In the earlier parts of this series, (see Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3, and The Son of Man Lays Bare His Fate), we covered Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday; His second cleansing of the Temple and His last public address, on Monday.
On Tuesday of His final week, He preached in the Temple, exposed the Pharisees and scribes for the evil phonies that they were and separated Himself from them as He leaves the Temple for the last time. Finally, Jesus opened the apostles’ eyes about the ‘end times,’ and of His second advent.
Wednesday
Jesus and company gathered, and He told His apostles the exact time of His crucifixion:
“As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” Mt. 26:2 NLT
At this same point in time, the Bible tells us that the chief priests and the church elders were plotting the death of Jesus:
At the same time the leading priests and elders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest, plotting how to capture Jesus secretly and kill him. “But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.” Mt. 26:3 – 5. NLT
(“This is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘I now consider these shepherds my enemies, and I will hold them responsible for what has happened to my flock.’ Eze. 34:10 NLT)
How did the plotters find a way to kill Christ? The devil himself came to their aid:
Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, and he went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them.
They were delighted, and they promised to give him money. So he agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus so they could arrest him when the crowds weren’t around. Lk. 22:3 – 6. NLT
So, we see that Judas, one of Christ’s hand-picked apostles, betrayed Him – sending the Son of God to His death for money (30 pieces of silver, to be exact).
(But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.
And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. 1 Tim. 6:9, 10. NLT)
Jesus and His apostles return to Bethany for the last time. They enter the house of ‘Simon the Leper.’ (That’s our merciful Jesus, always compassionate – even in the face of loveless conventions.)
While there, Mary of Bethany, (also accompanied by her brother Lazarus), anoints Jesus’ head and feet with pure nard (an extremely expensive perfume). The disciples complained among themselves, saying that the nard could have been sold to feed the poor. Judas was the most vociferous in his complaints. The Bible reveals why:
Not that he cared for the poor – he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself. Jn. 12:6 NLT
Christ put a stop to their complaints:
“Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial.” Mt. 26:10 – 12. NLT
Thursday
Jesus sent Peter and John to Jerusalem to prepare the Passover meal. The Bible gives us an appreciation of the state of Christ’s heart at this moment:
Now before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that His hour had come [and it was time] for Him to leave the world and return to the Father. Having greatly loved His own who were in the world, He loved them [and continuously loves them with His perfect love] to the end (eternally). Jn. 13:1 AMP
Steadfast, loving, and faithful Jesus!
In the evening, Christ and the twelve apostles gathered to partake of the Passover meal. Jesus began to speak:
“I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” Lk. 22:15, 16. NLT
What Jesus is saying is that He would dine with all the children of God at the end of time, when they enter the Kingdom during what is referred to as the ‘marriage supper of the Lamb.’
Christ is initiating the ushering in of a spiritual transition for God’s children, wrapped up in God’s final Covenant with His children. Christ is becoming the sacrificial Lamb, and it is His blood that will bring salvation.
This ‘Last Supper’ celebration (Communion) replaces the Passover meal for His followers, because at His resurrection, He will step into the role of the ultimate liberator of God’s children. He becomes the Key to His Father’s kingdom.
During dinner, the disciples once again start arguing over who will be greatest in heaven. Jesus sets them straight:
“Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table of course.
“But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.” Lk. 22:26, 27. NLT
Again, the Bible makes us privy of Jesus’ thoughts, and of the action that He decides to take, to bring them greater clarity over what He had just said:
Now when it was time for supper, the devil had already put into the heart of Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray him. Jn. 13:2 CSB
Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into his hands, that he had come from God, and that he was going back to God. So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself. Jn. 13:3, 4. CSB
This is not where Judas goes bad. Remember that he is assisting Jesus’ enemies in a plot to kill Him. And before that, Jesus had alluded that one of his apostles was a devil (Jn. 6:70).
Christ began to wash the disciples’ feet, beginning with Peter. Peter objects, saying that it is he who should wash Jesus’ feet. He delivers a stern rebuke to his disciple:
“Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me [we can have nothing to do with each other].” Jn. 13:8 AMP
Peter understands and allows his feet to be washed, even so far as to tell Jesus that He can wash his whole body, (tongue-in-cheek). He responds:
“A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean but not all of you.” Jn. 13:10 NLT
Jesus is providing us with great insights:
One: There is no task that is too menial in terms of servitude.
Two: We must submit to the will of Christ
Three: The washing of the feet was symbolic of the necessity of the cleansing of the soul
and spirit, by the blood of our Savior, to enter communion with He and His Father.
Four: Once you’ve made the decision to follow Him, you are washed completely by His
righteousness. Afterwards, you just must tend to your daily walk with Him – keeping
your feet clean.
Note too, that once again, Jesus is alluding to Judas’ guilt (unclean). Now, He starts zeroing in on His imminent betrayal:
“I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.’ (Ps. 41:9) I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I AM the Messiah.” Jn. 13:18, 19. NLT
Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!” Jn. 13:21 NLT
Then, Christ spoke into John’s ear alone:
“It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.” And when he dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot.
When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. The Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.” Jn. 13:26, 27. NLT
So Judas left at once, going out into the night… Jn. 13:30 NLT
The night is young, and the rest of Thursday of the Holy Week beckons. Next time.
Goodnight and God bless.