Today we are walking with JESUS through the day that would end in Gethsemane. We will be looking at the disciples preparation of their " Last Supper ", unbeknownst to them, with their FRIEND whom they had been walking with for approximately 3+ years. We also will be looking at how the LORD is still teaching by rebuking their jealousy, a good foot washing and HIS testifying that one of them will betray HIM. We will be using Scripture from the books of Luke and John, today. We will be picking up the activity in Jerusalem and the disciples are buzzing about preparing someplace for the Passover with the LORD.
Luke 22:7-23 Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. And HE sent Peter and John, saying, " Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat." So they said to HIM, " Where do YOU want us to prepare ?" And HE said to them, " Behold when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. Then you shall say to the master of the house, ' The TEACHER says to you, " Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with MY disciples ?" Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready." So they went and found it as HE had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.
And when the hour had come. HE sat down, and the twelve apostles with HIM. Then HE said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of GOD."
Then HE took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, " Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of GOD comes."
And HE took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, " This is MY body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of ME."
Likewise HE also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in MY blood, which is shed for you. BUT BEHOLD, the hand of MY betrayer is with ME on the table, and truly the SON of MAN goes as it has been determined, but WOE to that man by whom HE is betrayed !"
Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing.
Now JESUS announced that one of them would betray HIM and in other accounts of the " Last Supper " HE all but told them that it was Judas but they were too busy talking among themselves to look up and see Judas and JESUS dipping their bread in the sop at the same time, which is who HE said it would be. But all this had to take place for Scripture to be fulfilled and for our sin debt, to be paid. No one would be able to stop these events as they unfolded because each one was part and parcel of the LORD's walk to Calvary. We will now pick up where the supper had ended and Judas had left to betray the LORD.
John 13:1-20 Now before the feast of the Passover, when JESUS knew that HIS hour had come that HE should depart from this world to the FATHER, having loved HIS own who were in the world, HE loved them to the end. And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray HIM. JESUS knowing that the FATHER had given all things into HIS hands, and that HE had come from GOD and was going to GOD, rose from supper and laid aside HIS garments, took a towel and girded HIMSELF. After that, HE poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which HE was girded. Then HE came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to HIM,
" LORD, are YOU washing my feet ?" JESUS answered and said to him, " What I AM doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this." Peter said to HIM, " YOU shall never wash my feet !" JESUS answered him, " If I do not wash you, you have no part with ME." Simon Peter said to HIM, " LORD, not my feet only but also my hands and my head !" JESUS said to him, " He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you." For HE knew who would betray HIM; therefore HE said, " You are not all clean." So when HE had washed their feet, taken HIS garments, and sat down again, HE said to them, " Do you know what I have done to you ? You call ME TEACHER and LORD, and you say well, for so I AM. If I then, your LORD and TEACHER, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
" Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I AM HE. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives ME; and he who receives ME receives HIM WHO sent ME."
There is still a lot of teaching going on by JESUS and we will go back to Luke 22 to see the disciples arguing over who is the greatest; and Peter standing strong for the LORD, but will deny HIM.
Luke 22:24-34 But there was also rivalry among them as to which of them should be considered the greatest. And HE said to them, " The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ' benefactors.'
But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves ? Is it not he who sits at the table ? Yet I AM among you as the ONE WHO serves. But you are those who have continued with ME in MY trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom just as MY FATHER bestowed one upon ME, that you may eat and drink at MY table in MY kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
And the LORD said, " Simon, Simon ! Indeed, Satan has asked for you that he may sift you as wheat ! But I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to ME, strengthen your brethren." But he said to HIM, " LORD, I am ready to go with YOU, both to prison and to death."
Then HE said, " I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know ME. "
Peters denial will nearly cripple him. The LORD's final hours of teaching, before the Roman Guard come for HIM in Gethsemane, include the Scriptures of John 14:1 through the LORD's real prayer in John 17. John 17 is the most intimate prayer to the FATHER. HE prays for HIMSELF in 17:1-5; for HIS disciples 6-19; and for ALL Believers that will believe in HIM through the disciples word, which would include every TRULY BORN AGAIN BELIEVER from HIS Ascension to the time the LORD comes for HIS Bride. I would love to include John 14:1 - 17:26 but I am confident that you can honor the LORD by reading this section on your own. The last Scriptures that I will use today is in Gethsemane, at the point of betrayal by Judas Iscariot in Luke 22.
Luke 22:39 - 47 And coming out, HE went to the Mount of Olives, as HE was accustomed, and HIS disciples also followed HIM. When HE came to the place, HE said to them, " Pray that you may not enter into temptation." And HE was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and HE knelt down and prayed, saying, " FATHER, if it is YOUR will, remove this cup from ME; nevertheless not MY will, but YOURS, be done." Then an angel appeared to HIM from heaven, strengthening HIM.
And being in agony, HE prayed more earnestly. And HIS sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. When HE rose up from prayer, and had come to HIS disciples, HE found them sleeping from sorrow. Then HE said to them, " Why do you sleep ? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation. "
And while HE was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to JESUS to kiss HIM. BUT................
And we will stop there for this post. Tomorrows post will pick up right where we left off, with the BUT.
As I have been doing this series, so many things have jumped out at me. The disciples callous attitude, Judas' greed, JESUS's humility and love through it all.
The hours are ticking down to the event that HE knew was so needed for mankind to have fellowship with the FATHER, but there was also something that filled HIS heart with dread, a moment that would be like no other moment in history, and we will dwell long and hard on that moment tomorrow. PLEASE don't miss any of this series of JESUS' walk to the cross and HIS wonderful resurrection.
Your servant in the LORD,
Julie
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