Matthew 26:47-56 is about "Jesus’ arrest" and it still happened in Gethsemane.
Matthew 26:47-48
26:47. And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.
26:48 Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.”
Two thousand years ago, in Gethsemane Jesus experienced flesh suffering without any sins until he was arrested and crucified.
In the last days, the follower of Jesus will also experience suffering without any sins, in the form of suffering to be able to minister God, suffering to defend the truth, facing difficulties, injustice, even arrest, etc. This is the time before antichrist reigns over the world up to the time antichrist reigns over it for three years and half.
The ambience of Gethsemane cannot be tackled by any power in this world (smartness, richness, having high position, etc.), but the ambience of Gethsemane can only be tackled by watching and praying.
When we face Gethsemane, there are three possibilities that might happen as follows:
For sure we have to face the ambience of Gethsemane, that is flesh suffering without any sins, wherever we are (in marriage, work, ministry, etc.) and in any form.
We must pay attention to two things as follows:
Joseph experienced suffering without any sins until he was sold to Egypt. In Egypt, Joseph became a witness until he experienced the glory of God.
In spiritual meaning, Joseph denotes the church in the last days or the bride of God (Joseph was born in the old days of Jacob).
These days are the last days. Jesus will come for the second time to lift us up.
The requirements to be able to testify and get the glory in the ambience of Gethsemane are as follows:
Matthew 26:47-48
26:47. And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.
26:48 Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.”
Two thousand years ago, in Gethsemane Jesus experienced flesh suffering without any sins until he was arrested and crucified.
In the last days, the follower of Jesus will also experience suffering without any sins, in the form of suffering to be able to minister God, suffering to defend the truth, facing difficulties, injustice, even arrest, etc. This is the time before antichrist reigns over the world up to the time antichrist reigns over it for three years and half.
The ambience of Gethsemane cannot be tackled by any power in this world (smartness, richness, having high position, etc.), but the ambience of Gethsemane can only be tackled by watching and praying.
When we face Gethsemane, there are three possibilities that might happen as follows:
- Matthew 26:59-61
26:59 Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death,
26:60 but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward
26:61 and said, “This fellowsaid, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’”
Being false witness (lying witness).
False witness is life who listens to the true teaching Word/Bride Tidings, but does not practice it, such that he does not experience renewal of life and keeps being flesh man.
Example in the Bible:
Numbers 13:27-28, 32
13:27 Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this isits fruit.
13:28 Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land arestrong; the cities arefortified andvery large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there.
13:32 And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies isa land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it aremen of greatstature.
In the Old Testament, it was represented by ten spies. False witness is life who makes temptation greater that the power of the Word.
The consequence is Bride Tidings (the true teaching Word) is added with the sound of the flesh and it becomes stench news.
Mark 5:16-17
5:16 And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had beendemon-possessed, and about the swine.
5:17 Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.
In the New Testament, it was represented by the swine’s caretaker. False witness is life who chooses sin (two thousand swine) more than salvation (the demon-possesed man was healed), or chooses flesh benefit more than salvation.
The consequence is they will only go to perdition. - Matthew 26:56
26:56 But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.”Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.
Fleeing away up to denying Jesus.
This group was represented by eleven disciples of Jesus, including Peter who denied Jesus.
For sure we will be faced to the ambience of Gethsemane.
Be watchful! Many will have no strength, and they will flee up to deny Jesus.
The practices of denying Jesus are as follows:- By words: no longer confessing Jesus (leaving Jesus, changing the religion).
- By deeds: listening to the Word by being abominable (being evil, harming the others) and disobedient to the parents (physical parents, spiritual parents/pastor, heavenly parents/Jesus).
Titus 1:16
1:16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him,being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.
One of the form of being disobedient to God is being not faithful until leaving the ministry.
It is as Peter who followed Jesus at a distance, and at the end he denied Jesus.
Hebrews 10:25-27
10:25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as isthe manner of some, but exhorting one another,and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
10:26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
10:27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
Be watchful!
Sin of not ministering God is becoming a habit (having no more regrets), even willfully leaving the ministry.
The consequence is being destroyed in the fiery indignation. - Denying the true teaching Word (because he does not want to experience the flesh suffering). It equals to choosing another teaching that is according to the desire of ears and the desire of flesh, but actually it cannot satisfy our heart (spirit and soul).
The proof of unsatisfied heart is we keep doing sins, and keep looking for the satisfaction from the world.
The consequence is falling from faith, which means perdition forever.
- By words: no longer confessing Jesus (leaving Jesus, changing the religion).
- Matthew 26:63-64
26:63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!”
