March 28, 2024
Thursday Evening Service

Through the Passion Week Jesus continued to use the opportunities He had left to teach anyone who would listen things He felt important.  He used many parables at this using something the crowd was familiar with to help them understand a deeper spiritual truth.  We touched on a few of them Sunday night and continued last night.  Many deal with prophecy of what the last days will hold for us and it is good for us to read them asking the Spirit to open our understanding with what He wants us to have at this time.

We finished up last night looking at the wonderful act of worship the Mary did for Jesus as she anointed Him with her expensive oil.  She freely gave her most prized possession to the Lord despite others looking down on her for it.  Jesus was quick to correct them and declared this action would be a memorial to her forever.  This is true a 2000 years later we are talking about it.

Tonight the ball really gets rolling as everything begins to snowball together.  Think what the disciples are thinking as the day begins.  They really have no idea their world is about to be turned upside down starting this evening.  Though they have been warned, none of them are prepared.

Judas agrees to betrayal:

Mat 26:14-16 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests (15) and said, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?" And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver.  (16)  So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.

            Judas is such an interesting character in all of this.  What motivated him to do this?  Did he have another plan?  Truth is we don’t know.  We only know that God chose him for this moment and don’t really have any other explanation.  It is very sad how it plays out for him.

 

Passover:

Mat 26:17-25 Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?"  (18)  And He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples." ' "  (19)  So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.  (20)  When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve.  (21)  Now as they were eating, He said, "Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me."  (22)  And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, "Lord, is it I?"  (23)  He answered and said, "He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me.  (24)  The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born."  (25)  Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, "Rabbi, is it I?" He said to him, "You have said it."

            Notice the disciples’ reaction when Jesus reveals to them that one of the twelve will betray Him.  “Lord is it I?”  They did not know who it was going to be and their first reaction was a good one, to look inside themselves rather than point to others.  John later reveals in his gospel that after the fact it all made sense as he mentions that Judas, who kept the money bag, was stealing from it.

 

            During this time Jesus also again led by example as He washed the disciples’ feet (the job usually for the lowest of the servants).  I have found when you when you are struggling sometimes it helps to get your eyes off of yourself and see what you can do for others.  Peter took offence to this and tried to refuse that Jesus would wash his feet.  Jesus however set him quickly straight telling him that if he did not allow it Peter would have no part in Him.  Peter, being Peter, then said “wash my feet, hands and head!”  Often we find ourselves eager to serve, but reluctant to let anyone serve us.  Jesus taught Peter here that there are times we must drop our pride and accept help, even ask for it, when it is needed.  Note also that Jesus also washed Judas’ feet at this time as well as seating him at a place of honor next to Him at the dinner.

 

The Lord’s Supper:

Mat 26:26-29 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."  (27)  Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.  (28)  For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.  (29)  But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."

            This institutes the Communion Service that we practice every first day of the week.  This moment was very revealing to the disciples way back in John 6 Jesus proclaimed to all that He was the Bread of Life.  He then said unless His followers ate His flesh and drank His blood they would have no life in them.  Many left Jesus over that teaching but Peter did not as he said; “where would I go You have the words of eternal life and have come to believe you are the Christ!”  Peter did not understand what Jesus meant by these words, BUT he trusted Him despite that.  Now we all know what He meant.  It is a wonderful way to remember the sacrifice Jesus gave for us; His body broken for us and His blood shed for our sins.

 

Prophecy that all will forsake Him:

Mat 26:30-35 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.  (31)  Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: 'I WILL STRIKE THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK WILL BE SCATTERED.'  (32)  But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee."  (33)  Peter answered and said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble."  (34)  Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."  (35)  Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And so said all the disciples.

            This truly show that disciples do not grasp what is about to happen.  This leads us to one of the biggest struggle of Jesus’ life.  As He enter into Gethsemane a battle begins between all that is good and all that is evil.  The spirit of Satan will come after Jesus with all that he has and He must resist.  I believe the battle between good and evil is won here is the Garden.  Once Jesus leaves here, His mind is set on finishing what He has started.  Let’s look at Luke’s account of this moment.

 

The Garden:

Luke 22:39-46 Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him.  (40)  When He came to the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation."  (41)  And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, (42) saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done."

 

 (43)  Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.  (44)  And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.  (45)  When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.  (46)  Then He said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."

            The spiritual battle is real for Jesus.  So much so that it affects Him physically as He was in agony and He “sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground.”  Jesus knows what lies ahead and it places Him in agony.  This is in no way easy for Him.  The struggle is real as the human side of Him dreads the physical pain and hate that awaits Him.  His deity also must deal with something that has never been done before or will ever be done again.  One person, God’s only Son, will take the sins of the world upon Himself upon the cross.  He will feel the weight that is beyond understanding as He endures the all of this.  Why does He do this?  Why does He choose to suffer in this manner?  Because He loves you that much.  You are that precious to Him.  You are worth the price He has to pay.  Thank You Jesus for loving us that much!  Now being strengthened through prayer and an angelic visit, Jesus moves forward with a resolve to complete what He was born for.

 

Betrayed:

Mat 26:47-56 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.  (48)  Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him."  (49)  Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed Him.  (50)  But Jesus said to him, "Friend, why have you come?" Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.  (51)  And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.  (52)  But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.  (53)  Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?  (54)  How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?"  (55)  In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me.  (56)  But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.

            Judas betrays with a kiss.  This has to hurt Jesus on some inner level.  One He has loved and invested in now is betraying Him with a kiss (just as God had planned).  We also find out that Peter is true to his word earlier as he claims he would rather die than deny His Lord.  He pulls his sword and, I believe, is ready to fight to his death for Jesus.  His world is turned upside down however, when Jesus rebukes him telling him to put away his sword.  Notice what Jesus says here (was it on His mind this whole time?).  “I could pray and have 12 legions of angels here in an instant to destroy all of these.”  Jesus allows Himself to be taken.  He has the power to stop it, but He has now resolved to yield that power for this moment.

 

Peter’s Denial:

Mat 26:69-75 Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, "You also were with Jesus of Galilee."  (70)  But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are saying."

 

 

 

  (71)  And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth."  (72)  But again he denied with an oath, "I do not know the Man!"  (73)  And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, "Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you."  (74)  Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I do not know the Man!" Immediately a rooster crowed.  (75)  And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." So he went out and wept bitterly.

            We have all been there.  Failing God in a moment.  Peter needed this to humble him and God knew that.  He needed to know he can’t do it on his own and he needs grace as do we.  Lord forgive us for our pride in the time of failures and let us react with repentance as Peter does here.

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us.  Thank You for Your perfect plan of salvation.  Thank You for Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith!