About this time of evening in +-33 A D, Jesus and His friends were having their Passover seder dinner in Jerusalem. The disciples in charge of the preparations had gotten everything ready: the roasted lamb, the unleavened bread, the bitter herbs.... They said the prescribed words of tradition, did everything that made it memorable, and enjoyed the retelling of the Passover story, when the blood of the lamb was spilled and applied to the door casings so the angel of death would 'pass over' the homes of those who had the blood covering.
And during the dinner that night, Jesus taught His disciples some final lessons to get them through the coming storm. He also taught them that there was a New Covenant in His blood. It would no longer be the blood of lambs that would take the place for their sins, as had been the custom since Moses' time. He would be that sacrificial lamb. They didn't understand that until later - but when he gave them the wine and the unleavened matzoh bread, He clearly proclaimed that those elements now represented His body and His blood....
And after He had said all he could say to prepare them, they went out into the night, crossed over the Kidron Valley to the Mount of Olives, and went to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus often met with His disciples. John doesn't tell us that specifically in Chapter 18. It is something we learn from other writers. And he doesn't tell us about Jesus praying - and the disciples falling asleep.... But he does tell us about Peter cutting off the ear of the high priest's servant. That must have made quite an impression.... In fact, he even tells us Malchus' name - but he doesn't tell us that Jesus picked up the ear and put it back on Malchus' head.... What drama! He loses an ear, then has the one who is being arrested put it back on.... What tenderness Jesus displayed!
Caiaphas was the high priest that year, and his father-in-law was Annas. You remember Caiaphas? He was the one who said it was better for one man to die for the people....not knowing that Jesus would truly die for the people, not to save their faulty political system - but to save them for all of eternity, if they'd accept Him.
It was likely not long after midnight when Judas came to Jesus and betrayed Him with a kiss on the cheek. The early morning hour marked the beginning of a long, awful night....
No comments:
Post a Comment