1. Jesus and the Disciples Celebrate Passover
There is a LOT that happens today, so hang on! Here is a brief overview on this first point:
Read Luke 22:7–13 first. Matthew 26:17–19 and Mark 14:12–16 also record the preparations being made for the Passover meal that would take place in the evening this Thursday. The Passover lamb would have been slaughtered over the altar in the Temple this afternoon, taken home, roasted whole, and eaten in the evening as a great meal.
Read Luke 22:14–16 next. Matthew 26:20 and Mark 14:17 both agree with Luke in the way that the Passover meal began with Christ and His twelve apostles reclining at the table.
Read John 13:1–20 after that to see what Christ does first before they partake of their meal. He humbly washes each of their feet to show them the Servant’s love. He did this as an example for them to follow.
Read either Matthew 26:21–25; Mark 14:18–21; Luke 22:21–23; or John 13:21–30 to find out how the betrayer, Judas Iscariot, was identified by Christ. Matthew, Mark, and Luke cover nearly the same events while John records more. Jesus was troubled. The disciples were shocked. Judas was out of there.
Luke 22:24–30 alone records a dispute among the disciples at this point about who was regarded as the greatest. Christ demonstrated and taught that humble servanthood is the path to true greatness in His kingdom.
Next, read John 13:31–38 and then Luke 22:31–38 to hear Jesus warn Peter the first time that he will actually deny Him soon (not much later that night!).
Finally, read Matthew 26:26–29 (Mark 14:22–25; Luke 22:17–20; and surprisingly 1 Corinthians 11:23–26 all say similar things). This is the account of the end of the meal with Christ and His now 11 disciples (Judas had left). And it is the institution of the Lord's Supper, or "Communion," as we practice it. The broken bread symbolized Christ's body that would soon be torn. The poured wine symbolized Christ's blood that would soon be spilt. The blood of Christ would inaugurate the New Covenant between God and man, the promise of eternal life in the Son of God.
2. Jesus Delivers His Upper Room Discourse
Only John records Jesus’ words to the Twelve in the upper room in Jerusalem after they celebrated the Passover meal. Read John 14:1–17:26 to get an idea of what was discussed.
Topics He addressed with His troubled disciples ranged from His heavenly destination, to His heavenly Father, to His Holy Spirit, to His overwhelming peace from God. He spoke of how He is the True Vine bringing the life of God to every branch that is in Him. Abiding in Christ bears much fruit. He told them that they would receive opposition from this world but that the Holy Spirit would come and minister to each of them. He spoke of the joy that will come after His resurrection. He spoke to them of their prayers being answered so long as they pray in His name, after His will, for His glory. The greatest thing that can be prayed for is peace that comes from what He has spoken. He then prayed for all His disciples and all the other disciples that will be made, up until the end of time (Us! Our children! Etc!). He prayed that we might share in the unity He experiences with His heavenly Father. He prayed for the sanctification that comes from the Word of God. He prayed for their joy to be made complete. He prayed for His glory to be experienced by us as well.
3. Jesus Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane
Read Matthew 26:30–35 (also Mark 14:26–31). Christ and His disciples ended their Passover meal by singing a hymn in the upper room, and then they left to go out to the Mount of Olives later that night. Luke 22:39–40a and John 18:1 both note this but they are more brief. Jesus warned the disciples that they would all fall away when He is struck down. Peter rejected that notion, but Christ told him again that he would actually deny Him three times that very night.
Read Mark 14:32–42, of which Matthew 26:36–46 matches most closely. Luke mentions some of these details of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane on the west side of the Mount of Olives (one mile away from Jerusalem to the east approx.). At some point late Thursday night, after a eating a big meal and after taking in some important things from Christ, the disciples began to fall asleep in the Garden.
While the disciples folded their hands to rest, Christ folded His hands to pray. He warned them not to fall asleep and not to fall away! He was deeply troubled in His soul but prayed more earnestly than any other human soul could have ever prayed. He prayed for the submission to the Father's will that was necessary to experience the worldwide sin payment. Three times Christ went deeper into the Garden to pray to His Father while three times the disciples fell fast asleep. Little did they know, Christ's betrayer was on his way.
Thursday's Prayer:
"Lord, You loved Your own until the end. We were/are so unworthy, yet You continued to pour out Your life for us. While we were yet sinners, You died for us. Forgive us our sins. Allow us by Your empowering grace to serve others like You. May our every act of service be an extension of Your hands. And as we serve You, may we always remember Your body and Your blood and their immense significance.
Lord, many times we can be troubled and afraid. Comfort us not with the change of circumstances, but with Your unchanging character, promises, and provisions. May we abide in the True Vine, never quenching Your Holy Spirit, always bearing more fruit. Take us to glory to be with You, but until then let us be sanctified by Your Word, strengthened in the unity found in Your holy trinity, and filled with peace that comes only from You.
Lord, You prayed a lot in Your last hours of life and service and obedience. You prayed upstairs. You prayed outside in the Garden. You prayed. You cried out for help to Your heavenly Father. He was not even 12 hours away from crushing You under His wrath, but You withstood the weight of it all. Teach us the value of seeking Your will in earnest, heart-felt, regular prayer."
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