THE HEARTBREAK OF KNOWING

During the last week, and now the last few hours, our Lord Jesus teaches His precious brothers that which they must know in order to carry on. Events are about to unfold that will shake to the core the beliefs of all mankind. The Holy Bible allows us to witness Jesus love for the world, for His apostles and for the Gospel that will soon be preached to the ends of the earth.

Joh 15:12-17 "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. (13) "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. (14) "You are My friends if you do what I command you. (15) "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. (16) "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. (17) "This I command you, that you love one another.

The Lord pulls no punches in telling the apostles of the hatred, the violence and danger they will soon face for associating themselves with Christ Jesus.

Joh 15:18-23 "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. (19) "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. (20) "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. (21) "But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me. (22) "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. (23) "He who hates Me hates My Father also.

The apostles heard the words. They saw the passion in His face. The conviction in His voice. Still, these brothers could not process the gravity of what was about to invade their souls.

Joh 15:26-27 "When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, (27) and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

The "Helper" is the Holy Spirit that very soon will indwell every person who confesses Jesus as Lord, and believe in their hearts all that has occurred and is about to take place on the cross.

Joh 16:5-7 "But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?' (6) "But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. (7) "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.

Soon, their walk in the cool night air will bring them to the ravine of Kidron where they will cross over and enter the garden. Jesus again gives them a prophesy of what will occur shortly. Judas Escariot is on his way.

Joh 16:32-33 "Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. (33) "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

The first day of the week is now 72 hours away.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?