Hello everyone,
Once we arrived to Wednesday and Thursday it feels as though the Biblical record of the Passion puts on its brakes. Very little happens on Wednesday, and nothing on Thursday until supper time. A good part of the reason for that is very practical. Wednesday and Thursday are the days that people are preparing for the Passover meal with their families. Like any modern holiday meal, family would be coming in from out of town, and there would be many preparations underway. So the crowds spend less and less time in the temple and public areas, and more time around the home.
I suggested yesterday that you might prepare to have the Lord’s Supper together as a family today. If you are going to do so during this message, I will tell you in a moment a good point to interject it.
Now I’m not going to say a lot during the narrative. The story tells itself. But I am going to break it up into 2 parts like I did Tuesday’s podcast.
In the 1st part, Jesus sends some disciples to arrange for a meeting place for the Passover meal. They gather and eat that meal.
Then they leave and walk to the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus has hours of agonizing prayer before His arrest.
But I will interject for clarities sake.
Thursday P.M. 14th of Nisan 30 A.D.
Preparations for The Last Supper
Luke 22:7-13
7 Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.
As I noted in a previous lesson, the Passover was a Jewish feast that celebrated God’s deliverance of Israel from Egyptian slavery in one night. And now Jesus takes this Passover meal and fills up its meaning by applying its elements to Himself.
8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.
9 And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?
10 And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.
These seem to be kind of Cryptic instructions, but what Jesus is doing is keeping the location of His last supper with His disciples secret. Even if Judas had heard what Jesus said, he wouldn’t know where the meal would be held.
11 And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith, My time is at hand; The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
12 And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.
13 And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.
Luke 22:14-16
20 Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.
Now, before we look at the Last Supper itself, let me comment on the first part of John’s record
John 13:1-20
Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
2 And supper being ended,
John’s account says this is before the Passover, but Supper is ended?
For time’s sake I am simply going to read excerpts from an article by John MacArthur.
The chronological reckoning between John’s gospel and the synoptics presents a challenge, especially in relation to the time of the Last Supper (13:2). While the synoptics portray the disciples and the Lord at the Last Supper as eating the Passover meal on Thursday evening (Nisan 14) and Jesus being crucified on Friday, John’s gospel states that the Jews did not enter into the Praetorium “lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover” (18:28). So, the disciples had eaten the Passover on Thursday evening, but the Jews had not. In fact, John (19:14) states that Jesus’ trial and crucifixion were on the day of Preparation for the Passover and not after the eating of the Passover, so that with the trial and crucifixion on Friday Christ was actually sacrificed at the same time the Passover lambs were being slain (19:14). The question is, “Why did the disciples eat the Passover meal on Thursday?”
The answer lies in a difference among the Jews in the way they reckoned the beginning and ending of days. From Josephus, the Mishna, and other ancient Jewish sources we learn that the Jews in northern Palestine calculated days from sunrise to sunrise. That area included the region of Galilee, where Jesus and all the disciples, except Judas, had grown up. Apparently most, if not all, of the Pharisees used that system of reckoning. But Jews in the southern part, which centered in Jerusalem, calculated days from sunset to sunset. Because all the priests necessarily lived in or near Jerusalem, as did most of the Sadducees, those groups followed the southern scheme.
On that basis the seeming contradictions in the gospel accounts are easily explained. Being Galileans, Jesus and the disciples considered Passover day to have started at sunrise on Thursday and to end at sunrise on Friday. The Jewish leaders who arrested and tried Jesus, being mostly priests and Sadducees, considered Passover day to begin at sunset on Thursday and end at sunset on Friday. By that variation, predetermined by God’s sovereign provision, Jesus could thereby legitimately celebrate the last Passover meal with His disciples and yet still be sacrificed on Passover day.
Back to the Last Supper on Thursday evening
The meal
15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
It is at this point you might participate in the Lord’s Supper together.
I am interweaving Paul’s record of the Last Supper in…
(1 Cor. 11:23-26)
Paul says
23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed 26 And as they were eating, took bread:
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, and gave thanks when he had supped, saying, Drink ye all of it;
this cup is the new testament in my blood: 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
27 And he took the cup, , and gave it to them, saying, 29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
At this point we pick up with the gospel of John. It seems that all of the disciples had gathered, they had reclined around the low table on the floor. But no one had washed the disciples feet. It was customary, and hygienic for a servant, after everyone had left their sandals at the door, to wash guests feet, removing the dust and grime of long walks from town to town. But no one had done it, they just plopped down and ate. So after supper, and the Lord’s table, John’s gospel tells us…
Washing disciples feet
John 13:1-20
Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;
3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
He took off His outer cloak…and aproned a towel around His waste.
5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
At this point, I’m sure the room became silent.
Jesus washed all their feet, one person at a time, including Judas.
As Peter watched this happening, he was probably seething inside, thinking “why is He doing this?” “He is our Master, not our servant.” “Why is everybody just letting Him do this?”
6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
You don’t get it Peter, but this has to be done.
Well, to Peter’s credit, he immediately obeys. If Jesus says that I have no part with Him, if He doesn’t wash my feet, well…
9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
I want it all, Lord.
