According to Scripture, much happened on Crucifixion Day Eve. There's so much in this, I encourage you to read it from the list I published on Saturday. Something I always think about is how Jesus felt. Did he experience sadness or anticipation? Was he weary or scared of what was to come? After all, at this time, Jesus was a human body just like you and me, walking on an earth that was full of sin. A lot has probably changed during the time since then but sin remains and our world is in turmoil. The remedy for this sin and turmoil is the same. Jesus.
Jesus gave his disciples instructions to prepare the upper room as he wished to celebrate Passover with them. Just as he gave instruction to the disciples to get the donkey for his entry into Jerusalem, he gave instructions about the upper room. Just as cooperation was perfect for acquiring the donkey, so was the cooperation of the preparation of the upper room.
Judas began his agreement to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Ah, Judas! So many thoughts always in my mind and heart about Judas. Greedy? It would seem so. Willing to sell out one who loved him and considered him a friend and disciple? It would seem so. The Gospel of John even says that "the devil had put in Judas' heart to betray Jesus".
Jesus and his disciples have communion together with unleavened bread and fruit of the vine. It was at this event that Jesus spoke that one of the disciples there would betray him. They had unleavened bread and fruit of the vine. Jesus told the disciples to take the bread as it was his body and drink the fruit of the vine as it was his blood. "This do in remembrance of me," he said. I can never go through a communion service without a heart full of thanks as I remember what Jesus did for ME.
Peter vows he will never leave Jesus but Jesus predicts that before the rooster crows, Peter will have denied him three times. Ah, Peter! Such a strong personality of a disciple was Peter. He had good intentions that he would always stay by Jesus' side but he also was human, as we are. A scripture that is embedded in my mind is one I've kept since I first heard or read it from Luke 22:31. Jesus says to Peter, "...behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not..." I vow I will always serve Jesus, but oftentimes I fall short of what Jesus deserves from me. I am humbled that Jesus has prayed for me, as he did for Peter, that my faith fail not. Oh, for a faith that fails not!
After the communion and Passover celebration, Jesus takes maybe three disciples with him to the garden. It's there that he prays "if it be thy will, Father, let this cup pass from me....but not my will but thine be done." The human disciples fall asleep and are unable to retain a watch. Again, much like me when I fall asleep on Jesus. Guilty.
I am uncertain of the prayer in John 17 and whether it was part of the prayer in the garden then but the chapter is one well worth your reading. In it, Jesus prays for himself, he prays for his disciples, and he prays for all believers. Praise Jesus! I am counted in those believers. What a blessing that Jesus intercedes for us! I love the last two verses of this chapter and prayer for us:
"O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them." John 17:25, 26
The Scriptures say that after Jesus had prayed in the garden, he was betrayed by Judas with a kiss and arrested, bound, and taken away to trail. One of the darkest days in time was coming....
Consider....
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