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Lots of things happened on the Thursday evening before Good Friday. Tonight we are going to remember them and I would like is to see if we can focus on what it would have been like for Jesus. I am going to summarise some events or read some of the Bible passages and then give us a chance to reflect. If we can avoid it, let’s not talk about what it was like for other people or the lessons that emerge but what we imagine it would have been like for Jesus.
The events of the Thursday night took place in a number of different locations and we are going to move in between them.
While our focus is on the Thursday night, the music often assumes we know the whole story.
On a hill far away.
We know nothing about this day prior to the evening. Jesus and His disciples entered Jerusalem. He had made arrangements for an upper room to be available and some of the disciples went ahead and prepared the Passover meal.
At the appointed time, they gathered. Possibly there was no servant present to wash their feet. They started the meal without the customary foot washing. Certainly, none of them had offered to wash the others’ feet.
Then Jesus got up, took off His outer clothing, took a towel and basin and started washing the feet of one of them. No one said anything. He moved onto the next. No one said anything.
He got to Peter. Peter objected. “Lord, are you going to wash my feet? No, you shall never wash my feet.”
“You know what?”, Jesus replied, “If I do not wash you then you cannot be part of me – cannot be one of my people or part of my mission.”
Peter, in typical fashion, then flipped to the opposite position. “In that case, do not wash just my feet. Wash my hands and head as well.”
“Peter, listen. If you have had a bath, you need only then wash your feet and your whole body will be clean. You are clean although there is someone here who isn’t.”
When Jesus had completed the circle, He said, “I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet. You are to follow my example. Do what you have seen me do and you will be blessed.”
What do you think that would have been like for Jesus?
What would He have felt about the fact that no one else did it?
Disappointed. Had they not learnt about serving?
Would it have been natural for Him to wash their feet?
Yes. Jesus was a natural servant, not simply acting so as to teach a lesson.
How would Jesus have felt about Peter’s response?
Typical of Peter to blurt things out
Shows a humility. He was not worthy of having Jesus serve him.
But also a misunderstanding (although could we expect him to understand the parallel with forgiveness (spiritual cleansing)?
Maybe Jesus was not troubled. This was just a teaching opportunity.
Jesus returned to His place and the meal continued. He had previously said that He would be handed over to the religious leaders and would be killed (but would rise again.) Suddenly, in the course of the meal, He said…
Matthew 26:21-26
‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.’
22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, ‘Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?’
23 Jesus replied, ‘The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.’
25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, ‘Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?’
Jesus answered, ‘You have said so.’
“Judas, what you are about to do, go and do quickly.”
Judas left the room.
What do you think that would have been like for Jesus?
Why did Jesus not try to stop Judas?
It had to happen. It was all part of God’s plan.
What would Jesus have felt about what Judas was leaving to do?
His darkest hour was approaching. He didn’t want to have to go through with this.
Yet, this was what He had committed Himself to.
How would Jesus have felt about Judas?
Sorrow at his damnation.
Betrayed by one He had loved.
The disciples thought they were celebrating the Passover – and they were.
But then Jesus took the unleavened bread and did something unusual with it. He held it up, gave thanks to God and broke it. What did this mean?
“Take and eat; this is my body.”
Then He took the cup of wine, gave thanks to God, and gave it to them. “Drink this, all of you. This is the blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
It’s your blood that cleanses me
A dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered the greatest. Jesus said, “In my Kingdom, it doesn’t work like that. The greatest should be like the youngest and the ruler should be like the one who serves.”
What do you think that would have been like for Jesus?
He had not long ago given them an example of humility!!!
He must have been majorly disappointed. And there is not much time left to help them to see.
But He used it as another teaching opportunity.
“This very night you will all dessert me.”
Jesus then turned to Peter. “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you like wheat. He wants to test you. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you turn back, strengthen your brothers.”
Turn back? Peter would never turn away! He would be faithful. “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”
“Peter, the truth is: this very night, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times.”
But Peter declared, ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.’ And all of the others disciples said the same.
What do you think that would have been like for Jesus?
Concerned for Peter? What if Peter didn’t turn back?
