Jesus knew his time had arrived—time to die as a blemishless Passover lamb. The Bible says, “Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father.” – John 13:1 NLT.
Jesus chose to spend his last few hours privately with his chosen disciples. He knew he might not get to sleep that night. That night, two of His disciples would turn against Him. One (Judas) would betray him, and another (Peter) would deny Him. Jesus knew exactly how the sequence of events would unfold and how much emotional, physical, and spiritual pain He would have to go through.
His life on earth would end approximately in the next 36 hours. His death on the cross is going to bring a great victory. It will open the doors to heaven for humanity as a whole. The price for the sins of humanity has to be paid through the blemishless blood and suffering of Jesus. The mere thought of the agony brought trouble to His soul.
Jesus said, “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! Father, bring glory to your name.” – John 12:27 NLT.
Jesus meticulously prepared for his last few hours on earth.
Preparation for Passover Meal
On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go to prepare the Passover meal for you?” – Mark 14-12 NLT
When the Israelites left Egypt and moved towards the promised land, God gave them the festival of unleavened bread, also known as Passover. Unlike other festivals, Passover comes with detailed instructions on how to celebrate it. We can read God’s instructions on the Passover festival in Exodus 12.
An important element of Passover was requiring the slaughter of a blemishless, one-year-old male sheep or goat. The Jewish family was to eat together and finish the animal on the same night.
God knew His only son, Jesus Christ, would replace the blemishless Passover lamb and die on the cross on Passover day.
Jesus sent his close disciples Peter and John to find the room and arrange the supper. In fact, Jesus and His disciples did not own any place to celebrate the Passover. Jesus said, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” – Matthew 8:20 NLT.
Now, finding a place in Jerusalem during Passover is not easy. The city will be heavily crowded as the people come from all direction to Jerusalem to celebrate the passover. Jesus instructed His disciples on whom to approach and where to find the place for the Passover supper.
It was already evening. When everything was arranged for supper, Jesus and his disciples gathered in the upper room. Normally, in a Jewish gathering, the host’s slave washed the guests’ feet. But Jesus got up from his place, wrapped a towel around his waist, and took the basin. Disciples knew by now what Jesus was intending to do.
The Bible says, “ Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God” (John 13:3 NLT). Though he had all the power and authority, Jesus chose to be humble and wash his disciples’ feet.
The master did not wash his disciples’ feet, but Jesus started washing each of them and wiping them with a towel. If God can serve man, then man can surely serve fellow men. If Jesus can serve his disciples, then his disciples and we, who are his followers, should serve others.
Jesus said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
– Matthew 28:20 NLT
Since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.
– John 13:14 NLT
This shows the humility of Jesus Christ. He expects us to be as humble as He is.
Judas Betrayal Foretold
Judas, who was destined to betray Jesus because of his love for money, was also among the twelve sitting along with other disciples. Jesus cleaned Judas’s feet like all the others, knowing he would betray him.
Judas stayed with Jesus for more than three years. He participated in all the conversations and ministries and witnessed several miracles. How is it possible for someone so close to Jesus to walk so far away? Judas’s life is a great warning for every Christian. His love for money pushed him to betray his master.
John wrote, “He (Judas) was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.” – John 12:6 NLT.
After following Jesus for many years, Judas was ready to give up his prestigious apostleship for thirty pieces of silver. He threw away his calling and great honor for worthless immediate gain. Many of us exchange our precious spiritual gifts and holy calling for temporary pleasure, pride, and position.
While Judas is eager to collect his thirty pieces of silver, Jesus is deeply troubled by the betrayal of His dear disciple, whose soul would be lost. The Bible says, “Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!”” – John 13:21. He himself sent Judas away to finish what he intended to do to fulfill what was foretold in the prophecy.
Lord’s supper
When Jesus told the people that they must eat his flesh and drink his blood (John 6: 53, 54) to enter everlasting life, it was difficult for everyone to understand. Some of the followers left him, saying it was a difficult teaching.
During the Last Supper, he demonstrated what it meant. He broke the bread and gave it to his disciples to share and eat. The broken bread symbolizes the broken body of Jesus on the cross.
He took the cup, gave thanks, and said, ”Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” – Matthew 26:27,28.
The word covenant repeats 295 times in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, it repeats 37 times. But Jesus Christ used the word covenant only once in the context of the Last Supper. There was only one covenant introduced by Jesus Christ. That was through his blood. An everlasting covenant between man and God to forgive everyone’s sin. It is a new covenant.
Jesus requested everyone to remember this covenant.
