Question 5. Was Judas Iscariot at the Lord’s supper? T. C.
Ans. John is the only Evangelist that tells when Judas parted company with the Lord and His disciples, (read John 13:21-30).
“He then having received the sop went immediately out;” As the sop belongs to the passover supper, we would judge that Judas left before the Lord’s supper was instituted.
If Luke 22:21, was giving us the order in which it took place, then Judas was present.
It is therefore not meant for us to place importance on the point. A person might be there, who should not be there, but until evil is manifested we cannot put away (1 Cor. 5:13).
There are instructions given (1 Cor. 10:16-17) to show us that those who are there, should know that they are washed in the blood of Christ, and that they are members of His body.
To deliberately bring unconverted people to the Lord’s supper, is contrary to the Scriptures (2 Cor. 6:14-18).
Matthew 13:30 refers to the Kingdom of Heaven, not to the assembly of the saints.
Question 6. “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). How and when does He prepare the place? A. T.
Ans. The Lord Jesus was leaving the earth to go to the Father. If He did not die, we could not be there with Him (John 12:24). His oath therefore led to the cross, where He bore our sins and died for us, then rose again, and ascended to the right hand of God, witnessing that redemption work is completed (Heb. 9:12, 23). He is entered there as our Forerunner, (Heb. 6:20) thus the place is prepared for us.
We might say, His work on the cross has prepared believers for the place: His presence with the Father in glory, has prepared the place for them.