The First Day of Unleavened Bread

Thursday

The Lord Jesus sends His disciples to prepare for them to eat the Passover in Jerusalem. During the institution of the Lord’s Supper we continue to practice today, Jesus washes the disciples feet and predicts His betrayal. John records much teaching Jesus gives His disciples that will comfort them and us today as we read. Jesus prays and is in agony in the garden, just before He is betrayed, arrested, the disciples scatter, Peter denies Jesus, and today comes to a close as He is mocked and accused of blasphemy by the religious leaders…all leading up to Friday’s events where He will pay the ultimate price for our sin. 

Scripture Study today:

Matthew 26:17-75

Mark 14:12-72

Luke 22:7-64

John 13:1 - 18:27

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Transcript

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Well the first day of unleavened bread uh is upon us and Thursday of Passion Week. Uh uh thanks for tuning in again and uh jumping back in as we continue our study this week through Passion Week or Holy Week through this week that uh that means so much to those of us who follow Christ and who follow Jesus, uh that tells the story of his last week as he leads up and closes out his ministry as as we've done publicly already. Um and as we look at today as he um institutes uh the new Passover uh in him uh and shares the last Passover with his disciples that we'll look at tonight and um and as he again predicts uh predicts what's uh what's coming uh of his crucifixion and going to the cross tomorrow, um and as the scriptures proclaim uh Sunday's coming where he is risen from the dead. So uh exciting stuff uh as we look at this Thursday. Again, so much that we can go into, and I'll try to stay as as big picture as I can as we go. So um again, I'll I'll give you the scriptures and and where we'll be at. Uh, we're gonna read mainly out of Luke uh for today, but again, Matthew 26, 17 through 75, Mark 14, 12 through 72, Luke 22, 7 through 64, and again, if if you're gonna read along, that's where we're gonna read the most out of today, and then John 13, uh chapter 13 through chapter 18, roughly, and and lots that uh uh that you could get from John as we go through this. Um again, I'm gonna encourage you as we get to that point to to get in and read all four accounts of the gospel, and certainly uh as we get to that point of reading into John and the things that Jesus and his disciples that he teaches here before he's betrayed. So uh with that we'll just jump straight into it, and in Luke chapter 22, verse seven, uh it says, Then they came then came the first day of unleavened bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. And Jesus sent Peter and John saying, Go and prepare the Passover for us so that we may eat it. They said to him, Where do you want us to prepare it? And he said to them, When you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him into the house that he enters, and you shall say to the owner of the house, The teacher says to you, Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with my disciples? And he will show you a large unfurnished large unfurnished, and he will show you a large furnished upper room, prepare it there. And they left and found everything just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. So you know, again, uh pretty self-clarifying of of that uh as everything went this week is forordained and and God ordained and and divinely prepared, um Jesus sends his disciples yet again. You know, it could probably be said that uh why did why did he uh leave it so vague and to send Peter and John and maybe can be mentioned that uh uh a reason that Judas wouldn't know exactly where this uh uh Passover would meal would be had by Jesus and the disciples, so he couldn't prepare for the betrayal there, so he could go ahead and they could have this meal um uh and then go on into and eventually be betrayed uh later in the night and in the garden. Um but uh you know I don't know if that's something that's just uh immensely important to focus on, but certainly uh, you know, something to think about and ponder. So we'll we'll keep going. And in verse 14 of Luke 22, it says, When the hour had come, he reclined at the table and the apostles with him, and he said to them, I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. So again, there's a another perfect example of before I suffer, him trying to tell them again what's coming and what's gonna be. And it says, For I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And when he had taken a cup and given thanks, he said, Take this and share it among yourselves, for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until it comes in the kingdom and until it until the kingdom of God comes. And when he had taken some bread and given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, This is my body which is given for you, do this in remembrance of me. And in the same way he took the cup after they had eaten, saying, This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. So, you know, just to pause there, of you know, if you've taken communion, if you've been a part of the Lord's Supper, uh this was the institution of why we do that. Jesus and his disciples setting for what we've called the Last Supper, the first of the new Passover, or the last of the Passover before he went to be the Passover Lamb the following day, having Passover. And every time we sit and can take of the Lord's Supper and proclaim the Lord's death until he comes, until he comes again in his kingdom, and we'll have it. And I think, you know, this could be something that as we get beyond this earth and this life and in eternity, have this with our Lord, with Jesus, have this to set at the Lord's table with him. Um so as we can do that now, proclaiming his death, proclaiming his resurrection until he comes again when we have communion, when we have the Lord's Supper. It was instituted here on this Thursday night as we count down the Thursday night before he went to the cross on Friday. And he established this, that we continue today two thousand-ish years later, uh, after it happened. So uh it's always, you know, uh Corinthians is very popular to uh to read out of uh that Paul writes on when we take the Lord's Supper and take communion, but as