04/02/2026
It's day 5. A lot took place on this day. Some would say that this was one of the most crucial and pivotal days in the history of
the church. The events of this day, particularly the Last Supper, continue to be remembered and commemorated in Christian churches around the world. Jesus prayed in the garden, sweat drops of blood, and was betrayed and arrested, all on THIS day.
Jesus gathered with His disciples to celebrate Passover. As He sat, He began to speak to them and let them know that one of them was going to betray Him. And the book of Matthew says, "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.”
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. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
In the book of John you'll see this act of servanthood from Jesus. It says, "It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him."
The disciples, specifically Peter, were in shock of what was taking place. To the point where Peter asked Jesus, "Are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus later tells them, "4Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."
What a powerful image of Jesus. Not only is He King of Kings and Lord of Lords, but He humbled Himself and showed them what it meant to serve one another.
It's soon after that Judas leaves the room. But Jesus kept on teaching. He gives them a command. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
He goes on to tell Peter that he will betray Jesus 3 times before the rooster crows. But did you know that Jesus also revealed to them the promise of the Holy Spirit?
John 14 says, “If you love me, keep my commands. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you."
John 16 says, "but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. 7But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you."
And He finishes it with, “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”
There is the promise! But this night was far from over....Jesus found Himself with His disciples at Gethsemane. Here Jesus prayed. The Bible says that "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.”
After He prayed that He went back and found His disciples....sleeping. And He told them “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Jesus then went back and prayed a second time, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
He went back to His disciples and found them asleep again. This time Jesus went back to pray what the Bible says the same thing a third time.
If you think about it. Jesus had grown up and seen and heard all about how Rome would punish people. He knew what awaited Him and Luke records that as Jesus was praying, His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down upon the ground. In a matter of moments, it would all begin—the betrayal, the arrest, the false accusations, and the mocking of the Roman soldiers, all while the chief priests and Pharisees would watch and cheer, only too glad to be rid of this nuisance.
Late that evening in Gethsemane, Jesus was betrayed with a kiss by Judas the disciple and arrested by the Sanhedrin. He was taken to the home of Caiaphas, the High Priest, where the whole council had gathered to begin making their case against Jesus.
So we pray THIS day: Lord, Teach me to love like You do, Lord, and help me to forgive like You forgive. I do love You, Lord. Teach me to show my love for You by my actions toward others. What a powerful command, but what an appropriate reminder THIS week, as I remember how much You forgave me and loved me. I am always amazed at Your loving kindness toward me. I pray for more and more of Your heart, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