26:64 Jesus said to him, “It is asyou said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Being the true witness, as it was shown by Jesus himself.
Jesus was testifying as the Christ, the Son of God. It equals to testifying as the High Priest, in the glory as King of kings and Heavenly Bridegroom.
Jesus kept standing as the true witness although He must be tortured until killed.
We (the body of Christ) must also become the true witness,that is testifying that Jesus is the High Priest, King of kings, and Heavenly Bridegroom who will come back in glory, whatever the risk we have to face.
For sure we have to face the ambience of Gethsemane, that is flesh suffering without any sins, wherever we are (in marriage, work, ministry, etc.) and in any form.
We must pay attention to two things as follows:
- We must keep testifying about Jesus in glory as the High Priest, King of kings, Heavenly Bridegroom, through the Bride Tidings.
There are many mediums for us to testify. We can do it through personal testimony, spreading VCD/DVD of the ceremony, spreading the Manna magazine, and also joining the fellowship between shepherding.
If we do not become true witness, we will become false witness, we will deny Jesus, up to perdition forever. - We must experience the work of Bride Tidings such that we are purified and renewed,little by little, until we become as glorious as Jesus as His bride, who will be glorified together with Him, starting from now until on the glorious clouds, even until forever.
When the flesh is pressed and we become weak in the ambience of Gethsemane, the sword of the Word works to purify us.
Do not be afraid! The more we are purified and renewed, at that time God also lifts us up and glorifies our life.
If nowadays we are still suffering because of sins, we must confess to God and the others. If we are forgiven, we must leave the sins.
After the sins are thrown away, our suffering will become “Gethsemane” (suffering without any sins) and we can testify also receive the glory of God.
Joseph experienced suffering without any sins until he was sold to Egypt. In Egypt, Joseph became a witness until he experienced the glory of God.
In spiritual meaning, Joseph denotes the church in the last days or the bride of God (Joseph was born in the old days of Jacob).
These days are the last days. Jesus will come for the second time to lift us up.
The requirements to be able to testify and get the glory in the ambience of Gethsemane are as follows:
- We must be shepherded correctly.
Genesis 37:1-2
37:1. Now Jacob dwelt in the land where his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.
37:2 This isthe history of Jacob.Joseph, beingseventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. And the lad waswith the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to his father.
Joseph was shepherding his father flock. It denotes life who is shepherded by the true teaching Word and perseveres in the shepherding pen.
In Tabernacle, shepherding is denoted by the Holy Place.
We must pay attention to the perseverance in three main services!
Acts 2:42
2:42. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.- Golden Candlestick = perseverance in fellowship (the church in the first rain) = perseverance in General Service (the church in the last rain).
We have fellowship with God the Holy Spirit who gives the gifts of Holy Spirit to us.
If we persevere, the gifts of Holy Spirit will become perfect/permanent, and it equals to the garland of twelve stars. - The Table of Showbread = perseverance in the apostles’ doctrine and the breaking of bread (the church in the first rain) = perseverance in Bible Study Service with Holy Communion (the church in the last rain).
We have fellowship with the Son of God in His Word and His sacrifice which purify and redeem us.
If we persevere, we will reach perfect purification and redemption, and it equals to the moon under the feet. - The Golden Altar of Incense = perseverance in prayers (the church in the first rain) = perseverance in Prayer Service (the church in the last rain).
We persevere with God the Father in His love.
If we persevere, we will experience the perfect love of God (we love the others including the people who hate us, we love God more than everything that is being obedient until the flesh does not sound anymore). It equals to being clothed with the sun.
The results are as follows:
Psalm 23:1
23:1. A Psalm of David. The Lord ismy shepherd; I shall not want.- God’s care physicallyabundantly. It equals to we always give thanks to God.
- God’s care spirituallyuntil we become perfect, become the light of the world, and as glorious as God, no darkness at all.
Revelation 12:1
12:1. Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.
Remember! Glory comes from shepherding. We just need to persevere in the shepherding system.
The more we are purified and perfected, the clearer God’s care for us is. - Revelation 12:13-14
12:13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child.
12:14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
We will also receive God’s protection.
The grace of God is giving two wings of a great eagle to evacuate us from the time before antichrist reigns over the world up to the time antichrist reigns over it for three years and half.
We will fly into the other wilderness, and we will be within God’s protection and care.
- Golden Candlestick = perseverance in fellowship (the church in the first rain) = perseverance in General Service (the church in the last rain).
- We must become priests and kings.
Genesis 37:2-3, 31
37:2 This isthe history of Jacob.Joseph, beingseventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. And the lad waswith the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to his father.
