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Thursday, March 20, 2008

"there's something I've been meaning to tell you guys..."




When Jesus had thus said,

he was troubled in the spirit,
and testified,
and said,
Verily, verily,
I say unto you,
that one of you shall betray me.
The disciples looked one on another,
doubting of whom he spake.

There was at the table reclining in Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples,
whom Jesus loved.
Simon Peter therefore beckoneth to him,
and saith unto him,
Tell us who it is of whom he speaketh.

He leaning back,
as he was,
on Jesus’ breast saith unto him,
Lord,
who is it?

John 13:21-25 RV



I was reading the accounts of the betrayal of Jesus by Judas yesterday.

It was 27, with slight wind that bought up the odd waft of exhaust or concrete. I had a glass of pineapple juice. Very sweet, quite thick. It was no longer cold, closer to warm, and only a small mouthful left.

The heavy atmosphere of the above passage combined well with the humidity, heat and juice.
Where the atmosphere I experienced was purely physical, the atmosphere in which this story occurs is heavily spiritual.
The previous words of Jesus regarding his death are becoming tangible.
The day before, the anointing creates a physical atmosphere
...the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
John 12:3 RV
now, the atmosphere has become spiritually charged; with the announcement of his forthcoming betrayal. The Ddsciples, as well as the beloved disciple, are all reclining, eating.
Jesus announces:
that one of you shall betray me.
One can imagine the silence that initially followed those words.
Peter doesn't break the silence.
So Simon Peter motioned to this one to inquire who it might be, concerning whom He speaks.
John 13:24 ALT
The words that break the silence are spoken.
Lord,
who is it?
John 13:25 RV
Jesus then informs the disciples without naming, who the one who will betray him is.
Then, to Judas he says:
That thing that thou doist,
do thou swithe.
John 13:27 WycliffeNT

Judas leaves.
and it was night.
John 13:30 RV
The spiritual tension and darkness that has been building up since Jesus' first announcement has reached it's darkest point.
There is no turning back now.
It is night, and it feels as if it is going to be a long one.


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