The Last Supper was a time when Jesus was intimate and expressed deep love for His disciples. The poignancy and depth of what He did and discuss with them is profound for the disciples and for us disciples of Christ today. He was preparing them for what was going to come, much sooner than they realized... within a few hours in fact! He explained to them that He would soon leave them, but through the Spirit of God; they could abide IN Him and share the oneness with Him that He shared with the Father. He would bring them, all of His disciples into oneness with the Father Himself. He was also preparing them for the ministry they would carry on in His physical absence. John 13 - 17 gives this account.
The Full Extent of His Love
Thursday: John 13:1-17, Matt. 5:43-48
In our reading today lets look on at Jesus'
last meal with His disciples. He knew this was His last time with them.
In these closing moments with them, what was the most important things He would do and say to His disciples before He left them?
"It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He now showed them the full extent of His love.
The evening meal was being served... Jesus... got up from the meal,
took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After
that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples
feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him.
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Gethsemmane, the Garden of Tears
Thursday: Matthew 26:38- 39 NLT, Luke 22:42-45 NLT
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| Gethsemane by Carl Bloch |
After His last supper with His disciples, Jesus went
with them to an olive grove called the Garden of Gethsemane. He told His
disciples
"'My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death.
Stay here and keep watch with Me.' He went on a little farther and
bowed with His face to the ground, praying, 'My Father! If it is
possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from Me.'"
Matthew 26:38- 39 NLT
"'Father,
if You are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet
I want Your will to be done, not Mine.'" Then an angel from heaven
appeared and strengthened Him. He prayed more fervently, and He was in such agony of spirit that His sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. At last He stood up and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief."
Luke 22:42-45 NLT
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Betrayal, The Kiss of a Friend and a Rooster Crows
Thursday: Mark 14:27-31, Mark 14: 35, 36, Luke 22: 48
"You
will all fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is written: " 'I will
strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' But after I have
risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." Peter declared, "Even if all fall away, I will not." "I
tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "today—yes, tonight—before the
rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times."But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the others said the same. Mark 14:27-31
After
the Last Supper, Jesus and His disciples went to a grove, among the
olive trees called the Garden of Gethsemane. He told them that
His soul was crushed with grief.
"He
went along a little further and fell to the ground. He prayed to the
Father, that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting Him might
pass Him by. ' Abba Father,... everything is possible for you.
Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to
be done, not mine.'...
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| Judas Betrays with a Kiss Thomas Coutere |
Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with
swords and clubs... The traitor, Judas had given them a prearranged
signal: 'You will know which one to arrest when I greet Him with a
kiss'... As soon as they arrived, Judas walked up to Jesus. 'Rabbi he exclaimed, and gave Him the kiss." Mark 14: 35,36 NLT
"... Jesus said, 'Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?' Luke 22: 48 NLT
After a scuffle, Jesus spoke to the leading priests, the captains of the temple guard:
"'Am
I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to
arrest me? Why didn't you arrest Me in the Temple? I was there every
day. But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness
reigns.' So they arrested Him and led Him to the high priests home.
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| Peter denies Jesus by Carl Bloch |
Peter followed at a distance" and joined
the guards around a campfire in the courtyard. A servant girl noticed
him in the firelight and said, "'This man was one of Jesus' followers!'"
Later someone else looked at Him and said "'You must be one of them!'
'No, man, I am not! Peter retorted. About an hour later someone else
insisted, 'This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too.' But
Peter said, 'Man, I don't know what you are talking about.' And
immediately, while he was still speaking the rooster crowed. At that
moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered that
the Lord had said, 'Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will
deny three times that you even know Me.' And Peter left the courtyard,
weeping bitterly."
"Then
the guards in charge of Jesus began mocking and beating Him. They
blindfolded Him and said, 'Prophesy to us! Who hit you that time?' And
they hurled all sorts of terrible insults at Him." Luke 22: 52- 64 NLT
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