THE HERALD OF CHRIST'S KINGDOM (March/April 2010)
Lessons from Jesus
The Last Day
My soul is
exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.—Matthew
26:38
David Rice
We come to the last day of our Lord’s life, the fourteenth of Nisan, the day he
would be lifted up on Calvary’s cross for our sins. The sun has descended in the
west. It is still light, but the day is closing—nearly 2,000 years ago—Thursday
changing into Friday. Candles are lit for the coming darkness. Darkness is
settling also among the enemies of the son of God.
Four days before, Jesus and his disciples gathered to dine in Bethany at the
home of his friends, when dear Mary made a costly gift. The raising of Lazarus
was still fresh in her mind, but long before that, she loved to sit at the feet
of Jesus and hear the words of life. Mary unsealed an alabaster box with
somewhat more than a cup and a half of costly scented oil. She applied this
first on Jesus’ head, and the remainder on his feet, which were washed earlier.
She wiped the residue with her hair.
Soon the fragrance of
spikenard filled the home. A thousand years before, Solomon penned the
words—“While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell
thereof” (Song of Solomon 1:12), and Jesus remembered. Later Jesus would be
wrapped with myrrh and aloes, representing his death and the healing that would
come from it. But here was a fragrance of love, and it filled his heart.
The next morning—Monday morning, still the tenth of Nisan—Jesus rode into
Jerusalem on a colt that represented the new doctrines of grace and truth which
he bore. He was received with shouts of Hosanna by the crowds, and properly so,
for he was their Messiah and deliverer. But his welcome presaged his death. The
lambs of passover were selected on the tenth of Nisan, and he was presented to
Israel the same day.
Tuesday, Jesus cursed the fig tree, cleansed the temple, and taught the people
through the day.
Wednesday, the temple leaders confronted him, and sent agents to trap him in his
words. It was to no avail: “Never man spake like this man” (John 7:46). But it
was an exhausting day. He taught the people through the day, publicly called to
account the leaders of Israel, and warned them of the coming judgment. When at
last he departed for an evening at Bethany, he paused at the Mount of Olives and
uttered for his disciples the prophecies and parables recorded in Matthew
chapters 24 and 25.
Now it was Thursday evening. He had spent this day with his disciples at
Bethany. With the decline of the sun, the last events began to unfold.
Jesus sent two disciples ahead of him into Jerusalem to prepare for their
gathering, giving them enigmatic instructions. Upon entering the city they would
find a man bearing a pitcher of water—they were to follow him to whatever home
he entered. There they would request of the house manager a place to prepare for
passover, and be shown a large upper room, spread with carpets and cushions for
dining. But suppose upon reaching Jerusalem, they did not find such a man. Or,
perhaps more than one. Or, maybe they would be delayed enroute and miss an
intended connection. Or, perhaps the first man would lead them to the wrong
home. No, it would all go well. In these directions they would have another
tangible sign of the Lord’s mastery of all affairs. Similarly, the saints all
through the age have found appointed servants of Jesus, carrying vessels of
truth, and following these, they have found their master has provided a rich
spread of blessings.
There the disciples made ready: “And when the hour was come,” Jesus reclined
together with the twelve apostles (Luke 22:14). Some brethren suppose this was
the passover meal his disciples were to make ready. Others suppose it was a pre-passover
last supper, noting the words of Jesus, that he would not eat passover with his
disciples until the kingdom. In either case, the Jews at large would bring their
lambs to the temple the following afternoon, about the time Jesus’ completed his
suffering on the cross. And in either case, Jesus would die on the fourteenth of
Nisan, as predicted centuries before in the passover type.
Host of the Evening
Jesus was the host for this gathering. It was customary for a host to offer
guests a cup of refreshment upon the commencement of the evening’s event. This
was called the “cup of blessing,” and Jesus offered this to his disciples before
the meal. But he himself would not receive it. Thus he said to his disciples:
“Take this, and divide it among yourselves” (Luke 22:17). He explained: “I will
not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come” (verse
18).
The term “cup of blessing” means a cup for which we bless God, that is, we give
thanks to God. Paul refers to this “cup of blessing” in 1 Corinthians 10:16,
and, as does Luke, he puts it before the emblems which Jesus introduced later,
during the course of the meal. But the meaning is the same in any case: the wine
represents the blood of atonement, shed by our Lord Jesus, which we receive with
thanks. Without this, we have no life in us.
