The link to read Amazing Events During Passion Week.
A couple of years ago, I read about the Passover meal and when Jesus went to pray in the Garden, and then I wrote the following:
Jesus, a few years ago, you met with your disciples in a room on an upper floor. You sat with them around a table, remembering, laughing, and sharing stories. At the same time, other families were sharing this important meal around town.
But tonight was different. Even though you ate the same meal and said the same prayers as you had when you were a small boy with your family, tonight, something new was beginning that would change this night forever. This meal was your last on earth. But this meal was the beginning for us.
Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb must be killed. Jesus tells Peter and John to make the preparations so they may share the meal. They ask Him where they are to go. Jesus tells them to look for a man carrying water, and he will show them the place.
Now, I want you to close your eyes and imagine you are sitting at the table with the other disciples and Jesus. Then He says,
“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. “
Luke 22:15-16
He has been with these men for three years; they watched Him heal the sick, give sight to the blind, make the lame walk, and raise the dead. Now they are celebrating the Passover, and they think it is just like all the others they have celebrated all their lives, but Jesus says He has fervently desired this Passover and will not eat of it again. What is that about? He has their attention; they know something is about to change, but they still need to understand.
Lord, you did everything as you usually do during this meal, but tonight you took the bread, broke it, and gave it to each disciple, saying, “This is my body, broken for you; take and eat.” As you shared this with them, you saw a picture of what was coming: the beatings, the spitting, the taunting, and the crown of thorns on your brow.
“And He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”
Matthew 21:19
Then, you took a cup and shared it with the disciples. This cup is my blood shed for you to take and drink. Again, a picture of what was to come, blood pouring from the open wounds on your back, chest, and legs. Blood from the nails pounded into your hands and feet, and from the cut in your side where they placed a sword through. This meal was different, yet the same.
“Likewise, He took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.“
Luke 22:20
Then you did something strange: you got up from the table and poured a bowl of water, knelt in front of each disciple, and washed his feet. The disciples probably wondered what Jesus was doing now and what lesson they needed to learn.
Of course, they probably had this thought many times in the past three years! But they believed Him, followed Him, and trusted Him. He told them why He was washing their feet, and then told them that one of them would betray Him. He then shared about the unimaginable events that would happen in the next few days.
As you shared, they probably had thoughts of fear and doubt and asked, “Is it me, Lord, will I betray you?” But they remembered what they saw and did with you, and peace settled over them for a while because you were with them.
On this Passover night, the disciples went to the upper room expecting the usual Passover meal. They had shared this meal with Jesus for the past two years, but tonight, Jesus was beginning something new.
The meal is over now, and it’s time to worship. Jesus and His disciples begin singing hymns of praise. His heart is overflowing with love as they walk and sing with these men, whom he has been with for the past three years.
But there are so many others that you are thinking of, too. You reach the Garden. There, you leave your disciples and go into the Garden. You begin praying, overwhelmed with what is coming, and sweating blood because you are so distraught.
You go back to the disciples, and they are asleep. Wake up and pray, guys. Then you go back into the Garden and pray more. This time, you ask the Father to take this cup away, but knowing that it is the only way for those you love to be with you, you bow your will to the Father.
You desire to do the will of the Father even though it means you must die. Then you go back over to the disciples; they are asleep again. Come on, guys, wake up. You need to pray. Then you go back to the deeper part of the Garden, and this prayer is full of love and compassion.
In this prayer, you see me. You know who I am, and you smile. You say you look at our child, Father. She (he) mine! She’s(he’s) ours! And you pray for me.
Lord, that night in the Garden was the most challenging night on earth for you. Yes, the next day was coming, and there was going to be physical pain, but tonight was when you, as a man, had to fight the mental war that was being fought for me.
You prayed so hard that your sweat turned to blood, yet you overcame and bowed your will to the Father. Then you returned to the disciples and woke them for the third and last time.
It’s time. The crowd is here—a kiss on the cheek.
The time has come; Judas, one of the Twelve, has come with a crowd carrying clubs and swords. With them were the chief priests, scribes, and the elders who made this an officially sanctioned arrest party.
Judas had made a deal with the religious leaders that the one he kissed was the one they wanted to arrest. He immediately went up to Jesus and said, ” Rabbi,” and kissed Him on the cheek. Jesus asked Judas, ” Are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
They took hold of Him and arrested Him. As soon as Jesus was arrested, one of the disciples (one Gospel says it was Peter) took his sword and struck the high priest’s servant’s ear off. Jesus then told everyone to put away the swords and healed the servant’s ear, then Jesus said to the crowd,
” Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal, to capture me? Every day, I used to sit teaching in the temple, and you didn’t arrest me. But all this has happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled.”
Matthew 26:55-56
When He finished saying that, His disciples deserted Him and ran away.
Jesus is now alone.
Resources
Luke 22:7 – Compare Bible Verse Translations. https://www.biblestudytools.com/luke/22-7-compare.html
. http://audioevangelism.com/lessons/2009/transcripts/AE_2009_05_19_text.htm
Luke 22:19-20. https://www.talktotheword.com/p/luke-2219-20.html
On Beginning Again | Carrie Stephens. https://www.carriestephensauthor.com/on-beginning-again/