He (Jesus) took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” – Luke 22:19 NLT
Those who believe in Christ are asked to remeber his glorious covenant. This is the reason we take communiion in our churches.
Those who do not understand the significance of communion thinks it is eating the flesh and drinking the blood. We are committed to explain to them with a humble manner we are remembering the great sacrifice Jesus did. We remember the way his flesh was torn and the blood was shed when we take the Holy communion every time.
Before the ending the last supper, Jesus wanted to leave an important message to His disciples. He knew they had been fighting for the past three years. They even argued during the last supper: Who was the greatest among them? (Luke 22:24).
Jesus addressed his disciples as His children and gave parting words, asking them to live in unity and love each other.
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” – John 13:34 NLT.
The full discourse jesus gave during the last supper can be found in John chapters 14 – 17.
Peter’s Denial Foretold
Once Jesus dealt with betrayal, he had to deal with denial. Mark says, Jesus opened the topic of Peter’s denial while they were walking towards Mount of Olives. Jesus told his disciples once again he leaving,
On the way (While walking towards Mount of Olives), Jesus told them, “All of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ – Mark 14:27 NLT
We are not sure how much His disciples were able to grasp what Jesus told them. I believe they might not have understood the end is coming in the next few hours. During this moment, Peter made a bold claim that He will never leave Jesus. Like Peter we also manytimes make bold claims about our future. Its better we lean on God’s strength and on our strength.
Jesus named Simon as a rock (Peter). Jesus foretold Simon the Peter would build his church.
Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
– Matthew 16:18 NLT
Now, Jesus reveals Satan has already taken permission to test Peter. Interesting Jesus uses His old name Simon here not Peter (Rock).
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” – Luke 22:31.
Satan can not come closer to us unless he takes permission from Jesus. The next set of conversations between Jesus and Peter explains the magnitude of spiritual warfare. Satan wanted to pick and make a mockery of God’s plan to use Peter who was chosen as the rock for God’s future kingdom.
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me. “No!” Peter declared emphatically. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the others vowed the same.
Somehow Peter, used the term “I” in the Spiritual warfare. Our strength can not give victory in the spiritual warfare. Later on when Peter was defeated, he realized his weakness ended up in tears.
Friend, are you fighting a spiritual battle on your own strength. We can’t wage a spiritual ware on our strength. We need the power of Holy Spirit in our life.
It was pretty clear at the fag end of Jesus ministry all his disciples would disown him. One is going to betray and another is going deny Him. Rest of them are going to flee. But Jesus knew how precious his disciples are inspite of their human short comings. When the power of Holy spirit came, it transformed their lives and made them a mighty warriors for God.
Dear Reader, Jesus wants to transform your life too. You might be thinking you are insignificant and useless for God. But God has a great plan for you. He can use you mightily for His glory, if only if you allow him to transform you.
Prayer at Gethsemane
It was time to leave. Jesus and his disciples walked toward Mount Olivet. They crossed the Kidron valley and reached the garden of Gethsemane, which was at the foot of Mount Olivet. Jesus spent time alone with his father in prayer, while his disciples were tired and dozed off. Jesus knew what he had to go through. He left everything to his father’s will in perfect submission.
Jesus Arrested
Judas knew where Jesus would go after dinner. He was familiar with the approach Jesus took from Jerusalem to Bethany. Judas came along with soldiers to arrest Jesus. They surrounded Jesus and his disciples. The soldiers arrested Jesus and dragged him to Annas, who was the father in law of Caiaphas. Annas was not the high priest but he still controlled a lot of power. He appointed five of his sons and son in law (Caiaphas) as high priest when he left high priest role.
Jesus was questioned all night. They slapped him and made fun of him. Can an infinite God get slapped? That too for the sake of finite man. Can the creation torture the creator? Can the powerless overcome the powerful? What happened with Jesus was an anomaly. It was all abnormal. Why God had to accept the abnormal? Isn’t it all for love? God loved his creation as is. Independent of their stiff-necked and rebellious behavior he chose to give it all.
While Jesus was being questioned and beaten during that night, one of his close disciple Peter, who promised to give his life for Jesus denied Jesus thrice.
Years later the same Peter was crucified by emperor Nero upside down. This time Peter was accused of following Jesus. He did not deny him before Nero. Peter learned his lesson. He understood the cost of following Jesus and was ready to pay the price when the time came.
It was almost morning when the rooster began to crow. It is the day of Passover. The Passover lamb was available in the Jerusalem temple for sale for all Jews to celebrate. While the actual Passover lamb was arrested and getting ready to be crucified on the Passover day.
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