The Life and Ministry of Christ — Part 49
Passion Week – Thursday
During the Passover meal, events transpired that prompted the disciples to question their faith and the nature of their relationship with Jesus. Jesus said one of them would betray Him.
Matthew 26:20–22 NKJV When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve. Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?”
The NIV says: They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely not I, Lord?”
They were all filled with sorrow when He spoke and questioned who could do such a thing. Each of them contemplated the possibility of failure and the resilience of their faith.
Matthew 26:23-24 NIV84 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 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.”
Matthew 26:25 NKJV Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?” He said to him, “You have said it.”
Remember that before the Passover meal Judas had conferred with the chief priests and captains how he might betray Jesus, (Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6). John 13:26 tells us, Jesus dipped a piece of bread and gave it to Judas and after receiving the bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus told him, “What you do, do quickly.” John 13:27 tells us that none of the disciples understood what Jesus meant by that statement. While they considered this, Judas being full of the devil, fled from the house into the darkness, for it was night. All kinds of speculations arose and the atmosphere of celebrating the Passover profoundly shifted to uncertainty, doubt, and anxiety. Immediately the discussion turned from what Jesus told Judas Iscariot to do into disputes among the disciples.
Luke 22:23–24 NKJV Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing. Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.
What initiated the dispute among them?
Even among the Lord’s faithful, Satan’s entrance brought doubt, question and dispute. Satan will take advantage of any opportunity to sow discard among believers. Follow Jesus’ response to their dispute.
Luke 22:25 NKJV And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’
Luke 22:26–27 NKJV But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.
This dispute was not godly, but was a result of Satan’s entrance and activity.
Luke 22:28–30 NKJV “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
The people in the room had been with Jesus since the beginning, sharing in His life, miracles, ministries, and challenges. Now, a great honor was about to be bestowed on them. Jesus said, “I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones…” They were acting totally out of character and in response to their disputing, Jesus did something that shocked and deeply disturbed them.
John 13:2 NKJV And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him,
John 13:3-4 NKJV Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.
It was usual and customary in Palestine to wash a guest’s feet or at least provide water so that a guest may wash the dust off their feet. It was an insult to guests if the host did not provide water to wash. It was a sign of honor for a host to have a servant wash a guest’s feet. Pay attention to that first phrase, “Knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God.” Jesus’ actions stemmed from a deep understanding of the honor and authority He held with the Father. As His Father’s agent, He was not threatened by stooping down to minister to those below Him.
When we know who we are, we know how to act.
John 13:5 NKJV After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
John 13:6–7 NKJV Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”
John 13:8–9 NKJV Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”
When Peter said, “You shall never wash my feet” he recognized the Lordship of Christ over his life. They did not understand what Jesus was doing. By washing their feet, Jesus was referring to the cleansing He provides from all unrighteousness. Jesus said, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”
1 John 1:9 NKJV If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Watch these verses very closely for Jesus is doing more than cleaning dirty feet.
John 13:10–11 NKJV Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”
John 13:12-13 NET So when Jesus had washed their feet and put his outer clothing back on, he took his place at the table again and said to them, “Do you understand what I have done for you? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and do so correctly, for that is what I am.
John 13:14-15 NET If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example—you should do just as I have done for you.
John 13:16-17 NET I tell you the solemn truth, the slave is not greater than his master, nor is the one who is sent as a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Remember that they had just been in a dispute over who was the greatest among them. Jesus wanted His disciples to be as He was. The act of washing their feet was an example of humility and preference that believers should demonstrate toward each other.
Immediately after this, Jesus took them out to the Mount of Olives.
This was His last trip to the Garden of Gethsemane on the west side of the Mount of Olives and they were not prepared for what He was about to say.
Matthew 26:31–32 NKJV Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”
The word stumble comes from the Greek word skandalidzo which means to put a stumbling block in the way upon which another may trip or fall.
Matthew 26:33 NKJV Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”
Luke 22:31–32 NKJV And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
There was a tremendous difference in the betrayal of Judas and what Simon Peter did. Judas was filled with the devil and Simon Peter stumbled, fell and sinned because of personal weakness and what happened to Jesus.
Luke 22:33–34 NKJV But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”
While in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed, (Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:40-46).
This intercessory prayer took place just before the LORD was arrested, John 17:1-26. When they entered the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus asked His disciples to sit in a certain place while He went a little further to pray, (Mark 14:32). He told them to “pray that you may not enter into temptation,” (Luke 22:40). This was significant after what He just told them.
Then He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed, (Matthew 26:37; Mark 14:33). His soul was exceedingly sorrowful, even to death, (Matthew 26:38; Mark 14:34). He asked them to “stay here and watch with Me,” (Matthew 26:38; Mark 13:34).
Then Jesus withdrew about a stone’s throw from the three and knelt down and prayed, (Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:35-36; Luke 22:41-42). Heaven was at attention to the events in the Garden. At the same time, Judas was with the chief priests and elders making final arrangements to betray Jesus, (Matthew 26:47-49; Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:1-11).
The prayer in the garden has three segments.
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- He prayed for Himself.
- He prayed for His disciples.
- He prayed for all believers.
At the end of each segment, Jesus came to Peter, James, and John and found them sleeping. Matthew, Mark and Luke record a short version of the Lord’s prayer in Gethsemane, (Matthew 26:39-46; Mark 14:35-42; Luke 22:41-46). John records a lengthier prayer of intercession, (John 17:1-26).
Matthew 26:39 NKJV He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
What does “let this cup pass from Me” mean?
In great agony in intercession and prayer, His sweat became as great drops of blood. He was facing the extreme physical suffering and distress of taking the load of the sins of the world and facing separation from His Father, (2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; Hebrews 12:2; 1 Peter 2:24). God’s wrath against the entire sin-filled world was being placed upon Jesus, (Galatians 3:13). While in agony and prayer, “An angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him,” (Luke 22:43).
John records more detail of the words from Jesus’ first prayer.
John 17:1–2 NKJV Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.
John 17:3–5 NKJV And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
The glory that Jesus had before the world was created is beyond what has been revealed or known. Jesus was ready to return to the unfiltered glory He had before His incarnation. Nothing in Jesus’ intercession prayer for Himself indicates that He is unprepared or unwilling to finish His assignment. He said, “I have done everything You wanted Me to do.” He was ready to sacrifice Himself for the world’s sins.
Matthew 26:40–41 NKJV Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Luke said they were sleeping from sorrow, (Luke 22:44) and their failure was a result of the anguish they were feeling and fatigue.
Matthew 26:42 NKJV Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
In His second prayer Jesus made intercession for His disciples, John 17:6-19.
John 17:6–7 NKJV I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You.
John 17:8 NKJV For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.
John 17:9-10 NKJV I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them.
John 17:11 NKJV Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.
John 17:12 NKJV While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
John 17:13–14 NKJV But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
John 17:15–17 NKJV I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
John 17:18—19 NKJV As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
Jesus’ self-sanctification was His devotion to the Father’s will and consecration to fulfill His redemptive mission.
Matthew 26:43–44 NKJV And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
In His third prayer, Jesus made intercession for all believers, John 17:20-26.
John 17:20–21 NKJV “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
John 17:22–23 NKJV And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
John 17:24 NKJV “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
John 17:25-26 NKJV O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
Matthew 26:45–46 NKJV Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”