37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he wasthe son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of manycolors.
37:31 So they took Joseph’s tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood.
Joseph received the tunic of many colors (beautiful tunic). It equals to the ministry and the gifts of Holy Spirit.
Priests and kings are lives who have the ministry and the gifts of Holy Spirit.
If we already become priests and kings, our lives will be made more beautiful and glorified by God.
Therefore, do not take off the ministry tunic (do not be naked)!
The consequence of taking off the ministry tunic is our life will not be beautiful anymore, even it will be humiliated.
Such that we do not take off the tunic, the beautiful tunic must be dipped in the blood. It means we have to experience the sprinkling of the blood, suffering without any sins.
We are let by God to experience sufferings in the ministry, either physically or through mind and feelings.
I Peter 2:19
2:19 For this iscommendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
The sprinkling of blood is the test from God whether we really wear the beautiful tunic or it only becomes a habit.
Sprinkling of blood is also the grace of God.
The usefulnesses of God’s grace are as follows:- Genesis 39:21, 23
39:21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
39:23 The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that wasunder Joseph’sauthority, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made itprosper.
To face the ambience of prison, that is limitation, not being able to do anything.
The example is being limited by time, finance, health, but still be able to serve God.
I Corinthians 1:26-29
1:26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.
1:27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;
1:28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,
1:29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.
God does not choose great people, but life who has many limitations.
The aim of God is such that after being used by God, we do not become proud! But also do not be ashamed!
In any limitations, if God uses us, it will become beautiful, successful, and be glorified in His time.
Being successful and beautiful equals to being a witness. - Revelation 19:8-9
19:8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
19:9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed arethose who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”
The grace of God becomes the bride’s cloth of fine linen, clean and bright, such that we may welcome Jesus’ second coming.
- Genesis 39:21, 23
- We must enter the ministry of building perfect body of Christ (the bride of God).
In the beginning, Joseph was hated by his ten brothers.
But, after Joseph was in Egypt and had wheat, his eleven brothers could come and they united.
The union of twelve sons of Jacob denotes the Israelites.
How about the Gentiles?
Genesis 41:45
41:45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-Paaneah. And he gave him as a wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On. So Joseph went out over allthe land of Egypt.
Joseph got married with Asenath (the Gentiles).
Thus, the Gentiles can enter the unity of the body of Christ.
The thing that unites the body of Christ, even unites the Israelites and Gentiles,is the wheat of Joseph, that is the true teaching Word.
Nowadays, we have to enter the ministry of building body of Christ in one true vine of true teaching Word; starting from the marriage, shepherding, fellowship between shepherding (fellowship service), until Israelites and Gentiles become one perfect body of Christ.
Entering the ministry of building body of Christ equals to placing Jesus as the Head.
Exodus 40:33-34
40:33 And he raised up the court all around the tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the screen of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.
40:34 Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
In the past, the building of Tabernacle was finished by hanging up the screen of the court gate.
The pillars of the court means standing fast in the faith, being strong and of good courage.- Keep holding on one true vine of true teaching Word.
- Being faithful in ministry to God.
- Not being disappointed or desperate in facing anything, and keep believing to God.
- Not doing any sins = living in righteousness.
Thus, there is God’s glory poured.
If we become a stand-up pillar (stand fast in faith), there will be the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire. (God’s glory).
The usefulnesses of the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire (God’s glory) are as follows:- The pillar of cloud protects us from the heat of temptation and the pillar of fire warms us when we face cold spiritually.
Continous heat and cold can cause ruin.
The pillar of cloud and fire protect us from ruin in this world, either ruin in our personal life, marriage, or finance, etc. - The pillar of cloud and fire become our direction, such that we do not stumble, fall down, or get lost.
Believe in God/the Word/the Spirit of glory! We just need to follow.
Besides, by the work of the Spirit of glory, there will always be a new way for us.
There is no deadlock means all problems are solved. - The Spirit of glory gives us happiness in the middle of sufferings.
I Peter 4:14
4:14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you,for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. - The Spirit of glory renews us from flesh man to become spiritual man, starting from renewal of lip.
Genesis 37:2
37:2 This isthe history of Jacob.Joseph, beingseventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. And the lad waswith the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to his father.
Joseph honestly brought a bad report of his brothers to his father, although he was hated by them.
If there is Spirit of glory, we can become true witness. Let ‘yes’ be ‘yes’, and ‘no’ be ‘no’. We can testify about the Bride Tidings, until there is no more faults in words, and our lips are only used to worship God.
- Keep holding on one true vine of true teaching Word.