The Last Supper
As the supper proceeded, Jesus observed that something had been overlooked—not
by Jesus, of course, but by his disciples. It was customary for guests to have
their feet washed, for the comfort of the evening. They had walked perhaps three
miles from Bethany to this location, and this kindness would have been
appreciated. But none of his disciples had taken the opportunity to serve the
others in this way.
So Jesus did. Only the Gospel of John records this episode. He took a towel in
hand, poured water into a basin, and one by one went to each disciple. Surely,
at the first disciple, they all recognized a lesson; by the time Jesus came to
Peter, he broke the tension by refusing to have the master thus serve him. Peter
had a good spirit, but Jesus had something deeper in mind. Jesus was about to
die for them all, and no one else could do this service for them. What our Lord
was doing now, was in symbol the cleansing only he could give them—and only he
can give us.
“If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me” said Jesus to Peter (John 13:8).
The same words apply to each of us. We are sinners by nature. If our Lord would
not do the service of cleansing us, then we could have no part with him. Are we
not blessed to have the son of God, himself, stoop to this service for us? If
Jesus would do this for us, then we should in the same spirit, wish to serve
others. Each of us feels that lesson from our master.
It was apparently after this that Jesus introduced the emblems of his death: the
bread and the cup. Luke’s account says, following those emblems, that Jesus said
the hand of his betrayer was on the table (Luke 22:21), and John’s account next
introduces this matter of Judas. It was no intellectual matter for our Lord. It
touched him, it troubled him. John 13:21 says, “Jesus … was troubled in spirit”
and said “verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.”
The news took them by surprise. Each looked around, wondering of whom he spoke,
asking, “Is it I?” (Mark 14:19). Peter, a little removed perhaps, asked John,
who was next to Jesus, to ask who he meant. Jesus replied, “He it is, to whom I
shall give a sop” (John 13:26). Jesus took a morsel of food, dipped it in the
sauce, and gave it to Judas. Perhaps only John heard this (only John recorded
it), for even when Judas left, when Jesus said “that thou doest, do quickly,”
they supposed he meant him to purchase something for passover, or perhaps give
some charity to the poor (John 13:29).
Now Judas was gone. Now Jesus began preparing his disciples for his departure.
What would he say to them in the short time remaining?
He told them he was going.
He gave them a new commandment, to love one another: “By this
shall all men know that ye are my disciples” (John 13:35). And so it has worked.
True Christianity is marked as the religion of love, above all others.
Peter protested that he was willing to follow Jesus anywhere, and
lay down his life for Jesus. And he meant it. He had said the same thing weeks
earlier, so had all of the disciples, and they all meant it, as shown by their
following Jesus to Jerusalem where they knew Jesus’ life was in peril. But fear
would loom, and Jesus warned Peter of three denials before the crowing of the
cock.
Jesus then began to speak to his disciples as a groom would speak
to a bride, although the point is missed in our culture. When a young Jewish
lady received a proposal of marriage, if her answer was yes, she would take a
cup of wine offered to her. Jesus had passed the cup to them, and they had all
taken it. Now Jesus told them that he would go away to prepare them a place, as
a groom would go away to prepare living quarters for a new family, return when
ready, and claim his bride. “If I go, and prepare a place for you, I will come
again, and receive you unto myself” (John 14:3). Now Christ has returned, and
those disciples have all been gathered to him. By the Lord’s grace, if we are
faithful, we will have a share with them, at the close of our way.
Thomas and Philip and Jude followed up with some questions, and
Jesus with answers they would understand later. Jesus would be the way, the
truth, and the life, to lead them to him in due time. Jesus promised the holy
spirit to come in his stead, to guide them to the end. Meanwhile, if a man would
keep his words, then through the holy spirit, Jesus and God would make their
abode with him. Are they at home within us?
Journey to Gethsemane
After these words Jesus brought the occasion to a close: “Arise, let us go
hence,” and this closes John chapter 14. As the little band passed eastward,
perhaps it was the vine carvings on doors near the temple which prompted Jesus,
as he walked, to give the disciples the lesson of the vine and branches. We are
to bear fruit, receive pruning, and partake of the spirit of Christ.
He repeated his commandment about love, and assured them they were his friends
and confidants. And he said something which would be more precious as time
passed, namely, that he had chosen them. He chose them, and commissioned them,
to bear fruit.
