Puzzlers

Things we see thru a dark glass!

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Q. In the letter of Luke 22:47-48 "And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?" I know Judas had conspired with members of the Sanhedrin to deliver Jesus into their hands. I also know the agreement involved a kiss of betrayal. My question is this, "Why a kiss?" Judas could have stood in the shadows and pointed out the Lord. He could have given a detailed description. Mark tells us Jesus confronted those who would arrest him. Mark 14:49 "I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled." They knew who the Lord was and could easily recognize him. Inspite of all this Judas said, "Whomsoever I shall kiss," (Mark 14:44) With all of this said, "Why a kiss?" [Joe Davis]

A. Luke 22:47 And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. 22:48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? The Hebrew people have been and are today folks who use symbolism in their daily activities Joe. Take for instance the Jewish table and the ediquet used there. When you're a guest at a feast or dinner at a Jewish home and you leave the supper table when you are finished with a meal you wad up your napkin and throw it over your dish. This action tells the server that you are finished and won't be returning. If you leave the table but are going to return for more you fold your napkin back up and then put it off to itself in the table setting. This tells the server you are returning and to not disturb/clean your place. Isn't that a wonderful sign of the Lords return sir? John 20:3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 20:4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 20:5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 20:6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 20:7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 20:8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

The actions of the Lord Jesus at the Last Supper was full of this kind of symbolism. It has been suggested by some that because the Lord offered Judas the "sop" at the supper as a sign of love and an opportunity for him to repent, (John 13:26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 13:27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.) Judas in like manner used the sign (kiss) of love and friendship to condemn Jesus to death like the devil himself would do. Doesn't the devil act like our friend and then stick a knife in our back if we let him close enough to us? In the same act Judas showed his true nature, being spiteful. He could of simply just pointed Jesus out from the crowd of soldiers, but instead it was sort of like he was rubbing it in with his kisses.

Just a thought Joe. Care to give your thoughts for us to post here?

Your servant in Christ Jesus,

[Timothy]

Q. Parson - An old problem has re-presented itself!! You see, for years, I've had a problem with people, who take the stance that they (THEY ALONE, that is) are the only ones, to whom God has given the ability to understand the Scriptures. (First, some background)... When I was 16, a man, who had been raised in the Seventh Day Adventists faith, came to my house and told me that, because we don't worship on Saturday - the true Sabbath - we're "false truth." It took me 2 1/2 years to find that we are called to worship "from Sabbath to Sabbath." Then, when I'd completed high school and the Lord began moving me to where He wanted me, I met a man, who was pentecostal (to a T!) and he would say things like tongues is imperative, etc. Now, another man has begun telling me that we're not supposed to pray "IN JESUS' NAME" and this bothers me!! This same man has been saying that the Trinity is a figment of "man's imagination" and I can show you Genesis 1:28, where it says, "Let US (plural) make man in OUR (plural, again)image." So, here's my question: What should I do, when a Christian, using Scripture to support a belief, comes along, with an attitude that "THIS IS THE ONLY TRUTH, NOTHING ELSE IS WORTHY OF THOUGHT!"? [Gary]

A. Try to reason with them Gary and if they refuse that reason and want to argue which is the wrong thing to do with the scriptures, leave em standing there and go pray for them: Luke 9:5 And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.

There are too many jobs to be done for the cause of Christ without having to argue with a obstanant, hard headed, set in their ways person. Sounds mean but there has to be a cut off time for such as this and let the Holy Spirit deal with them.

[Timothy]

Q. I have read my Bible thru twice and still have a question , where did Cain's wife come from? It mentions Adam, Eve, Cain and Abel and how they were created then in genesis chapter 4:17 it says and Cain knew his wife. [DE Benson]

A. Don't be shocked by this but there could be no other answer then another child of Adam & Eve, one of Cains sisters or even a niece or cousin! No, don't get on your high horse about brother and sister or cousins marrying here. There wasn't a corruption in the gene pool with man at this time! As a matter of fact, I would venture to say that Adam and Eve had as many as a hundred children after Cain & Abel. Look at the passage below the one you mentioned: Genesis 4:25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. This was after Cain slew Abel and who is to say how many children were born immediately after these two boys!

[Timothy]