target of the offense, the rage, the fury and the anger of the chief priests, the scribes, the elders, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the teachers of the law, and the like. While Jesus walked among the earth encased in flesh and blood it would be He who was hated of religion and its leaders as they deliberately and intentionally sought to destroy and remove Him from the earth. During those three and a half years the chief priests, the scribes, the elders of the people, the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the like were greatly offended with the words and works of the Lord Jesus and sought to persecute and ultimately put Him to death. It is absolutely necessary to recognize and understand this and how truly astonishing it is for it brings us face to face with the reality of the days of the Spirit. Jesus knew that He would depart from this world and would ascend unto the right hand of the Father which was in heaven and with his departure would come the arrival of the person of the Holy Spirit. With this being said it’s important to note that although the Holy Spirit would indeed come as the Spirit of truth and as the Comforter those days would be marked by affliction(s), but suffering(s) and by persecution(s). In fact if you take the time to read the New Testament book of Acts you can and will encounter the tremendous truth surrounding the days of the apostles which were marked by the person and presence of the Holy Spirit. Those days would indeed be marked by the person, the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit, however, they would be days of intense suffering and persecution. What would begin with persecution of the apostles in the fourth and fifth chapters would eventually transition to the anger and outrage against Stephen who was one of the seven deacons ordained and appointed by the early church. Eventually and ultimately Stephen would become the church’s first martyr as he would be stoned to death there in the midst of the city of Jerusalem. What’s more is that it would be after the death of Stephen a great persecution would break out in the midst of the city of Jerusalem so much so that all the disciples and believers would be scattered throughout Judaea, throughout Galilee and even throughout Samaria. Eventually the persecution would indeed touch all the disciples and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ—particularly and especially when a man by the name of Saul of Tarsus would raise his hand against the church. It would be Saul who would drag men and women out of their homes and would haul them off unto prison as he would vehemently persecute the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Of course we know and understand that it would be while Saul was on his way to Damascus with letters from the rulers of the Jews giving him authority to lay hands on any who were followers of the way and bring them back unto Jerusalem and commit them into prison that he would encounter the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. What’s more is that when Saul would ask the Lord who He was He would respond by declaring that He was Jesus whom He persecuted. Ultimately Saul would be struck with blindness and would be blind for three days before Ananias would show up at the house where he was staying and not only pray that He might receive His sight but also that he might be baptized in water and be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Saul—who was indeed the greatest persecutor of the early church—would in fact become the greatest builder of the church. He who was perhaps the greatest destroyer of the church would become the greatest builder and founder of many churches throughout Asia during the days of his assignment here upon the earth. With this being said we must needs understand that the days of the Holy Spirit would indeed be days of tremendous persecution, days of tremendous suffering, days of tremendous affliction and days when the disciples would be hated of men for the sake of the name and word of Jesus. Within this particular passage found in the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John we find the Lord Jesus speaking some incredibly powerful words unto them—words that would indeed prepare them for the days which lie ahead. It would be in the opening verse of the sixteenth chapter Jesus would emphatically declare that He had spoken those things unto them that they should not be offended. The question we must needs ask ourselves is what were those things which Jesus had spoken unto the disciples that they might not be offended. The words and language we find here in the sixteenth chapter and the opening verse suggest Jesus had spoken something unto them that would keep them from being offended during the days which were ahead. This is important for us to recognize for Jesus knew that if they weren’t careful and cautious it would be very easy for them to be offended. Moreover it would be in the Olivet Discourse Jesus would declare unto the disciples that in the last days there would be great persecution in the earth and that such persecution would cause many to become offended—and not only offended but perhaps also turn back and walk no more with Jesus. It is with this in mind that I invite you to consider the following words in the fifteenth chapter of the gospel narrative written by the apostle John. If you begin reading with and from the seventeenth verse of this chapter you can and will encounter something truly captivating concerning those days which lie ahead for the disciples who would remain upon the earth after Jesus departed and returned unto His Father from whom He had come and from whom he had been sent. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for if you want to understand that which Jesus spoke of in the sixteenth chapter and if you want to understand how to keep yourself from being offended you must needs understand the words Jesus spoke prior to this. It would be in the final verses of the fifteenth chapter of this gospel we find the Lord Jesus speaking unto the disciples and giving them a command that they love one another. What we must recognize and understand is that which is completely antithetical and opposite to the command He had given unto the disciples. Jesus would give the disciples a command to love another, however, this command to love one another would in fact be followed up with words that would make that love all the more powerful and even stronger. I am absolutely convinced that love is at its greatest—not when we love those who do right by us or who do good unto us but unto those who wrong us, those who sin against us, those who trespass against us, those who offend us, those who commit evil against us. We would like to think that love is at its strongest and most powerful manifestation when we love our neighbour as ourselves, however, it was Jesus who commanded us to love our neighbors. What’s more is that Jesus never drew a dividing line between loving our neighbors and loving our enemies and I would dare say that the same with which we love our neighbors ought to be the same love we display toward our enemies—those who sin against us, those who trespass against us, those who offend us, those who curse us, those who revile us, those who persecute us and the like. It is with this in mind I invite you to consider the following words which are found in this passage of Scripture beginning with the seventeenth verse of the fifteenth chapter of the gospel written by the apostle John: “These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceed the from the Father, he shall testify of me: and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning” (John 15:17-27). When we read the words which Jesus spoke which are recorded by the apostle John in the opening verse of the sixteenth chapter you will find Him writing how He had spoken these things that they should not be offended. