{"id":31666,"date":"2023-04-06T07:45:23","date_gmt":"2023-04-06T11:45:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=31666"},"modified":"2023-04-06T07:45:23","modified_gmt":"2023-04-06T11:45:23","slug":"jesus-and-holy-week-maundy-thursday-one-day-until-the-crucifixion-passover-celebration-his-last-supper-before-the-cross","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=31666","title":{"rendered":"Jesus and Holy Week \u2013 Maundy Thursday – One Day Until the Crucifixion \u2013 Passover Celebration & His Last Supper Before the Cross"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Photo Credit \u2013 Baptist Press<\/a> \u2013 Courtesy of DeMoss News Pond<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.\u201d \u2013 John 13:34-35<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Thursday before Jesus\u2019 trial and crucifixion was the awaited celebration of Passover<\/a>. In this day, we have a picture of Jesus, in all his humanity, and in all his deity. All four of the Gospels written about Jesus\u2019 life have an account of this day\u2019s events (Matthew 26:17-75<\/a>; Mark 14<\/a>; Luke 22:7-65<\/a>; John 13:1-18:27<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After sunset, the Jewish people would take the Passover meal together \u2013 as families usually. They would share the Seder<\/a> and remember <\/a>how God protected them during the days of their slavery in Egypt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo Credit: Seder Meal, Robert Couse-Baker, Flickr<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This particular Thursday is known as Maundy Thursday<\/a>. Maundy means \u201ccommanded\u201d<\/em> and also can refer to the ceremonial washing of feet.\u00a0 Jesus took upon himself to wash the dusty feet of his disciples, modeling for them his command\u00a0to love one another<\/strong> (John 13:34-35<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Jesus and his disciples finished their meal together, he would then enter the garden Gethsemane to pray. As He prayed, He wrestled with his heavenly Father over the need for him to die. \u201cO my Father, if it is possible, let this cup [of suffering and death] pass from me.\u201d<\/em> Then, settled in his obedience, \u201cO my Father, if this cup cannot pass away from me unless I drink it, Your will be done<\/strong>.\u201d<\/em> [Matthew 26:39<\/a>; Matthew 26:42<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/8\/80\/Giorgio_Vasari_-_The_Garden_of_Gethsemane_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg\"Photo Credit: Wikimedia<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometime during that dark night of the soul, he turned his attention toward his disciples and all the rest of us, across the ages, who would follow him.<\/strong> His prayer to the Father, recorded in John 17<\/a>, is exquisitely beautiful, especially in the context of this difficult night. [Take time to read it in full, but I\u2019ve included a part of it below.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHoly Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  <\/sup>I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.  <\/sup>Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.  <\/sup>As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.  <\/sup>\u201cI do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then out of the darkness, disciple Judas Iscariot <\/a>came to betray Jesus. He was leading\u00a0a group of the religious leaders,\u00a0along with\u00a0a huge company of soldiers. Although\u00a0Jesus\u2019 loyal disciples wanted to resist his arrest, Jesus<\/strong> refused their intervening and surrendered himself\u2026not to the mob but to the will of the Father.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The betrayal was complete. His disciples fled (although those closest to him would soon follow). He would spend the rest of the night in the tormenting custody of his enemies. The countdown to the cross had begun in earnest. A countdown that actually began at the Fall of humanity, and, under the careful watch of God, our Father\u2026a countdown toward restoring us back to Himself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One more day\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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