2023/08/21

105. The Flesh of All Men, Small and Great

So far, we have seen that the words, or testimony, of Jesus in the Gospels were fulfilled in the Book of Revelation in the manner of the "Spirit of prophecy." Believers, who are with and in concert with the Holy Spirit, are the ones who are to substantiate this new prophecy. 

While Jesus was on earth, his disciples were protected by the Word that proceeded from his mouth and by the name of the Father (cf. John 17:12). They were safeguarded from "the beast" and the "false prophet." Today believers who hear the Word are protected by receiving the "sword of the Word," which has become the living word again by the Holy Spirit, and by experiencing themselves hearing the Word (cf. blog № 104). That is because they will experience distinguishing "the beast" and the "false prophet" from themselves. This experience is transformed into recognition, assisted by the training of Revelation. Thus, the colour of Jesus' discipleship gradually oozes outwards from them. 

In addition, as Jesus described in his commentary on the Parable of the Weeds, "He who sows the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the world, and the good seed means the sons of the kingdom" (Matthew 13:37-38), believers are the "seeds that fell on good soil" in the Parable of the Sower (cf. Matthew 13:8). 

These seeds are not of those who mocked and reviled Jesus on the cross, such as the chief priests, the scribes and the elders, nor of those who were curious to hear the words of Jesus who cried out loudly before his death (cf. blog № 99), much less of the centurion, who stubbornly refused his visit out of fear that his involvement with him would be known, saying, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof" (Matthew 8:8), who did not even meet him in person, saying, "But say the word, and let my servant be healed" (Luke 7:7) (cf. blog № 100). 

The believers are Jesus' disciples to whom "it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 13:11). They are the believers likened to "all men, …, both small and great" (Revelation 19:18) who were fulfilled in the manner of the "Spirit of prophecy" in the Book of Revelation (cf. blog № 101). 

It is essential for believers to constantly ask God to remove from themselves all the lusts consciously and rationally that are created from human knowledge and experience, which they have left untreated. Once these lusts, which they have been pursuing, are devoured by "all the birds that fly in midheaven" (Revelation 19:17), they will come to see what they truly seek. 

The place where every lust of the believers who hear the Word is removed most reasonably is where they were born anew as children of God, the place from which they came and to which they are going. At that place, the Eucharist is brought forth, lifted up like Jesus, and draws all men to himself (cf. John 12:32). Just as Moses had seen the Lord face to face, Jesus' disciples saw the Lord Jesus. And now the believers see the Lord in the Eucharist at that place. 

Maria K.M.