John 13:1-38, Passover Lamb is Sacrificed; Ministries flourish by Money.

The context of this chapter is that Jesus was coming close to the end of his life. He was God, became flesh, to be sacrificed as the Lamb of God. He was the Passover Lamb and so, he was planning to be killed at the same time as the Passover lambs were killed. The time was getting near. Jesus was getting prepared to die. "John 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end." Jesus loved his disciples, and he is about to say farewell to them.

Difference between Passover Lamb and Animal Sacrifice.

I like to go a little out of the way to show what kind of sacrifice was Jesus. Preachers always teach that Jesus was a sacrifice for our sins, a sacrifice of substitution, who died in our place, instead of that we die, like the old testament animal sacrifices, which were killed for sinners. No further conditions were attached with the animal sacrifice. As soon as the sacrifice is done, the sins were automatically forgiven. But Jesus was not such a sin sacrifice, but he was the Passover Lamb. In order to escape the death angel, there are more conditions, other than sacrificing the Passover lamb. The blood must be sprinkled on the door posts, and we must be inside the house, eating unleavened bread, bitter herbs, and the meat of the lamb. There must be no leaven in the house. These are the conditions. "I Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." These conditions must be met. Otherwise we will not escape the death angel. It is scripture. Preachers do not preach this since they do not know it. Further, in the sin sacrifice of the old testament, the sacrifice becomes a piece of meat, and has no voice. But look at here. "Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool." It is an entirely different story. The sacrifice is seated on the throne on the right hand of God. He has become the author of salvation to save those who obey him, and to take vengeance on those who do not obey him. It is not a sacrifice of substitution. But he propitiates and rectifies the sins of the obedient. The Lamb becomes Christ and takes away sins. Preachers who preach otherwise, and all rebellious people, will be thrown under his feet. Every Christian must realize that Jesus was the Passover Lamb, and he takes away sins by sacrificing himself. But we Christians treat him as the animal sacrifice in the old testament. We must repent and ask forgiveness for this sin. Preachers and churches must accept responsibility for this and rectify their ignorance.

Foot washing is to keep each other holy and blameless

Jesus Christ has washed the feet of his disciples. Very few churches observe the foot washing ceremony. Foot washing and its observation is explained in verses 4-17. What does foot washing mean in real life? There is a difference between a ceremony and real life. Jesus taught it as a ceremony, but he expects fruits in real life.  A little knowledge in eastern culture will help us to be practical in life, rather than to be ceremonial. If we are in eastern culture and wealthy enough to have a servant in our home, and if we take a journey on a dusty path, as we reach home, we may sit on a bench and the servant will wash your tired dusty feet. This is the purpose of washing the feet. But here, Jesus the master washes the feet of his disciple, instead of the disciple washing the feet of the master. As Jesus began to wash the feet of Peter, he resisted him first, and then he asked him to wash his head also. Jesus said that they were all clean except Judas Iscariot. So, he does not refer to the dirt on their feet. He made it symbolic, to clean their trespasses in the walk of life. As he washed their feet, they must correct the mistakes of each other in a humble way, as servitude so that all of them may be clean, holy and blameless. However, here Jesus Christ washed the feet of his disciples. He told them "ye also ought to wash one another's feet." God always care for the real-life practice, rather than a ceremony. Further, there is no record that the apostles followed foot washing ritual in the Bible. So, if believers and servants of God correct each other in godly living, and if it is conducted in a humble way of servitude, we will do well. If we do the ritual, it is good. Some churches do the ritual. It is explained in verse 3 to 16. I am not reading them here for want of time. But I will include them in the transcript. Please read them at home.

God is Glorified; Love one another as He Loved Us.

"31 Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him." God is glorified is; that God will get the glory by these incidents. Jesus Christ was God, equal to God the Father, decided not to hold that status, reduced himself to nothing as flesh; to suffer humiliation, pain, and death; and it was not in the weakness of God, but he was doing it in his might, and so God is glorified in all of them. It is the joint work of God; initiated by God the Father, supported by the Holy ghost, and done by God the Son. The Three in God are glorified, not only in the decision, but also in the very fulfilling of the act. Jesus calls his disciples children. It is not by his age, he was only thirty-three years old; some of his disciples could be older than him; but he calls them children, as their Lord and Master. "33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come;" Jesus was going to heaven, to become Lord, Christ, Begotten Son, and God. The disciples could not go there at this point. "so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." Jesus tells them to love one another, that is among the disciples. But, quoting this, our preachers tell us even to love false preachers, servants of Satan, and even the devil. They are absurd. If we love the true disciples, and true believers, not in mere words only, but in life also; then we will stay as a pack. If we do, we will be his disciples. Then others, even the worldly people will notice it. They will know that we belong to Jesus Christ. It is not our cliché or slogans or our show, but it is our life that will stand as witness for us. That is the kind of love that Jesus Christ tells that we must have. We must love each other this way. But we cannot love the world in this way.

We need the True Power of God to do His Ministry.

"36 Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards." Jesus said that peter will follow afterwards. "37 Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake." Peter was very sincere, and enthusiastic. Peter did not know how much more power he needs to do the ministry. But, Peter did it afterward. Preachers may ridicule Peter for this, and that is all they can do. "38 Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice." It was neither a rebuke, nor an insult, even though preachers like to brand it that way. In "Matthew 16 Jesus Christ tells Peter, "18 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. 19 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." There are many preachers venture to correct Jesus Christ on this, as if they know more than Jesus Christ. Jesus was pointing here to Peter, that he did not have the strength he needed at that time, in a practical way. Not only Peter, all those who want to serve God need the baptism of the Holy Ghost and the power of God in them. Those ministries that depend on theology degrees, church ordinations, and on money, are of Satan. They call me heretic for saying this. Please tell me where God says in the bible that we need theology degrees, church ordination, and money to do the ministry of God. But Jesus Christ says that even the apostles must not leave until they receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost and the power of God, to do the ministry of God. We must not forget that. In this Study, I like you to remember at least three things. 1, Jesus Christ was the Passover sacrifice, but not a sin offering like the animal sacrifice of the old testament. We must have his blood on our door post, and we must not have any leaven in our house. Then we will escape the death angel. 2, Ministries that are built on money, belong to the devil, even though they proclaim that they serve God. We do not need theology degrees and church ordinations; but we need the baptism of the Holy Ghost and the power of God, to serve God in his ministry. 3, Money and fame will build churches and flourish denominations, but they are not of God. Only the Holy Spirit and the power of God, will build godliness in believers. These believers will inherit the kingdom of God. Depend on God, but not on money.

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