Reflecting On The Last Days Of Our Lord

By C. J. Refsland on March 29, 2018 • ( 0 )

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

This is a time for reflection, not only on the Crucifixion and Ressurection of our Savior but on the days leading up to this miraculous gift from our Father.

Last Sunday we reflected on the entry of our Lord as King into Jerusalem, and how He cleansed the Temple of the money changers.

Today we reflect on a Passover meal and what Christ did as He gave us a new covenant with Him and the Father.

As Christ instructed His disciples to prepare for them to eat the Passover meal, its clear as we read scripture from that night, that they didnt fully understand what was about to happen. As Christ offered broken bread as a remembrance of His body broken for us, I can only imagine what they thought. As He offered the wine as His blood that was to be shed for us did they know?

Luke 22

Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2 and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. 3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. 4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6 He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

The Last Supper

7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

9 “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.

10 He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’12 He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”

13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.[a] 21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22 The Son of Manwill go as it has been decreed.But woe to that man who betrays him!” 23 They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

He was introducing them into the Kingdom of God, even as Judas prepared to betray Him. He told Peter that He would turn away and deny Him 3 times before morning as Satan had asked to sift His soul, but He told Peter He was praying for him. He prayed for them and all believers that night, its my favorite prayer in the Bible. John 17.

But He did something so mesmerizing that at first Peter refused. He washed their feet.

John 13

And supper being ended, the devil having already put it 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 had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” 7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”

8 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” 9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also myhands and my head!”

10 Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”
12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

He taught Humility and no one is greater. He taught this with majesty and humility. And instructed them to do the same. I can remember growing up in my church having candlelight communion service, then the Pastor would call the deacons and gird his waist and with a metal basin he would wash their feet, and then one of them would wash the Pastors feet. This was an amazing site to see. I’ll never forget it. I long to see it in person at the feet of the Savior.

We have so much to reflect on during the worlds remembrance of this sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Even those Nations who say that Christ is not the Messiah can see the miracle given. No greater love has been shown.

John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.