Disappointed in all of the disciples?
Jesus knew what was ahead for the disciples. He would be killed and they would be left abandoned and confused. But he would rise again. But then He would leave them for good, expecting them to carry on His mission. They understood nothing of this but Jesus knew that they needed to be prepared.
They needed to know that, ultimately, they would be welcomed into God’s house in heaven to be reunited with Jesus. And that Jesus was the way, the truth and the life.
They needed to know that, although they would see Him no more, they would not be alone. Jesus promised them the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, the Advocate, who would teach them and be with them always.
They needed to know that they had been chosen by Jesus to bear fruit but that to do that, they needed to abide in Him, like the branches attached to the vine.
They needed to hear His new commandment: Love one another as I have loved you.
They needed to know, if they were going to survive without Him, that they would be hated by the world, just as He had been. There would be days of grief ahead. But the Holy Spirit would teach them and lead them. And God would answer their prayers.
And there would also be great joy.
Then Jesus prayed, at some length. He prayed for Himself, just very briefly – that His Father would glorify Him.
He prayed for the disciples: rejoicing in their growth under His training. They would remain in this world, although would be different from the world. In fact, Jesus was sending them into the world. “Father, protect them”
He prayed for all subsequent generations of believers – that they would be one with God and therefore one with each other.
What do you think teaching them, praying for them would have been like for Jesus?
Amazing that He should be so concerned about them, given what was just ahead for Him.
Worried for them? Or confident in them?
Before the world began, you were on His mind
When they had sung a hymn, they left the Upper Room, exited the city walls, went down into the Kidron Valley and up onto the Mount of Olives on the other side. At the base of the Mount of Olives was a garden.
Matthew 26:36-46
36 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.’ 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’
39 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.’
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. ‘Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?’ he asked Peter. 41 ‘Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’
42 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.’
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45 Then he returned to the 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. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!’
There was the sound of an approaching rabble. Judas, one of Jesus’ friends, led a crowd armed with swords and clubs. He went up to Jesus and kissed Him. It was a pre-arranged sign.
Jesus simply said, “Judas, do you betray me with a kiss? Do what you came for, friend.”
The men stepped forward and arrested Jesus.
Two of the disciples had swords. They drew them to defend Jesus (or themselves, perhaps). Peter struck out and cut off a servant’s ear. Jesus rebuked him, “Put your swords away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
He touched the servant’s ear and healed him.
“Why have you come with swords and clubs?”, He asked the mob. “Am I leading an armed rebellion? Every day I have been in the temple courts but you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour – when darkness reigns.”
They seized Him and led Him away. And all of the disciples fled.
What do you think that would have been like for Jesus?
In Christ alone
Jesus was led back across the Kidron Valley and up into the city. [3 slides]
Matthew 26:57-68
57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. 58 But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.
59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.
Finally two came forward 61 and declared, ‘This fellow said, “I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.”’
62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, ‘Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?’ 63 But Jesus remained silent.
The high priest said to him, ‘I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.’
64 ‘You have said so,’ Jesus replied. ‘But I say to all of you: from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.’
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, ‘He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?’
‘He is worthy of death,’ they answered.
67 Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68 and said, ‘Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?’
What do you think that would have been like for Jesus?
A servant girl saw Peter there and said, “You were with Jesus of Nazareth.”
“No,” Peter replied, “No, I do not know what you are talking about.”
He left the courtyard but another servant girl saw him. “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
Peter swore with an oath, “I do not know the man!”
A while later, several people went up to Peter. “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”
Peter called down curses on them and swore, “I do not know the man!”
The cock crowed. Jesus turned and looked directly at Peter. Peter remembered what Jesus had said and he wept bitterly.
What do you think that would have been like for Jesus?
That is how Friday ended. The trial continued through the night. It was early the next morning that the chief priests and elders decided that Jesus must die and they handed Him over to Pilate, the Roman governor. The suffering would continue for Jesus and, of course, only get worse when He would be condemned to crucifixion and savagely beaten by the Roman soldiers, before being led to Calvary.
I will sing the wondrous story