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| Camp Lakeview, IN. 10/9/2011 dwm photo |
After a few days with His disciples and closest friends, it's time to commemorate Passover.
Like He did with the donkey, Jesus sent two disciples to make arrangements for their group to eat together.
We know it as The Last Supper. Judas was revealed as the betrayer and made a hasty retreat.
The Passover was held each year to recall how God saved Israel from death by the sacrifice of a lamb. This time, Jesus is the Lamb of God, laid down His life for the world.
During that dinner, Jesus washed the feet of His followers, demonstrating forgiveness and being willing to do ugly, messy jobs. He gave them, and future believers, a way to remember and celebrate His love and redemption of our sin. Knowing what was ahead, He took them to a garden.
Matthew 26: 36 - 46 Matthew 26 Bible Gateway
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will. "
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Couldn't you men keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
Then he returned to his disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
Things moved quickly as he was arrested and brought before the High Priest and two Roman officials as Thursday turned into Friday.
The crowd who cheered for him Sunday rejected him, demanding he be crucified. The horrible day was only good because of the result. Jesus' death in our place paid the price for sin. His dead body was taken from the cross and laid in a grave before sundown.
What happened next made all the difference.
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