Like Wednesday, Thursday daytime, is quiet. You may assume that your Lord is resting and meditating in preparation for tonight. He travels down to Jerusalem with His men and His betrayer. There is no obvious anxiety in this Man who walks into the city of God His final time. In four days’ time He’ll appear in the city again, now resurrected, and in His Second Coming shall enter as Jerusalem’s Defender and King (Zechariah 12-14).
As He is resting midday, the disciples come to Him and ask, “Where do you want for us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He has been keeping it from them lest word get out and those wanting to kill Jesus might find Him and the disciples. Jesus shows supernatural power over all things by directing them to follow a man carrying a pitcher of water into a house in Jerusalem. Once safely inside, they will learn of His prior arrangements (Matthew 26:17-19; Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-13).
Then comes evening and all are in the upper room, served by faithful women and men. This shall be the last Passover meal for your Lord (Matthew 26:20, Mark 14:17, Luke 22:14-16): “I shall never eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then taking off His robe and donning a towel, He washes the disciple’s feet, a picture of lowly service for us to imitate with each other, and of Christ’s descent from heaven to earth to forgive our sins (John 13:1-20). Is any as good as Jesus?
Then He identifies Judas as the betrayer just prior to an argument among the disciple’s as to which is the greatest (Matthew 26:21-25, Mark 14:18-21; Luke 22:21-30; John 13:21-30). If He was hoping for better from men then He was disappointed, for fallen men are much more like devils than deity. Jesus even points out the confident Peter as one who will deny him (Luke 22:31-38; John 13:31-38).
The Passover concludes and your Savior institutes the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:17-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Normally we would take this together on Good Friday. May our inability to do so help us appreciate every opportunity in the future to honor Christ’s institution: the local church and its founding activity that brings us together in faith and love.
Now your Lord settles into teaching proper: The Upper Room Discourse filled with encouragement for sad disciples (John 14:1-16:33), and the encouragement of Jesus’ prayer for them, and for all those who will believe in Him through their word (John 17:1-26). That’s you, my believing friend.
Jesus predicts again that Peter will, in fact, deny Him that night but also tells the men He will rise from the dead and meet them in Galilee. In arrogance Peter rebukes Jesus and professes his own spiritual strength to stand strong in temptation (Matthew 26:30-35; Mark 14:26-31); Luke 29:39-40a; John 18:1).
Jesus moves on the Garden
of Gethsemane and prays
hard that the cup might pass, meaning, that He might not have to die the death
of crucifixion and shame. His human side makes fervent plea to God, but always
leaves the matter up to God His Father. Strengthened, He is prepared to do the
will of God (Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:40b-46).
No sooner than He was finished, but Judas and a large contingent of
soldiers and temple police show up to arrest your Lord. Although He could call twelve
legions of angels to eradicate the human race at that point, He submits (Matthew
26:47-56; Mark 14:42-52; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:2-12), even healing the cut-off
ear of a slave. One cannot detect a single bit of revenge or anger in Jesus at His
mistreatment.
Oh that we would learn to be like him!
Your Lord won’t sleep tonight, but will endure six overnight court
trials before His condemnation to a cross the next morning. We’ll look at those
tomorrow.
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Sent
on April 9, 2020 by the Pastoral Staff (Ted Bigelow, Pastor of Preaching and Development and
Steve Ridge, Executive Pastor) of Grace Bible Church of Colorado Springs.
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