As we approach Easter Sunday, I am writing about the events of each day from the triumphant ride into Jerusalem, to the crucifixion, and ending with the glorious resurrection. Today is Thursday, it is the last night before His crucifixion.
Some refer to it as Maundy Thursday. Maundy is a word that means commandment. It is referring to the commandment that Jesus gave His disciples at the Last Supper. In John 13:34, Jesus tells His disciples to love each other as He has loved them. He goes on in verse 35 to inform them that this kind of love is a sign to the world that they are His.
John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
In preparation for this last supper, Jesus tells His disciples to go into the city and tell a certain man that they will keep the Passover at his house. The disciples then began to prepare as Jesus had told them. Since these men were Jews themselves, they knew what was needed and how to prepare the meal they would share together. What they did not comprehend was that it would be their last meal before Jesus would be taken from them.
Matthew 26:17-19 “Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover? And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover. “
As they gathered to eat this meal together, it was customary to talk about the first Passover. In Exodus 12:26-27, God reminds His people to tell their children about their great deliverance from Egypt. Yet, at this Passover, Jesus the Lamb Himself uses these last moments with them to instruct and encourage them.
Exodus 12:26-27 “And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD’S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.”
Jesus teaches a lesson in humility and love as He washes their feet, and instructs them to wash one another’s feet in the future. I believe this was an instruction that still applies to us today. They took the cup as a symbol of the blood He would shed for the remission of their sins, and broke the bread as a symbol of His body that would be sacrificed for them.
As they proceed through the meal, Jesus reveals that one will betray Him. As they begin to ask questions, Judas asks “Is it I?” Jesus then confirms that he is the one. In John 13:27, Jesus tells him that what he is about to do, do it quickly. Then Judas leaves.
Matthew 26:25 “Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.”
John 13:27 “And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.”
There are so many important things that happened on this evening, each having a special meaning to the Christian. This is where He reveals to Peter that he will deny Him. Peter is vehement in his statement that he would never deny Christ, but later Peter is broken when it happens, and his mind takes him back to Christs’ words.
After the meal, Jesus takes the 11 disciples that are with Him to the garden of Gethsemane to pray. Once there, He asks James, John, and Peter to go with him further into the garden. Jesus leaves these three and goes to pray alone. Jesus spends hours in the garden in agony praying to His Father. Praying that if it is the Father’s will, He would remove this bitter cup of the impending death on a cross from Him. The prayer is so intense, Luke tells us His sweat is like great drops of blood. When Jesus goes to pray alone He instructs Peter, James, and John to watch and pray. Each time He returns to them they are asleep. When He finds them asleep, He questions Peter, the one who is so bold and vocal about His loyalty and faith, if he could not watch and pray for one hour. After the third time, Jesus tells them to sleep on, that the hour is at hand.
Luke 22:42-44 “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”
Matthew 26:40-46 “And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.”
Finally, Judas arrives with the soldiers, and a multitude with swords and staves to capture Jesus. Jesus is arrested and now in the hands of the enemy. Peter tries to cut off the head of one of the soldiers and misses, cutting off His ear. Jesus tells Him that is not the way it is supposed to be, and Jesus heals the man’s ear. Even in His path to the cross, He is reaching out and healing others. They arrest Him and the cruel beatings, mocking’s, and trials begin.
Matthew 26:47-48 “And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.”
He chose to suffer for me and you. The agony of this evening must have been horrible for Jesus and for those who loved Him. For a full account read Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, and John 18. After reading, how agonizing is it for you to think of what Jesus went through so that you could be forgiven?
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