Tehillah Generation Chapel
Daily Manna | Thursday, April 19, 2018 | Reading: Exodus 33:1-11, Exodus 4, Gen 3:1-21
Topic: The Tabernacle of God 412
Scripture: But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say not of this building. (Heb 9:11)
Note: Matt 16:18, “And I say also to you, You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Great confessions and statements on faith and loyalty were professed by the disciples every now and then. Judas Iscariot never made any statement or confession of faith or loyalty regarding Jesus, preferring rather to stick with the usual title of Rabbi, just as any of the detractors of Jesus would normally address Him.
The comparatively weak relationship between Judas and his Master reflected the distance between Judas and Christ compared to the other disciples. Judas was distracted and blinded by his own personal ambitions of political power and getting himself enriched through association with Jesus than eternal life. In the mind of Judas, Jesus was only useful to him so long as the relationship continued to inure to his benefit and grand agenda. On his enrichment agenda, Judas ensured that he never relinquished his firm grip of the moneybag.
Judas loved his closeness to the moneybag compared to drawing closer to Jesus. The relationship between Jesus and His disciples was based on equal opportunities for all as Jesus made Himself available to all of them. He never shunned anyone who was willing or desiring to get closer to Him. John, the youngest of all the disciples was particularly fond of Jesus and he always warmed himself up to the Master whenever he had the opportunity. It was no wonder therefore, when John came to be acknowledged by the rest of the disciples as the disciple whom Jesus loved.
Making it a habit of closing the distance in the relationship between a mentee and a mentor, would demand the initiative and responsibility of the mentee, as the demands on the time and availability of the mentor could be rather competitively high, gravitating naturally towards others who may be pulling him more. Therefore it’s incumbent on the mentee to always be on the lookout for space to slot himself or herself whenever an opportunity is presented for access to the mentor. Judas was too busy with his personal plans on his enrichment agenda and political aspiration to entertain distractions, having to endure time with Jesus.
Food for thought: Growing distance in the heart of Judas Iscariot and his loyalty to Jesus, created a fertile ground for the betrayal of his Master.
Declaration: Judas, who would betray Him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.” Matt 26:25
©Author: Rev Fred Aboe
