Matthew26in general points to the golden pot that had the manna, that is life who is renewed to become as perfect as Jesus.
Matthew26:6-13 is about the preparation for the Passover.
Matthew26:12
26:12 For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did itfor My burial.
Preparation for the Passover = preparation for the death or slaughtering of Jesus on the cross as the Lamb of God (Lamb of Passover).
Jesus' death as the Lamb of Passover is useful for two things as follows:
Matthew26:7-8, 12
26:7 a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured iton His head as He sat at the table.
26:8 But when His disciples saw it,they were indignant, saying, "Why this waste?
26:12 For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did itfor My burial.
Human life in the world will be valued more and seem more fabulous if it is filled with intelligence, richness, etc. It is as clay pot becomes alabaster flask.
But remember, alabaster flask can still be broken and perished.
We must be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Life who is anointed or fulfilled with the Holy Spirit is as a woman who poured fragrant oil to Jesus' head and body for the preparation of His burial.
If we do not serve the body of Christ, we will be used in the building of Babel (completeness of evil and uncleanness), Satan's bride who will be perished forever.
The practice of ministry in the building body of Christ is FELLOWSHIP, starting from the smallest one, that is within marriage, within shepherding, between shepherding, until the international fellowship of the body of Christ on Jesus' second coming.
The true fellowship is built upon the true teaching Word.
When we want to enter a marriage, a shepherding, etc., it must be based on the true teaching Word.
A true fellowship equals to eating together with Jesus. Of course we will eat right food.
The result iswe will inherit Jesus' character, little by little, until we become as perfect as Jesus.
In the other hand, if we are united by the false and wrong teaching, we will inherit Satan's character, become the same as Satan and be perished forever.
A true teaching Word is more definite than science, there should be no slight difference.
If there is difference, it is a false teaching, a wrong food (poison).
Who can eat together with Jesus?
Mark 2:13-17
2:13. Then He went out again by the sea; and all the multitude came to Him, and He taught them.
2:14 As He passed by, He saw Levi the sonof Alphaeus sitting at the tax office.And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him.
2:15 Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi'shouse, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him.
2:16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, "How is itthat He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?"
2:17 When Jesus heard it,He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call therighteous, but sinners, to repentance."
No matter how bad or how unclean our life is, God is still giving a chance to eat together with Him, such that we can be helped.
Jesus' target by coming to the world is the sinners.
Why? Because the sinners are controlled by the death.
Romans6:23
6:23 For the wages of sin isdeath, but the gift of God iseternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The sinners (no matter who they are, whether rich people, smart people, or spiritual people, etc.) are controlled by the death, because the wages of sin is death. It is equal to a miserable life in the world, until being perished forever.
Do not be deceived by the sins' offer in the world (sexuality party, consuming drugs party, etc.)!
The sinners only get miserable life in the world, until they are being perished forever.
Jesus comes to the world to save the sinners and bring them to the eternal life.
Jesus is the only Savior.
Jesus is the only human who has no sins and therefore can save sinful people.
The process of sinful people to get eternal life is as follows:
Matthew26:6-13 is about the preparation for the Passover.
Matthew26:12
26:12 For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did itfor My burial.
Preparation for the Passover = preparation for the death or slaughtering of Jesus on the cross as the Lamb of God (Lamb of Passover).
Jesus' death as the Lamb of Passover is useful for two things as follows:
- To save humans who have died and been rotten in sins (to recover the broken clay pot).
- To pour the Holy Spirit, to fill the clay pot such that it is not broken again and being perished.
Matthew26:7-8, 12
26:7 a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured iton His head as He sat at the table.
26:8 But when His disciples saw it,they were indignant, saying, "Why this waste?
26:12 For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did itfor My burial.
Human life in the world will be valued more and seem more fabulous if it is filled with intelligence, richness, etc. It is as clay pot becomes alabaster flask.
But remember, alabaster flask can still be broken and perished.
We must be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Life who is anointed or fulfilled with the Holy Spirit is as a woman who poured fragrant oil to Jesus' head and body for the preparation of His burial.
- Pouring fragrant oil = a service.
- Jesus' head and body = the body of Christ.
- Burial = the last time in this world.
If we do not serve the body of Christ, we will be used in the building of Babel (completeness of evil and uncleanness), Satan's bride who will be perished forever.
