The Last Supper

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

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.'... 

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. 

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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