The Life and Ministry of Christ, Part 48
Passion Week – Thursday
Thursday of Passion Week was an eventful day in the life and ministry of Christ. After Jesus had given the Olivet Discourse, He told His disciples the Passover was in two days and He would be handed over to be crucified.
Matthew 26:1–2 NKJV Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that He said to His disciples, “You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
At that time, the chief priests, scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of Caiaphas the high priest and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him, (Matthew 26:1–5, 14-16; Mark 14:1-2,10-11; Luke 22:1-6). The palace of Caiaphas the high priest was located southwest of the Temple.
On Monday, in preparation for this event Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper.
Mary came to Him with a costly alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard and and broke it and poured it on His head, (Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9). John 12:2-11 tells us she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped His feet with her hair. Some of those present were indignant and criticized her sharply for the waste. After Mary anointed Jesus with the costly fragrant oil, Judas Iscariot determined to betray the Lord. Mark 14 connects these two events. Luke tells us when the Feast of Unleavened Bread was approaching, the chief priests and teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus.
Luke 22:3–4 NKJV Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. (Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6)
Luke 22:5–6 NKJV And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.
Matthew says they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. Judas left these leaders to devise his treachery and find an opportunity to betray Jesus.
On the first day of the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread, it was time to make preparations for the Passover meal, (Matthew 26:17-19; Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-13).
Mark 14:12 NKJV Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?”
Thousands of lambs were slaughtered by the priests and roasted for the Passover. To prepare for the Passover, the disciples had to find a room, prepare the unleavened bread and acquire the paschal lamb.
Mark 14:13-14 NKJV And He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him. Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’
Mark 14:15–16 NKJV Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us.” So His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover.
Jesus had full knowledge of the individuals, the route the man took, the location, the large furnished upper room, and that the master of the house would be willing to allow them to use it.
We are going to follow an abbreviated form of the Passover Meal, (Matthew 26:20–29; Mark 14:17-18; Luke 22:14-18).
The Feast of Passover was celebrated every year in Jerusalem. The Passover meal or Seder (SAY-der) included special foods which symbolized events of Israel’s Exodus from Egyptian slavery. For the Christian, Passover or the Lord’s Supper has become a celebration of our Lord’s sacrifice and our future resurrection. The celebration of the Passover Meal (Seder) followed a particular order that is called the Haggadah. Haggadah means “telling.”
Luke 22:14–16 NKJV When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
The Passover Meal was opened with the first glass of grape juice and prayer giving thanks for our salvation from sin through Jesus Christ our Messiah.
LIGHT CANDLE
Congregation
Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sent Your Son, Jesus the Messiah, to be the light of the world and our Lamb, that through Him we might have eternal life. May your light shine on this house, and bring us peace. Amen.
PRAYER by Pastor
After the festival of lights is the KIDDUSH.
At this time, those in attendance would wash their hands. Washing the hands signifies that we should approach God with a clean and pure heart. This act of sanctification remembers that God our Father is Creator, Giver of rest, and Redeemer. The Kiddush – was a prayer of sanctification over the Shabbat. It was done to remember the spilled blood of the Passover Lamb.
We should rededicate ourselves to God so that our hearts and minds fully realize what we owe to God for His goodness, redeeming power, and for the many ways God has blessed His people.
Congregation Prayer
Blessed be the Lord our God, Who has given us gifts of grace, not through our merits, but only because of His abounding love and mercy, and has called us to proclaim good news of salvation for all who turn to Him. We thank Him for our deliverance and for showing His love by sending Jesus into the world to save us from sin.”
KARPUS – The Passover feast included the use of a sprig of parsley (karpas).
The parsley represented the branch of hyssop which was dipped into the lamb’s blood and applied to the doorpost of their houses in Egypt. Salt water was on the table to represent the tears shed while they were in the bondage of slavery. The parsley was passed around and everyone would dip a piece of it into the salt water and eat it. The parsley reminds us that God in His goodness and mercy brought them out of bondage.
Congregation
Blessed are you, LORD our God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the earth.
Then Jesus gave them the second cup of the fruit of the vine.
(Do not drink the cup until instructed to do so.)
Luke 22:17–18 NKJV Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
Take a piece of the bread and break it into two pieces. Cover the remaining half of the bread.
The bread reminds us of the Exodus and Israel’s leaving Egypt in haste. The absence of yeast represents the absence of sin in our lives through the redemption of Jesus Christ.
Pastor Prayer over the bread.
Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe Who brings forth bread from heaven. Thank you God for the True Bread, Jesus our Messiah. Amen.
The Exodus and institution of Passover came at the end of God sending ten plagues on Egypt.
Each time a plague is named dip your finger in the grape juice and place a drop on the bread.
- In the first plague, the water was turned into blood.
- The second plague, frogs were sent across the land.
- The third plague, the dust of the land became lice.
- The fourth plague, flies swarmed in and corrupted the land.
- The fifth plague, all of the livestock of Egypt became diseased and died.
- The sixth plague, boils broke out on man and beast throughout Egypt.
- The seventh plague, very heavy hail rained down and every animal that was found in the field died.
- The eighth plague, locust covered the face of the earth so that no one could see the ground.
- The ninth plague, thick darkness covered the land of Egypt for three days.
- The tenth plague brought about the death of the first born and the institution of the Passover.
The blood of the Passover lamb brought a covering and safety to God’s people. The blood of Jesus Christ has purchased our exodus from the dominion and power of sin.
Please eat the piece of bread and drink the cup.
Usually at this time horseradish is eaten to remind everyone of the bitterness of slavery and the impact sin has had on our lives.
The Passover Meal is now served and everyone’s attention is drawn to the fact that our Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ fully gave Himself for us.
It was during the meal that Jesus identified Judas as the one who would betray Him.
Mark 14:18 NKJV Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me will betray Me.
John 13:24–25 NKJV Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”
John 13:26–27 NKJV Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”
John 13:30 NKJV Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.
After Judas left, Jesus introduced the Lord’s Supper.
The third cup of grape juice is now served.
Matthew 26:26 NKJV And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
Uncover the remaining half of the bread and break a piece from the loaf.
Everyone offer a prayer of thanks for the gift of the body of Christ that provides us with redemption.
Matthew 26:27–28 NKJV Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
This was the last cup of the Passover meal. Jesus reserved this cup for the introduction of the new covenant. He said, “My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” The new covenant that is in His blood was the last part of the Passover, and the introduction of a new hope. The Lord saved the best covenant until last. The Lord’s deliverance for us was purchased by the precious blood of Jesus just as the blood of the lamb in the first Passover redeemed Israel from slavery and death.
A fourth cup was served after the meal to celebrate God’s deliverance for us and that we are redeemed through the blood of Jesus.
Matthew 26:30 NKJV And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