The practice of ministry in the building body of Christ is FELLOWSHIP, starting from the smallest one, that is within marriage, within shepherding, between shepherding, until the international fellowship of the body of Christ on Jesus' second coming.
The true fellowship is built upon the true teaching Word.
When we want to enter a marriage, a shepherding, etc., it must be based on the true teaching Word.
A true fellowship equals to eating together with Jesus. Of course we will eat right food.
The result iswe will inherit Jesus' character, little by little, until we become as perfect as Jesus.
In the other hand, if we are united by the false and wrong teaching, we will inherit Satan's character, become the same as Satan and be perished forever.
A true teaching Word is more definite than science, there should be no slight difference.
If there is difference, it is a false teaching, a wrong food (poison).
Who can eat together with Jesus?
Mark 2:13-17
2:13. Then He went out again by the sea; and all the multitude came to Him, and He taught them.
2:14 As He passed by, He saw Levi the sonof Alphaeus sitting at the tax office.And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him.
2:15 Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi'shouse, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him.
2:16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, "How is itthat He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?"
2:17 When Jesus heard it,He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call therighteous, but sinners, to repentance."
No matter how bad or how unclean our life is, God is still giving a chance to eat together with Him, such that we can be helped.
Jesus' target by coming to the world is the sinners.
Why? Because the sinners are controlled by the death.
Romans6:23
6:23 For the wages of sin isdeath, but the gift of God iseternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The sinners (no matter who they are, whether rich people, smart people, or spiritual people, etc.) are controlled by the death, because the wages of sin is death. It is equal to a miserable life in the world, until being perished forever.
Do not be deceived by the sins' offer in the world (sexuality party, consuming drugs party, etc.)!
The sinners only get miserable life in the world, until they are being perished forever.
Jesus comes to the world to save the sinners and bring them to the eternal life.
Jesus is the only Savior.
Jesus is the only human who has no sins and therefore can save sinful people.
The process of sinful people to get eternal life is as follows:
- Mark 2:17
2:17 When Jesus heard it,He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to calltherighteous, but sinners, to repentance."
The first process is receiving God's call.
Be watchful! Levi (God's servant) is found sitting at the tax office.
No matter who we are (rich, smart, serving God), if we do sins, we are controlled by the death.
Since Adam and Eve did sins, every human has been sinful and controlled by the death.
Doing sins = naked life.
Sinful and naked life is separated from God, and has no power to come back to God.
The example are as follows:- Adam and Eve were hiding when God came to the Paradise.
- Levi sat at the tax office. Sitting = having no power to be freed from sins, cannot come back to God.
Do not think that by forcing somebody to serve God, we can bring him to the repentance.
Service cannot return us to God.
If a sinner is forced to serve God, it will harm himself and the body of Christ.
If a sinner is left, he will be perished forever.
Therefore, God calls us.
The proofs of receiving God's call are as follows:- Romans10:9-10
10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10:10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Believing and confessing Jesus.
Believing = having faith on Jesus.
Confessing Jesus = confessing the sins, and not repeating the sins if we are forgiven (repentance). - John3:3, 5
3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
3:5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Newly born is through water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism.
Newcomers usually realize the sins easier, but God's servants usually do not realize that they keep the sins.
If we (God's servants) have been baptized in true baptism, there is no need to be baptized again.
This morning, God is inviting us to eat together. Do not sit at the tax office!
The result isnew life, that is life in the righteousnessand becoming instrument of righteousness.
Righteousness = salvation, being free from the death. Everything must be right!
Instrument of righteousness = God's servant.
We become faithful and trueGod's servants.
Being faithful and true is one package, cannot just be faithful but not true, or just be true but not faithful.
Do not be deceived by the greatness of a ministry!
(Levi was found sitting at the tax office).
If this morning the Word points our sins, we must receive God's call and become faithful and true.
Leave the tax office and enter God's house!
- Adam and Eve were hiding when God came to the Paradise.
- Mark 2:15-16
2:15 Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi'shouse, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him.
2:16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, "How is itthat He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?"
The second process is eating together with Jesus.
Eating together with Jesus means eating true spiritual food, the solid food, that is the true teaching Word which is sharper than any double-edged sword (the purification Word).
