Thursday of the Final Week

The Last Supper

The Evening Before the Crucifixion

The upper room had been prepared for the Passover. The Passover commemorated Israels exodus from Egypt. God passed over the first born of Israel and killed the first born of the Egypt. Jesus arose from the meal and washed the disciples feet. It was through this that He taught them, by example, that true greatness does indeed involve true humility. This was to explain His work on the cross and the forgiveness of sin, 1 John 1:9. When Jesus returned to the meal he said that one of them would betray Him. The disciples wondered who it was and Jesus said it was the one who He would give the morsel of food to. He then gave it to Judas. After Jesus had given Judas the morsel of food Satan entered into him, possessed him, and Jesus told him that thou doest, do quickly. Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him, John 6:70-71. When Judas had gone out, Jesus told the disciples of some of the events that were to come. He also foretold that Peter would deny Him three times before the cock, or rooster, would crow. (John 13:1-30; Matthew 26:21-25; Mark 14:18-21; Luke 22:14-23)

The sacrificial offerings of the Old Testatment foretold the work of Christ on the Cross and all were about to be fulfilled. All the animal sacrifices point toward the sacrifice of Jesus Himself. God had promised a new covenant back in the Old Testament (Jeremiah 31:31-24; Ezekiel 37:26-28; Isaiah 61:1-11). This, the Lord's supper, was put in place by Jesus Christ as a memorial observance. As they were eating Jesus took some bread blessed it and broke it into pieces and gave a piece to each of the disciples. Then He said take, eat it, this is my body. The bread reminds believers that He became flesh and lived in the world and that His body was broken for mankind. Then He took the cup and gave thanks, and gave it to the disciples saying, drink all of it for this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins (Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:17-20). Jesus was getting ready to give His life on the cross and the cup symbolizes His blood shed on Calvary for the sin of mankind (1 Corinthians 11:26). Jesus said He would not drink of the fruit of the vine again until He drank it anew, with the saints, in the kingdom of God (Matthew 26:29; Mark 14:25; Luke 22:18).

Why did Jesus institute the New Covenant? The word covenant also means testament, or promise. It was given as a memorial of the new covenant to remind believers of His death until He comes (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:17-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Today the church is enjoying the blessings of the new covenant while Israel as a nation will come under the covenant when Jesus comes again, at the second coming (Ezekiel 34:25-31; Romans 11).

It should be noted from Matthew 26:29, where it says the Father's kingdom, and Luke 22:18, where it says the kingdom of God, that the kingdom of the Father and the kingdom of God are one and the same. As we have seen previously, Jesus, offered the kingdom to the Israelite's and they rejected it. This was not a spiritual kingdom nor a mystery form of the kingdom but the same kingdom promised in the Old testament that Jesus Christ would set up when He returns the second time.

Upper Room Discourse

The Evening Before the Crucifixion

We find the upper room discourse only in the book of John in chapters 13 through 17. Jesus now tells His disciples that He is going away He will send the Holy Spirit as a replacement. Jesus told them many times that evening that He was going away that He was about to return to His Father (John 13:1; 14:2, 28; 16:5, 7, 16, 28; 17:13). Naturally, the disciples would be stressed not knowing what they would do without Him. He tells them He is going to prepare a place for them, so that where He is they can go. This is the first promise that Jesus would return for the church, the believers. Other details can be found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-53. Jesus said He is the way, the truth, and the life that no man comes to the Father but by Him. Meanwhile, He promised to send them another Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who would be with them forever (John 14:1-16).

Gethesemane

Late Thursday Night Before the Crucifixion

Jesus and His disciples went to the garden of Gethsemane, which is in the mount of Olives, to pray. Jesus took Peter, James, and John a little further and asked them to stay there and and told them to pray that they would not enter into temptation, Luke 22:40. Jesus then withdrew from them and kneeled down and prayed. When He arose from prayer and went to the disciples, they were asleep. He came back the third time and told them the hour was at hand, that He was about to be betrayed (Luke 22:39-46; Matthew 26:30-46; Mark 14:26-42; John 18:1).


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Romans 10:9-10
Romans 10:13

Romans 10:9-10
Romans 10:13

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