They would be hated and persecuted by the enemies of God. But they should not be
offended. He told them again of the comforter which would come, the holy spirit,
and its influence.
Then he repeated his earlier cryptic thoughts to them, reworded a little: “A
little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall
see me” (John 16:16). He meant that they would have deep sorrow for a time, but
they would see him raised from the dead, rejoice greatly, and go forth with a
renewed spirit, zeal and faith. Then “your heart shall rejoice” and no one would
dim that joy (John 16:22). The words were still cryptic, but they would
understand soon enough.
Then he spoke more plainly. He came from the Father, into the world, and now
would leave the world and return to his Father. But, he said, a trial is coming,
and you will be scattered, for a short time.
He then lifted his eyes to heaven and prayed audibly for his disciples, a prayer
which constitutes John chapter 17: keep them, sanctify them, nourish them.
By this time, the little band had reached the brook Kidron, east of Jerusalem,
and, a little further on, Gethsemane at the base of the mount of Olives. Here
Jesus paused, calling on Peter, James, and John to come further and watch with
him, as three times he sought to know from his Father, in prayer, that all
things were well. There was great intensity, great fervor, great concern. The
weight of his mission bore upon him with more pressure than we can apprehend.
But an angel sustained him, and his heart was brought to peace. Perhaps the
intensity of his prayers are preserved for us through the witness of young John
Mark, in the shadows, as others were sleeping (Mark 14:51,52).
The Entourage
God allowed nothing to interfere until our Lord’s wrestling in prayer had run
its course. Then it was time. Judas led an armed band, and betrayed Jesus with a
kiss. Jesus addressed his captors, and as they all fell back, he might simply
have walked away. But it was his time and he would stay. Jesus still was in
command of the situation. He healed the ear of Malchus, then saw to the freedom
of all his disciples.
Now he was alone in the hour of darkness, except for his Father.
Jesus was taken to Annas, the power behind the scene. There he was bound, and
sent to Annas’ son-in-law Caiaphas, high priest that year. Peter and John
followed at a distance, and John gained entrance for them at the courtyard of
Caiaphas. By this means Peter was brought into danger, and three times denied
Christ. Luke’s account says when the cock crewed the third time, Jesus caught
the eye of Peter, who went out and wept bitterly.
Meanwhile Jesus was condemned by a council under Caiaphas. They searched for
witnesses, and several came forward with false testimony, but no two agreed. At
last two were found with a semblance of agreement about a threat by Jesus
against the temple—but Jesus would not respond. Not until Caiaphas adjured him
to speak, as a solemn charge to a man of honor, did Jesus finally address them:
“Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and
coming in the clouds of heaven” (Matthew 26:64).
That was it. It wasn’t what they wanted, but it was close enough. The high
priest rent his garment in mock horror, demanded a verdict, and the council
obliged. They would have to wait a few hours for daybreak to bring him to
Pilate. Meanwhile the soldiers took liberty to mock him, spit on him, hit him on
the blindfolded face, and ridicule him, until they tired of their sport.
Morning
At first light, the priests and elders reaffirmed their sentence, and brought
Jesus to Pilate. Jesus said little to Pilate, and nothing to the accusations of
the priests and elders. Pilate marveled at his reserve, but Pilate recognized
that Jesus was innocent. Pilate’s wife warned him also: “Have thou nothing to do
with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because
of him” (Matthew 27:19). Pilate gave his verdict: “I find no fault in this man”
(Luke 23:4). But his accusers railed the more, claiming that Jesus had stirred
up people from Galilee to Jerusalem.
Galilee? He was a Galilean? Herod, who ruled Galilee, happened to be visiting
Jerusalem at the time. Pilate would send the matter to him. Herod was curious
and willing, but Jesus would not say a word. So Herod returned him to Pilate,
but not before Herod’s men adorned him in purple and mocked him.
Pilate faced Jesus a second time. He decided to scourge Jesus—a brutal
process—and release him. Jesus was scourged, and the soldiers made a crown of
thorns, and hit him repeatedly, taunting him as King of the Jews. In this way
Pilate presented him to the crowds, seeking sympathy, but none was offered.
Instead the crowds railed against him: “He ought to die, because he made himself
the Son of God” (John 19:7).
The Son of God? Now Pilate was even more afraid. He brought Jesus into the hall
of judgment again. “Where do you come from?” (John 19:9,
NIV). Jesus would not answer, until to
Pilate’s claim to have the power of life and death, