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THURSDAY

 

Jesus eats the Passover meal with His disciples & institutes the Last Supper or the Memorial Supper

Prays in Gethsemane for His disciples

 

John 13:1-30

Mark 14:22-26

John 17

 

Thursday of Passion Week is the day they celebrated Passover.  It’s been a busy week so far: Jesus greeted with praise on Sunday, Jesus cleaning out the temple on Monday, Jesus stood in authority of the Jewish leaders on Tuesday, and Wednesday tells of Judas striking a deal to turn Jesus over to the Jewish leaders.  All of this leading to preparation for Passover in the upper room.  As evening came on Thursday, Jesus reclined at the table with the twelve disciples.  “And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”  (Luke 22:15-16)

Jesus was excited yet made ready for this hour.  The next few hours were going to be the last of comfort for Jesus.  Chaos was on its way to consume the disciples and “the sheep would be scattered” (Mark 14:27).  As Jesus took in the sounds of friendship, laughter, and celebration at the table, He heard the twelve disputing among each other who of them would be considered the greatest.  Jesus settled this quarreling with His example of servitude.  Illuminating His teaching of “so the last shall be first, and the first last” (Matthew 20:16), Jesus “got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.  Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.”  (John 13:4-5)

The disciples must have been silent, taking to heart the servanthood nature of their Master. How selfish and self-centered they felt, as their ego had swollen from being exposed when Simon Peter “said to Him, Lord, do You wash my feet?”  (John 13-6).  At this point, the twelve’s pride shrank down to size as their King washed their feet.  As Jesus shows them the servant attitude they should have for one another, “He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Truly, truly I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.”  (John 13:21) They all began looking at one another in confusion as to who could be the one He was speaking of.  Only one of them, knowing who was the betrayer, Judas, Jesus dismissed him, saying, “What you do, do quickly.”  (John 13:27)  

After Judas left the upper room, Jesus comforted the eleven with more instruction, telling them “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him;” (John 13:31).  “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).  Jesus reassures them, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-4). 

With these words, Jesus solidifies His deity and reveals to the entire world the only gospel that exists in saying “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6).  “While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins”  (Matthew 26:26-28).  Thus instituting the Lord’s Supper with all authority, Jesus embodied a fifteen-hundred-year-old celebration and tradition.  He was to be the final, perfect lamb sacrificed for the sins of the world.  This moment was and is established in remembrance of Jesus.  Believers are to re-live this every time they partake in the Lord’s Supper or communion.  “After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” (Matthew 26:30). 

“And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, because it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.’ But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away, yet I will not.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times” (Mark 14:27-30). 

Retreating to the Mount of Olives was nothing out of the ordinary; this was a common place Jesus prayed and sought alone time with His Father.  We can only imagine and sympathize with the excruciating hurt His soul was experiencing.  He told the disciples to “Pray that you may not enter into temptation” (Luke 22:40) as He traveled farther praying to His Father seeking comfort in this momentous hour.  In Jesus’ humanity, He prayed “remove this cup from Me,” as He did not want to feel God turn away, unleashing His wrath on the cross. Jesus prayed so intensely, drops of blood and sweat fell from His head. “Yet not what I will, but what You will” in total agreement with God in accomplishing the sacrifice for sin.  

The final moments with His disciples were about to expire as they could not stay awake to pray.  Their bellies were full, and it was nearing midnight as their savior was just a stone’s throw away praying. Jesus kept urging them to stay awake in prayer.  “And He came the third time, and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting?” It is enough; the hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!”  (Mark 14:41-42)