4. PASSOVER: THE LAST SUPPER - THURSDAY.
Read Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-23; John 13:1-30
Before sharing in the supper, Jesus washed the discipled feet. This was a sign of His servanthood. There were 4 reasons why he did this:
1. To demonstrate His LOVE for His disciples.
"He had LOVED HIS DISCIPLES during His ministry on earth, and now HE LOVED THEM to the end." John 13:1b (NLT)
2. Jesus was taken the place of the SERVANT at the bottom of society - the "most dirtiest of jobs", yet he was showing them the greatest respect.
"So he got up from the table, took of His robe, wrapped His towel around His waist, and poured water in the basin. Then he began to WASH THE DISCIPLES FEET, drying them with the towel He had around Him." John 13:4&5 (NLT)
3. Jesus was "uniquely powerful", but he was also HUMBLE.
"Jesus knew that the Father had given HIM THE AUTHORITY over everything and that He had come from God and would return to God....I tell you the truth slaves are not greater than their masters. Nor is the MESSENGER more important than the one who sends the message." John 13:3 &16 (NLT)
4. Washing and cleansing is a sign of FORGIVENESS, and this was a "picture" of what Jesus would be doing on the cross.
"When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to Him, "Lord are you going to wash my feet?"
"Jesus replied: "You don't understand what I am doing, but someday you will."...."Unless I wash you, you won't belong to me..... I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have to you." John 13:6,7,8b, 15 (NLT)
"Lord, help us to follow Jesus' example, not just in words, BUT ALSO IN ACTIONS. Thank you that you have given us so much to celebrate." Nicky Gumbel
On the first day of the festival, families got together to celebrate the Passover, and Jesus did this with His 12 disciples. This became known as the Lord's Supper, and today in our Churches, we call it Communion.
"While they were eating, Jesus took the bread and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to His disciples saying, "Take, eat, this is my body." Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you", for this is the blood of the new covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins, I tell you, I will not drink from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's Kingdom." Matthew 26:26-29 (NIV)
Jesus knows that He is going to be killed, and His death was the sign of the "new covenant". His blood would be poured out for "forgiveness of sins", and disciples would share in the "benefits of His sacrifice", just as we do today.
"In the Upper Room, Jesus prepared both Himself and His disciples for HIS DEATH. The LOAF OF BREAD and the CUP OF WINE represent HIS BODY soon to be SACRIFICED amd His BLOOD soon to be SHED. " Hugh Claycombe
5. SINGING AND PRAYING IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMENE
Read Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46
"After singing a hymn they went to the Garden of Gethsemene, when Jesus prayed in agony, knowing what lay ahead of Him." Hugh Claycombe
The Passover service had lots joyous singing including HALLELUJAHS! This was accompanied by a PRAYER TO GOD. Jesus and disciples spent some time after their supper singing these HYMNS AND PRAISES, before going out ou to PRAY on in the Garden of Gethsemene.
"We have been brought from slavery to FREEDOM, from sadness to GLADNESS, from mourning to FEASTING, from darkness to LIGHT, from captivity to REDEMPTION." Jewish Passover Prayer.
"Some time later they left the Upper Room and Jesus made His way to His private garden - His retreat - in Gethsemene - on the Mount of Olives where he could pray." Charles Swindoll
Peter James and John followed Him and Jesus asked them and and pray for Him. He went to His Father for His heart was heavy. He wanted them to "keep watch with Him", but they fell asleep. Still, Jesus was praying for them, and He still prays for us, and he wants us to learn to PRAY as he did.
We can go to Jesus in PRAYER, as Jesus did, whenever we want to. We can use His Name and that of His Father God. He answers our prayers with many PROMISES:
* We have His TRUE LIFE - in the midst of his betrayal, death and SALVATION.
* We have the JOY of his welcomed RESURRECTION.
* We have PEACE in the midst of trials and tribulations, but ultimate ETERNAL LIFE.
* We have comlete UNITY in our Church, in the Word of God, being FILLED WITH HIS SPIRIT.
"Jesus was accompanied by His disciples. They left the upstairs room and went to the Mount of Olives. There He told them: "Pray that you will not give into temptation". He walked away, about a stones throw, and KNELT DOWN AND PRAYED, "Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want YOUR WILL, NOT MINE to be done." Luke 22:39-42 (NLT)
"I am not asking that you take them out of this world but that you KEEP THEM SAFE from the evil one.....I pray that THEY WILL BE ONE, as I AM IN THEM and YOU ARE IN ME. May they experience such PERFECT UNITY that the world will know that YOU SENT ME." John 17:15&21a (NIV)
"On the final evening of Jesus ministy, in the light of his approaching betrayal, we have the longest example of how Jesus prayed to His Father for His disciples. He also showed us HOW TO PRAY. in the morning and in the evening. He prayed ALONE, he retreated,, and he sought the prayers of others. Help us to make PRAYER A PRIORITY in our DAILY LIVES." Max Lucado
"HOLY BIBLE - NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION" , 2011, Biblic
"HOLY BIBLE - NEW LIVING TRANSLATION", 2015, Tyndale House Foundation
GUMBEL, Nicky & Pippa, "Celebrate Jesus - John 13:1-30" - "The Bible in One Year", 2009, Alpha International/You Version
CLAYCOMBE, Hugh, "Passover: The Last Supper - Thursday", "Palm Sunday to Easter, Walking with Jesus Each Day" - "Rose Book of Bible, Charts, Maps and Time Lines" - 10th Anniversary Edition, 2015, Rose Publishing
SWINDOLL, Charles, "Jesus - The Greatest Life of All", 2008, Thomas Nelson
LUCADO, Max, "Just Like Jesus", 2003, Thomas Nelson
"Passover Song/The Lamb Who Saves/English-Hebrew Messianic Worship", 2025, Timeless Hebrew Tunes/You Tube
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