Resurrection Week #4

Well here we are at Thursday already. Things in the life of Jesus begin to move really fast from here on out. Today the first thing we see is:



Peter and John sent to prepare for Passover:



Luke 22:7-13



7 Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. 8 And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.”

9 So they said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare?”

10 And He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. 11 Then you shall say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ 12 Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready.”

13 So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.



Don't miss verse 7 as the passover would have a new view as Jesus would soon fulfill the Passover being killed for all time. If you do not know what the passover is, it was when Israel placed the blood on the doorposts so the death angel would passover them in Egypt. Now Jesus' blood covers you so you will be passed over when judgement comes. Much more to passover than that, but that is short and sweet.



Next the Lord's Supper was instituted:





Matthew 26:26-29



26 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.”

27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 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.”



This was a look for the disciples of what would soon happen to Jesus although they still did not yet completely understand. We now do this as believers and a reminder of what Jesus did for the sins of the world. The bread represents his broken and battered body, and the wine represents the blood that He shed for the sins of us all. Let me remind you that your sins are only covered if you put your faith in Jesus, repent of sins, make Him Lord of your life, and now follow Him in obedience.



Next we see Jesus predict disciples abandonment of Him and Peters' denial:





Matthew 26:31-35



31 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.’

32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”

33 Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”

34 Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

35 Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”

And so said all the disciples.



We tend to pick on Peter but don't miss verse 35! All the disciples said they would not deny Jesus! We do too in ways at times!



Next we move to the garden:





Matthew 26:36-44



36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”

39 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.”

40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

42 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.” 43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.

44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.



What I don't want you to miss here is verse 39...don't think it was easy for Jesus to go to the cross for you, Jesus asked id there was any other way for our sins to be covered, there was NOT! So he did as the Father willed...died.



Jesus is then betrayed by Judas:





Mark 14:43-50



43 And immediately, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him and lead Him away safely.”

45 As soon as he had come, immediately he went up to Him and said to Him, “Rabbi, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

46 Then they laid their hands on Him and took Him. 47 And one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

48 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? 49 I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”

50 Then they all forsook Him and fled.



Not much to be said here but what verse 49 says: "the scriptures must be fulfilled".



Jesus was then taken to the high Priest:





Matthew 26:57



57 And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.



This was a trial of false witnesses and the abuse begins. Read it! Matthew 26:57-68



The last event we look at for this day is Peters' denial of Jesus:





Matthew 26:69-75



69 Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.”

70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.”

71 And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

72 But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!”

73 And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.”

74 Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!”

Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly.



I don't know about you but reading this cuts to my heart as I have denied Jesus so many times. One the easiest ways to deny Jesus is not to tell others about what He has done for me when given the opportunity!



So this ends Thursday. Hold on tomorrow is hard!



Tom