When we eat together with Jesus, that is not the time to rebuke or judge the others.
When we eat together with Jesus, that is the time for us to be rebuked by God (to be purified from any blemish).
Mark 16:14
16:14. Later He appeared to the eleven asthey sat at the table;and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart,because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
If we rebuke or judge the others, there is no time for us to be purified.
What things must be purified?
The hardness of the heart must be purified. It is equal to be controlled by the golden calf (the idol at Egypt).
Because of the hardness of the heart, the disciples did not believe Jesus.
The lesson for us is parents or pastor should not be irritated when children or the congregation do not believe to the advices, even believing the others more.
Let us pray for them, because those children or congregation are still in the idolatry of golden calf.
The practices of the hardness of the heart are as follows:- Living in sins up to the peak of sins, that is eating-drinking sins (smoking, getting drunk, consuming drugs) and marrying-giving sins (sexuality sins, wrong marriage).
In the past, Israelites did eating-drinking sins and rose up to play in front of the golden calf.
Facing lives in the peak of sins is very difficult. The way out is keep preaching the Word and praying for them. - Exodus7:16
7:16 And you shall say to him, 'The LORD God of the Hebrews has sent me to you, saying, "Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness"; but indeed, until now you would not hear!
As Pharaoh who hardened his heart, he did not want to be faithful in ministry to God.
Be watchful! Not serving sin will become a custom sin, even purposive sin (become sin character).
If we want to look for a reason not to serve God, Satan will come with a basket of logic reasons. - Being disobedient to the true teaching Word.
If we are willing to always eat together with Jesus, we will be purified until being blameless or perfect as Jesus.
Continue it, and hold on the purification by the true teaching Word!
As when we study in the world, if at this moment we have not understood the Word yet, we shall continue it, sometime we will understand the Word and we will be purified. - Living in sins up to the peak of sins, that is eating-drinking sins (smoking, getting drunk, consuming drugs) and marrying-giving sins (sexuality sins, wrong marriage).
- John13:23
13:23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
John21:20-21
21:20. Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?"
21:21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, "But Lord, what aboutthis man?"
The third process is eating together with Jesus doubly (it was written twice). It equals to eating the true teaching Word with Holy Communion(Bible Study Service and Holy Communion). It equals to lean on Jesus' bosom.
We must pay attention to the perseverance in Bible Study Service with Holy Communion!
We are not being tortured in Bible Study Service with Holy Communion, but we are still leaning on Jesus' bosom.
People live in this world in labor and heavy laden conditions. We need to lean on Jesus.
Who has no labor and heavy laden?
All of us need to lean on Jesus. Let us come in Bible Study Service with Holy Communion.
Leaning on Jesus means as follows:- Believing and surrendering only to God.
- Loving God more than everything.
When we lean, we can hear God's heart beat. It is equal to feel God's love which never stops flowing to us.
When we are on the heaviest time in our life, do not doubt God's love!
As long as our heart can still beat, God's love never changes.
As long as we lean on Him, God is still able to help us.
The proof of leaning on God is peaceful heart.
Zephaniah3:17-18a
3:17 The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet youwith His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."
3:18 " I will gather those who sorrow over the appointed assembly,
The usefulness of God's love isGod's love renews us, from clay pot to golden pot.
What things must be renewed?
John2:1-5
2:1. On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
2:2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.
2:3 And when they ran out of wine,the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine."
2:4 Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come."
2:5 His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."- A worry heart is renewed to become heart which believes God.
(They ran out of wine, but it is said they have no wine). - Impatience is renewed to become patience in waiting God's time.
Do not force or give a target to God! - Disobedience is renewed to become obedience (not against the Word) whatever the risk.
John21:20-23
21:20. Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?"
21:21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, "But Lord, what aboutthis man?"
21:22 Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is thatto you? You follow Me."
21:23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is thatto you?"
The result is our life and death are within God's hands. It means as follows:- God's loving hands are able to care us in the middle of difficulties in this world.
- God's loving hands are able to help us, solve our problems, and make possible the impossible things.
- We are within the embrace of God's hands, until where God is, there we are.
On Jesus' second coming, we sit together with Him on the glorious clouds, until on God's throne forever.
Revelation3:20-21
3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
3:21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Surrender everything to God. We believe in God. - Believing and surrendering only to God.