Thursday was a day of preparation for the Passover meal. It was a “Seder” meal with many symbols that
went back to the original Passover when God delivered the nation of Israel from
the slavery of Egypt.
Matthew
26:17-19
17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread
the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to
eat the Passover?”
18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’”
18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’”
19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them,
and they prepared the Passover.
Preparation would have consisted of several things…and the meal was
highly embraced by the Jewish faithful.
As they gather in the Upper Room, no one realizes it’s Jesus last night,
or last meal with them.
John
13:1-5
1 Now before the Feast of the Passover,
when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the
Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,
3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God,
4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist.
5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,
3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God,
4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist.
5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
The first symbol was not on the Passover “to do list”. Jesus picked up a bowl of water and began to
wash the disciples’ feet. This was a job
that only the lowest on the servant list performed. Washing feet was a servant’s role, but not
just any servant; rather it was the lowest of the lowest servant’s role.
As he washed their feet the disciples must have been confused,
bewildered, wondering what in the world is going on.
The lesson came from Jesus.
John
13:12-20
12 When he had washed their feet and put on
his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand
what I have done to you?
13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’
19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he.
20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’
19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he.
20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
Jesus is soon to leave them, and the entire Gospel message was to be in
their hands. They wrestled with “Who”
they were and “What” was expected of them.
We all do.
Who are we?
Do we count/matter?
Do we have a place in God’s plan?
What does God want us to do?
Good questions, and we ask them – if we’re serious of our following Jesus
– everyday. Jesus’ answer to them, to me, to us, is that he wants us to
serve. Serve for the sake of serving.
Not to be noticed.
Not to be recognized.
Not to be rewarded.
Simply serve, because it’s ultimately serving God. If you
know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Yet immediately he says, “one of you doesn’t get it”… it’s Judas who has
already made a deal with the elders and chief priests to betray Jesus to
them. The evening quickly changes.
John
13:21-38 21 After saying these things, Jesus was
troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you
will betray me.”
22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke.
23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side,
24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking.
25 So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.
27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”
28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him.
29 Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.
30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.
33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.”
37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.
22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke.
23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side,
24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking.
25 So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.
27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”
28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him.
29 Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.
30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.
33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.”
37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.
Judas leaves…Peter and John question…Jesus speaks about what is the most
important thing to learn. Judas’ heart
is filled with Satanic lies, deceit and is easily manipulated. He leaves, and the rest don’t understand the
significance of it. Jesus makes a
statement that must have furthered their wonder. “Now is
the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified with Him.”
The rest remain and the dinner goes on.
Jesus turns his attention to various things pertaining to his
leaving. He starts with the key
thing: Love. He had said it to them before, “Love the Lord Your God with All Your Heart,
All Your Soul, All Your Mind.” It
was what Jesus had modeled to them…the Son of Man is glorified, God is
glorified…WHY? Because he is fulfilling
the servant role assigned to Him – he’s entering into the period of suffering
that will lead to death, and he knows it is for God’s glory.
SO…the imperative for them – Love one another…JUST AS I HAVE LOVED
YOU.
Sacrificially, As a Servant…one who cares about God’s will more than your
own recognition and role.
The evening goes on…Jesus speaks to them about his leaving…why he must
leave them, and what he is going to do after he leaves…
John
14:1-2
1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe
in God; believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
John
14:25-27
25 “These things I have spoken to you while
I am still with you.
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
It’s a
bittersweet evening as the reality sets in…”what do you mean you’re going away,
and yet you’re not going to leave us?”
It’s all very confusing.
They leave
the Upper Room, it is late in the evening, and they walk with him through the
temple area on their way to the hillside.
Jesus looks up at the vines growing from the two columns that serve as
the entrance to the Holy Place:
John 15:1,4-5
“I am the true vine, and my Father is
the vinedresser… 4 Abide
in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it
abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
HE talks
some more of what is about to happen, and promises them to be with them, and to
send His Spirit to them to guide their ways.
John
16:12-15
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them
now.
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
It seems so
surreal…what’s going on? Why is He saying
all of this?
Then, He
prays:
John
17:1-5 1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven,
and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify
you,
2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.
3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.
5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.
3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.
5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
They hear
the prayer and it becomes clearer…He’s praying because its all coming to an
end, isn’t it? He prays for glory to
return…Divine glory that was there before he dressed himself in flesh as a baby
in Mary’s arms some 30+ years before. He
had spent 3 years with them and his prayers remind them that he has loved them
to the end.
John 17:9
I am praying for them. I am not praying for
the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
John 18:1
When Jesus had spoken these words, he went
out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which
he and his disciples entered.
They walk
along, leaving the city to cross the Kidron valley and climb to the Mt. Olivet
garden that is just outside the walls.
It is a place called Gethsemane.
It is the beginning of the end…and He knows it.
Matthew
26:36-39
36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said
to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.”
37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled.
38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”
39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled.
38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”
39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
The prayer
is humanly real. It is the prayer of
every person who faces the sobering reality that this might not be healed, or
restored, and things might only get worse.
The disciples sleep…they are exhausted from the long Passover day…and
things are about to end.
Matthew
26:45-50 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take
your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed
into the hands of sinners.
46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
47 While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people.
48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.”
49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him.
50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him.
46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
47 While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people.
48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.”
49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him.
50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him.
The end of
the day…
The end of
the Passover evening in preparation for the Passover sacrifice the next day…
the end of
the time with His disciples…
the end of
offering Himself to the nation…
the
beginning of the end of His earthly life…
It is
Midnight and Thursday yields itself to the next day – Good Friday.
Peace
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