10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
11 For he knew who (Judas would) should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
18 I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
19 Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
So up to this point, Judas, the one who would betray Him is still there. Jesus even washed His feet. And I’m sure that in the Lord’s heart there was tension, because evil was present amongst them. So, He calls it out. He drops a bombshell.
Identification of betrayer
John 13:21-30
21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?
Everybody doubted themselves…
23 And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.
The murmur of voices cascaded around the room. And as the hubbub continued John leans over to whisper to Jesus.
23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
25 He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
23 And he answered and said, It is one of the twelve, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.
In other words, you need look no further than these 12 who have been sharing this meal together.
Jesus goes on…
24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
25 Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.
26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
29 For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
They hadn’t heard or understood the entire conversation.
30 He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
Now Judas is gone. And I think that the tension left the room. But that doesn’t mean that the disciples who remained were without their vices. As with any supper, once your stomach is full, everyone sits around and starts conversation. And somehow the conversation comes around to the pecking order of the disciples. Now how did this conversation start? Well, I don’t know, but maybe, as they were talking, somebody brought up that time that James and John had their mother ask Jesus that they might be made 1st and 2nd in authority in Jesus’ future kingdom. Yea, that happened. So the whole conversation about who deserves those positions starts again.
Luke 22:24-30
24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
He’s saying, I am your Lord, and I serve you, so don’t count yourself above serving your fellow servants.
28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
You will be elevated to places of prominence in the future Kingdom. But before that Kingdom comes, I am going to go away for a time.
13:31-38
Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.
33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
You see, Jesus is trying to prepare His disciples for His absence. And in His absence they will need each other, they will need to lean on each other, exhort each other, teach each other and love each other.
Now that’s a marvelous and important lesson for the disciples and for all those who follow Jesus, but Peter zoomed in on one statement that Jesus made; I’m only going to be with you a little while longer, I’m going away, and you can’t come with me.
36 Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
Now it seems that Peter picks up that Jesus is referring to death, so he says
37 Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
Here is where Luke interjects…
22:31-38
31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
38 Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.
As we compare the gospel accounts, we find that Jesus predicted Peter’s denial twice, once here, and once more before they get to the Garden of Gethsemane. On this first occasion, Peter seems to have been shocked by the words Jesus spoke, that he would deny Him, so he doesn’t answer.
Still in the upper room, now Jesus has opened up a Spiritual discussion. The disciples are understandably troubled. Jesus told them that one of them was going to betray Him, now He has told Peter that that very night, Peter would deny Him 3 times. So Jesus takes this opportunity to reassure His disciples. Now He comforts them in a number of ways.
John 14:1-31
He says
#1 Comfort; I am preparing a place for you, then I’ll be back
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Even with the prospect of my departure, keep in mind my I’m leaving.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
Comfort #2; You don’t have to have any inside info, if you know me, you’re golden.
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Comfort #3; If you know me, you know God.
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
Comfort #4; I’m leaving you with the source of my power.
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Comfort #5; I am sending you help.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
Comfort #6; I will be with you.
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Jesus is preparing His disciples for His absence. So He gives them the key to living in the world without Christ physically present.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
obey
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Walk in the Spirit
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Trust me
28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
35 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.
36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
38 And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.
31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out
This podcast will be continued in part 2.
Now Jesus and the remaining 11 disciples leave the upper room and begin the walk over the brook Kidron and to the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. It is about a one mile walk. While on that walk, Jesus takes the opportunity to teach His disciples further. He talks to them about His relationship to them and its importance, about the opposition they will receive from the world, about the coming of the Holy Spirit, about His resurrection, prayer, and then He finally prays for His disciples.
I’m just going to read this section.
15:1-17
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
The world’s opposition
15:18-16:4
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.
23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
16 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
Holy Spirit’s coming and ministry
16:5-15
5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Prediction of joy over His resurrection
16:16-22
16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.
17 Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?
18 They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.
19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?
20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
Promise of answered prayer and peace
16:23-33
23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.
26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:
27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.
30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.
31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?
32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Jesus’ prayer for His disciples and all who will believe
17:1-26
These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
John tells us a lot of the things that Jesus said, in the upper room, and on the way to the Garden, that the other gospels don’t include.
The conclusion for today is described in the rest of the gospels.
Matthew 26:30-35
31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
32 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.
33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
Peter repeats his pledge of allegiance that he had made before. Then Jesus repeats His prediction of Peter’s denial.
34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
31 But (Peter) he spake the more vehemently, 35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
Once they arrive in the Garden of Gethsemane, we can imagine that the disciples would be tired, and discouraged, and quiet.
Matthew 26:36-46
36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
37 And he took with him Peter and and James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, if thou be willing, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. neither wist they what to answer him.
44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
Luke adds
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Back to Matthew
45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and found them sleeping for sorrow,and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
Well we’ve read a lot, so let’s just go to the Lord in prayer.
Heavenly Father, we can’t help but reflect the mood of this time in Passion week in our own hearts. The disciples were tired. Jesus had spoken many things to them and all of it was overwhelming. They were emotionally drained because of their failures, and predicted failures. It had been a long day of preparation, and now they were out late into the night.
We are there with them. We know that tomorrow, is the account of the crucifixion. Strengthen us Lord to remain vigilant in our dedication to remember your sacrifice and glory during this week. And we pray this in Jesus name, Amen