you can study it here and read it here of uh of really getting a uh a close feel for the first time and what we get to uh experience it as is certainly uh you know uh it's really close uh for me. So um as this is happening, we're gonna switch and flip to John. So as they're having this meal and this Passover meal, that's obviously not just a quick meal as we would think, but it it's gonna take some time as they go through it. And in John chapter 13, it says, During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper and laid aside his garments, and taking a towel, he girded himself. Then he poured water into the basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and wipe them with the towel which which he was girded. So he came to Simon Peter and he said to him, Lord, do you wash my feet? Jesus answered and said to him, What do I what I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter. And Peter said to him, Never shall you wash my feet. And Jesus answered him, If I do not wash you, you have no part with me, and how true that is of all of us. Said Simon Peter said to him, Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head. And Jesus said he needs he who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean, and you were clean, but not all of you, for he knew the one who was betraying him. For this reason he said, Not all of you are clean. So as we think about the Lord Jesus, knowing his betrayer, knowing that later in the night all of his disciples, as he's going to point out here in just a moment, are gonna scatter and run and leave him and deny him, as we'll look at with Peter here in a minute. Though he gives them the perfect example of washing their feet and as the master being a servant, and the and the perfect example that leaves for us is that to be the greatest, to be the the is to be the servant, and and he lays that down perfectly in this instance, and and as um I think I read earlier today, and and not to get off because I want to keep this brief and and and about the timeline, but that all of the disciples there, uh and as as we would too, would have probably not probably would have had no issue washing Jesus' feet, but would they have had an issue washing one another's feet. And again, the thing that Christ is is showing by example here is that the greatest is the greatest servant in his kingdom, and that's the life we should follow, and the example that we should follow is to serve one another in all humility, just as Christ did here during this Passover meal, knowing his betrayer, knowing the ones that were all going to desert him through the night and fear and trembling and run and deny him as Peter's going to, though he washes their feet, and he says the perfect example of that he must wash and clean all of us. In Matthew twenty-six, on that note, in Matthew twenty-six, verse thirty, it says, After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives, and then Jesus said to them, You will all fall away because of me this night, for it is written, I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered. But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee. You know, there Peter uh Peter jumps in and says, But Peter said to him, Even though all may fall away because of you, I will never fall away. And more on that in Luke twenty-two, and back to Luke twenty two, and verse thirty one, it says, Simon Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have once and and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. But he said to him, Lord, with you I am ready to go both to prison and to death. And he said, I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow to day until you have denied me three times that you know me. So in that moment he predicts uh or he points out that the prophecy of Zechariah thirteen that they'll all scatter because of him, including Peter, as as we go into a little more detail there, uh, will all scatter, and that prophecy is again fulfilled perfectly as we get into this, and as Jesus is betrayed and arrested, and the disciples all run and flee in fear. Uh Peter follows along. Uh there's we're about to get into, but then still denies him three times, just as he as he said right there in Luke 22 that he would. So uh and in verse 39, um, in verse 39 of Luke 22 it says, and he came out and proceeded as was his custom to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples also followed him. So kind of the scene that we've already been setting in. Um and in this setting of in the garden and in the Mount of Olives, as Jesus is sitting there. And and here's where I want to, and we're not going to get into John 14, 15, 16, and 17, uh, but in this setting in the in the Mount of Olives, that Jesus teaching his disciples of all of the comfort that they can take in him and the things that are coming, and the promise of the Holy Spirit, and his death and his resurrection that is to come, um, and all of the comforts and joys that we can take in knowing that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and that all that come through the Father only come through him. Uh take the time to read John 14, 15, 16, and 17 of the teachings that Jesus leaves his disciples with to comfort them, to strengthen their faith. Though here for a short time they're going to run and fear the things that come back around, just as we can all slip and run, uh, that we can set and land on him, knowing that Jesus is the comforter, he is the way and the only way. He is the true Son of God, Messiah, and Christ and Savior, and that comes alive in John 14, 15, 16, and 17. So as all this is happening in in Luke twenty-two, thirty-nine, it says, And he came out and proceeded as the mount as his custom to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples all followed him, and all of this teaching is gone and they're set and having these conversations. It says, When he arrived at the place, he said to them, Pray that you may not enter into temptation. And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and he knelt down and began to pray, saying, Father, if you were willing, remove this cup from me, yet not my will, but yours be done. Verse forty three it says, Now an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him, and he and being in agony he was praying very fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling down upon the ground. When he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow, and I have that underlined in my Bible. And he said to them, Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation. So Christ and and his humanness coming here as he's as he's sweating drops of blood, um, an angel comes to give him strength. He's praying very fervently that the disciples are sleeping. And you know, it's easy to throw rocks at the disciples and say that they were tired and they were sleeping, or you know, how could they sleep in this moment? But you think of the agony and the anguish uh that you have in in moments, or that we all have, that I've certainly had, um, where your stress level is so high that you just want to sleep because it's easier, and and and you get into that. Um that's what the disciples are going through here. And what Christ says is, why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter temptation. And and as I was studying that, getting ready for this, man, that that that hit me very hard. Sometimes we do just want to lay down, go to bed, sleep, and let the stress kind of relief. And those maybe are the times just as now that we need to reach out and pray and set in prayer to the Father more than any, just as Christ again is setting that perfect example to us uh here in the garden, as he's going to take on all of my sin and your sin, as that's the weight of that is beginning to come down. The God man who knew no sin, who'd never known sin, and he's about to go pay the penalty for it and have all of our sins paid for that he's starting um to feel the the wrath of uh as he's as he's going here. So we'll keep going in Luke 22 um and picking back up in 47. It says, While he was still speaking, behold a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was preceding them, and he approached Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said to him, Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss? When those who were around him saw what was going to happen, they said, Lord, shall we strike with the sword? And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered and said, Stop, no more of this. And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priest and the officers of the temple, and the elders who had come against him, have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against a robber? While I was with you daily in the temple, you did not lay hands on me, but this hour and the power of darkness are yours. And Mark 1448 and nine adds the fact that he says, these things have come this way and happened this way to fulfill the scripture. And again, prophecy being fulfilled, none of this coincidental, none of this because of Judas's will, or b or because of the chief priest and the Pharisees and these religious leaders, um, all again divinely planned of exactly how um God had laid this out for this to happen, and as as Jesus, you know, says that that that I give my you know, no one takes my life, but I I give it up. Um all of this unfolding is exactly as it's been divinely planned. Um so we'll keep going in verse fifty-four, and it said, having arrested him, they led him away and brought him to the house of the high priest, but Peter was following at a distance, after they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard, and had sat down together, Peter was setting among them, and a servant girl seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said this man was with him too. But he denied it, saying, Woman, I do not know him, and there's the first one. A little later another saw him and said, You were one of them too, but Peter said, Man, I am not. After about an hour had passed another man began to insist, saying, Certainly this man also was with him, for he is a Galilean too. But Peter said, Man, I do not know what you are talking about. And immediately while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had told him before a rooster crows today, you will deny me three times. And he went out and wept bitterly. So again, just as just as the Lord prophesied would happen, it came just as just as he said with Peter. And you know, Peter was in that position where just just as we just read earlier, that no, I'll never deny you. I'll go to prison with you, I'll uh uh you know, I'll do anything for you, Lord. And then there it happens. Not to pick on Peter because we've all been there. In verse 63, it says, Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him and beating him, and they blindfolded him and were asking him, saying, Prophesy, who is the one who hits you? And they were saying many other things against him, blaspheming. So uh as we kind of bring this study and this one to a close, again lots that has uh has happened and lots that has come about uh as we go through this Thursday, from the the moment that the Lord's Supper was instituted and to him washing his betrayer's feet to predicting his betrayal, predicting again his going to the cross as he will tomorrow, that we can read now and look at it all in one picture and that he'll be raised on the third day. And now as as we'll close out tonight, as as we sit there, our Lord that at any moment could uh could call down a legion of angels as being betrayed or has been betrayed, is being mocked, as being beaten, as being spat in his face, all as he's going to pay is he will pay the ultimate price tomorrow for my sin and your sin. It's easy to say that the Romans crucified Jesus and the Jews put him on the cross, and as we come to Good Friday, and and Good Friday being a term that some people have issue with, but my sin was put on the cross on Good Friday. That way a penalty could be paid that I can never pay, that Jesus willingly paid for me and for you. As we go in to Good Friday, think of the the selfless act of washing my feet that Christ would, and we can apply that forward as we follow him and follow his example, and be so thankful that he was willing and that God's will prevail as it always will as we lean into him, that our sin, my sin, was paid for on the cross so we can spend eternity in heaven. How beautiful it is. Thanks again for tuning in as we close out Thursday. We'll be back tomorrow as we continue our study this week going through Holy Week with Good Friday. Love y'all, and we'll see you tomorrow.