Attention: Thessalonians. Now nothing withholdeth

        It hardly seems the time to cheer Jesus on when we read that he began to tell his disciples how that he must go unto Jerusalem and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
 
        Instead, we want to cheer Peter on when we read that he began to rebuke Jesus, saying, "Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee."

        After all, even Jesus prayed, saying, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."
 
        In the first place, how bad can it be to want only good things for Jesus? He went around doing good things for people in misfortune. He healed the sick, cast out devils, and advocated providing for the needy. He only opposed those who burdened others with what seemed to be senseless rules and those who taught others one way when they themselves did another.
 
        In the second place, to whom does God's plan of salvation make sense? It was foolishness to the Greeks. Haven't we inherited their intellectual tradition?
 
        But comes a time when we must savour the things that be of God, or depart from him as workers of iniquity.

        Comes a time when we must no longer judge according to appearance, but we must judge righteous judgment.

        Comes a time when many who are first shall be last, and the last first.
 
        Of those that God gave to Jesus, Judas is the one that was lost, that the scripture might be fulfilled. In that state of lostness, the devil put into his heart to lift up his heel against Jesus. In response, Jesus went after and reclaimed his that was lost.

        The heel that had been lifted up against him, he claimed as his own. This is the heel of the seed of the woman, bruised by that old serpent, the devil.

        This is the heel of him who was washed (by the baptism of John the Baptist) and completely clean, but who needed to wash his feet.

        This is the heel of him who will prop it upon his enemies when his Father makes them his footstool.
        
        When Judas went out, after having received the sop, he went out in opposition to Satan who had entered into him. In doing so, he denied himself, he picked up his cross, and he began to follow Jesus. This is the work that he was given by Jesus, and in accepting this work, he glorified Jesus.
 
        Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take. By transgression he fell from these, that he might go to his own place.
 
        Judas is the servant who followed Jesus. We should not be surprised to find him with his master. His master is sitting at the right hand of God in the heavenly temple of God.

        Judas is no longer servant, but brother. Jesus is in him, and he is in Jesus. The heavenly Father is in them, and they are in the Father.
 
        Jesus said that he that has seen him has seen the Father.

        I say that he that has seen Judas has seen Jesus.

        Moreover, by extension, he that has seen Judas has seen God.
 
        Attention: Thessalonians
 
        That man of sin, the son of perdition, is revealed sitting in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Now nothing withholdeth that Jesus might be revealed in his time.

        I offer these words only in my own name.