Having Supper with Jesus

Having Supper with Jesus

12/6/2022

The first New Testament books of the Bible — Matthew, Mark, and John — were written by Jesus’ Disciples/Apostles who actually walked with and talked with and ate with Jesus for some three years. They gave their eyewitness accounts. Luke/Acts was a two volume historical account researched by the Believer/disciple, learned doctor — medical or literary scholar? — that is not certain. However, the ensuing letters refer to him as “doctor Luke.” Now, Matthew was a tax collector, an accountant. So, we can assume his Gospel is meticulously accurate. Mark also followed Jesus, though perhaps at a distance, as when Jesus was betrayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, but afterward, Mark accompanied the apostle Paul on missionary journeys. John was one of Jesus’ closest friends who, as a disciple, passed on the other disciples’ questions while physically leaning on Jesus’ chest at the Last Supper. Beyond that, Jesus gave Jonn responsibility for Jesus’ mother, Mary, at the Crucifixion.

As I continue my attempts to clarify the Bible Scriptures, I cannot emphasize this declaration by John enough, “We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.” — 1 John 1:105.

As you struggle to live the best life you can, Jesus can do so much more.

Some people do their best to prevent you from fellowship with Jesus, from knowing the truth about the One who can fulfill you by setting you free from the human nature you believe you are stuck with — the good parts and better yet, the ones holding you back.

What do I think is holding us back? Human nature? We blame our human nature for all our incidental mistakes. Unintended, though they may be, they hurt our progress and may harm other people as we stumble through this life. Unfortunately, there are people who actually intend to harm us, to restrict our progress, and to cloud the truths of the Bible, to prevent us from understanding our need to turn to God — even that God of the Bible does not even exist.

That’s the problem with one school of thought within the Scientific community. Refusing to believe in God who created the entire Universe and everything in it, they teach and preach a doctrinal theory that is just as unbelievable — more than unbelievable in my mind — claiming there was nothing, then some kind of explosion of energy somehow becoming matter, and then the matter mysteriously forming life and specifically our Mother Nature and all Mankind.

Oddly, this account parallels the Genesis story in the Bible, excluding, of course, the hands-on, super-intelligent directing by all-powerful God.

Quoting John again: “In the beginning the Word already existed.

The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him,

and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness,and the darkness can never extinguish it.”

The Light of the world being inextinguishable really frustrates many scholars in every field — Science, Philosophy, or other — and every person promoting darkness as the highest transcendence of conscience and consciousness.

Think for yourself and don’t be deceived by people who don’t have what’s best for you in mind. Rather grab what Jesus said, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”- John 10:19

I suppose I am recommending that you read all of John’s work — The Gospel, the letters, and perhaps, even The Revelations (which I caution has a few easily understandable gems, but most of the writing is above my pay grade and, sorry to say, most self-esteeming scholars pay, too).

One more point: The New Testament writers did not have the Bibles we have today. Neither did they have a Bible in every home, but relied on the Levitical priests and later, the scribes and Pharisees. They had the Torah and the rest of the Old Testament books. So, when they refer to “the Scriptures,” they are referring to the Old Testament only. The first Bible I had was what is called a reference Bible that had cross-references to different passages with parallel subjects. Nevertheless, use a Bible = hard copy or online — with the modern language you can easily read and understand.

Finally, try seeking Jesus and find Him in His way, and remember that it’s a gift: Jesus taught. “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” Also, “…you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.” — Ephesians 2:8. Be encouraged by this promise from Jesus: “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” — Matthew 7:7.

Push on through the swamp of lies and the forests of doubt. Patty and I assure everyone that God truly exists and does reward beyond what we could ask or possibly think. Your way is no better than our way was. Now we are walking in His way. Led Zeppelin taught me, “there’s still time to change the road you’re on.” — Stairway to Heaven.

Note: All Bible quotes are from the New Living Bible translation. To understand why there are so many versions of the search this website: https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/why-are-there-so-many-different-versions-of-the-bible. To begin to understand the difficult task of translating from one language to another search this website: https://www.smartling.com/resources/101/common-challenges-of-translation

For critics of the Bible and the Gospel of Jesus, please consider their opinions as worthless, counter productive, and foolishness — morally and linguistically.

Jesus promised and assured us, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”