It’s much easier to focus on Palm Sunday. The crowd celebrated Jesus as Messiah, waving palm branches and singing “Hosanna.”
Then came Thursday night. Jesus wanted to celebrate Passover with His disciples in the Upper Room. During His ministry, including the last days before His horrible death and glorious Resurrection, Jesus optimized every moment trying to teach, train and empower his dense, yet teachable disciples. What a Leader, the best Leader of all time. Jesus wanted to ensure He conveyed all He could. In His mind and heart, he knew it was the Last Supper.
In our minds and hearts, it was the First Communion, the first Lord’s Supper. He taught His disciples in that Upper Room that the bread is
“My body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19b) That the wine is His “blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28).
How do you feel when you take communion? If you’re like me, I admit I sometimes take it for granted. May we prayerfully savor the bread and cup with deep gratitude each time we are blessed to take communion.
God’s presence is in the Upper Room and each time we take communion. Here is a video our group with Aliyah Foundation and The Heights Church singing “Spirit of the Living God” in the Upper Room on March 27th.
That same night, in a poignant scene in John 13 of unconditional love and humility, Jesus stooped down low to wash His disciples’ feet. They didn’t want Him to, mind you. Feet are gross. He was teaching them, sweetly, softly, tenderly, what it means to be a servant leader. To stoop down low to raise others high. The upside-down leadership pyramid.
“I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.” (John 13:16 NIV)
Jesus then took his three closest disciples–Peter, James and John–with him to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. It is so hard to read the deep suffering and Jesus’ total transparency when He says, almost begs,
“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” (Matthew 26:38, NIV). Sadly, His three best friend disciples all fell asleep, not praying on Jesus’ behalf. Jesus prayed three different times asking for the cup to be taken away if possible, for God’s will to be done. While Jesus sweat blood in His deepest distress, His closest friends snored, not able to stay away. When they were faithless, Jesus was still faithful.
Jesus said,“Rise and let us be going.” Matthew 26:46. Keep persevering, friend.
Peter, also known as the “Rock,” denied Jesus three times before the rooster crowed, just as Jesus had prophesied to Peter. Peter wept bitterly and repented. This original stone walkway at Caiaphas’s house is where Peter denied Jesus and Jesus looked back at Peter.
The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself…The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching…Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest…Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.” –John 18: 17-19, 24-27 ESV.
Judas betrayed Jesus and had Him falsely arrested, in exchange for 30 pieces of silver, just a day’s slave wages. Jesus was in total control and knew this was God’s will. Jesus was taken before the Sanhedrin. Even with false witnesses, they couldn’t find evidence to convict Him.Judas said he had betrayed an innocent man. Notice he didn’t call Him the Messiah or Son of God. Judas still didn’t recognize Jesus’ sovereignty. He threw the silver into the temple, left and sadly hanged himself. There would have always been an opportunity for him to repent, but Judas didn’t.
Jesus was then brought to Pilate, whose wife knew Jesus was innocent.
“‘What is truth?’ Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, ‘I find no basis for a charge against him. But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release the king of the Jews?’ They shouted back, ‘No, not him! Give us Barabbas!’ Not Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.” –John 18:38-40
Pilate thought Jesus would go free. The crowd wanted Barabbas released and yelled “Crucify!” to Jesus.
Guess what Barabbas means in Aramaic? “Son of Abba.” Barabbas means “Son of the Father.”
Friend, each of us is a son (or daughter) of the Father. That means all of us. We are Barabbas. Like Barabbas, Jesus was our substitute. He died for you. He died for me.
From the waved palms of the crowd singing “Hosanna!” to the peer pressured crowd crying “Crucify!” on Good Friday morning, resulting in the pierced palms of Jesus’ hands, may we deeply feel the matchless love and sacrifice God has for us, His children.
Reflect:
–What influence does a crowd make on decisions? Is the majority always right?
–How are we like Barabbas?
–Have you considered symbolically washing others’ feet? Are you a servant leader?
Renew:
–“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” –John 3:!6 KJV
–-“All the people answered, ‘Let his blood be on us and on our children!'” –Matthew 27:25 NIV
Recharge:
–How may we live more deeply for Jesus and show love to others?
Danya Jordan