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this and how absolutely incredible it truly is for it calls and draws our attention to that which the Lord Jesus had previously spoken unto them. The Lord Jesus wanted them not to be offended and sought to teach and speak unto these things ahead of time before it even came to pass that they might not only remember the words He had spoken unto them but would also remember what He had specifically said. There is something truly wonderful and powerful about the words and language found in this passage of Scripture for within the final verses of the fifteenth chapter you will find Jesus commanding them to love one another while immediately following this with the declaration that if the world hate them they knew that it hated Him before it hated them. Moreover Jesus would declare that if they were of the world the world would love their own but because they were not of the world and had been chosen out of the world the world hated them. Oh we must pay close attention to the words found in this passage of Scripture for they are directly linked and connected to the words which Jesus had spoken unto them when He had ordained and appointed them as apostles and sent them forth. You will recall in the tenth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew Jesus spoke unto them of their being hated of all men for His name’s sake and their being persecuted and even put out of the synagogues for His word and for His name. In addition to this the words we find here are intrinsically linked and connected to the words which Jesus had previously spoken and were linked by Jesus Himself. It was Jesus who called to their remembrance the words which He had spoken unto them concerning the servant not being greater than his lord. What’s more is that Jesus would go on to declare that if they had persecuted Him they would also persecute them and if they had kept His saying they would also keep His saying. I find it absolutely necessary for us to recognize the words which Jesus spoke in the final verses of the fifteenth chapter for here we find Jesus once more reiterating unto them how they would indeed be hated of all men and all nation’s for His name’s sake. It is absolutely impossible to read the words which are found in this passage of Scripture and not encounter or come to the place where we understand that all who are godly in this life can and will suffer persecution. What’s more is that the apostle Paul emphatically declared that we must through many trials and tribulations enter into the kingdom of heaven. Nowhere in any of the four gospels nor throughout His earthly ministry did the Lord Jesus promise or promote a life of comfort, a life of ease, a life of convenience and the like. Jesus prepared His disciples to be hated. Jesus prepared His disciples to be persecuted. Jesus prepared His disciples to be cursed. Jesus prepared His disciples to be reviled. Jesus prepared His disciples to be mocked and ridiculed! Jesus prepared His disciples to face persecution, suffering and affliction during their days—that which would not come until He had departed from this world and had ascended unto the right hand of the Father which was in heaven. Oh we dare not miss the incredible importance of this for when you come to the opening verses of the sixteenth chapter you can and will find Jesus further explaining unto the disciples the great affliction, persecution and suffering they would experience in the days ahead. There is absolutely no doubt nor is there any mistaking the fact that Jesus did indeed and did in fact prepare and make ready His disciples for that which they would face in the coming days which would indeed be persecution, suffering and affliction. Consider if you will the following words which are found in the sixteenth chapter of this gospel beginning to read with and from the first and opening verse: “These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killers you will think that he doeth God a service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you. But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is comes, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged” (John 16:1-11). As I prepare to bring this writing to a close I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the words which are found in this passage of Scripture for within it we find the person of the Lord Jesus preparing and making ready His disciples for the coming and arrival of the person and presence of the Holy Spirit. It’s important to note that within this passage of Scripture and within these chapters—not only does the Lord prepare the disciples for His departure from this earth and return unto the Father but He also prepares and makes them ready for the arrival of the person of the Holy Spirit. Directly linked and connected to His departure from this world would be the arrival and coming of the Holy Spirit who would indeed be the Spirit of truth and who would be the Comforter who would not come speaking of Himself but would come speaking of those things which they had heard of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this and how absolutely incredible it is for it would be the departure from this earth and ascension unto the right hand of the Father in heaven that would make room and prepare the way for the arrival and coming of the Holy Spirit and it would be the arrival and coming of the Spirit that would make room and perhaps even make possible the persecution, the suffering and affliction they would experience in the days which were ahead of them. It’s important to note that Jesus didn’t merely prepare His disciples for His departure and leaving them as orphans for He had spent three and a half years teaching and speaking to them of the Father which was in heaven. Now with His departure they would experience the person and presence of someone who would not physically walk with them in the flesh but someone who would indwell them within their spirit. Jesus would indeed walk with them for a period of three and a half years, however, He would now depart from this world and would return unto his Father who was in heaven. This is something we must understand for it calls for a deep and abiding understanding within our hearts and minds that we have been called to a place of confidence, a place of faithfulness, a place of endurance and a place of commitment. The Lord Jesus deliberately and intentionally prepared His disciples for His departure, for the arrival of the Holy Spirit and for the things which they would suffer for His name’s sake. It’s in the third verse of the sixteenth chapter Jesus declares that all these things—being put out of the synagogues and even killed—would be done unto them because those who did it did not know the Father nor He Himself. In bringing this writing to a close I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the incredible truth that within these chapters the Lord Jesus prepared and made ready His disciples for His departure from this earth and how as a direct result of His departure the person and presence of the Holy Spirit would come. Within these chapters the Lord Jesus would signal and prepare them for His return and even His coming again—two distinct realities which would be alluded to here in this gospel. Jesus Himself would declare that even though He would depart from this earth and would ascend unto the right hand of the Father He would not abandon them nor leave them as orphans. Jesus would declare and make it very clear that even though He would depart from this world He would come to them—and not only come to them but come to them through the person of the Holy Spirit. What’s more is that it wouldn’t just be the eternal and only begotten Son of the Father who would come unto them after His ascension but it would be the Father as well. Through the person of the Holy Spirit both the Father and the Son would come unto them—and not only come unto them but also indwell and abide with them. Moreover Jesus would also speak of a different coming—one that was entirely different from His coming unto them through and by the person of the Holy Spirit.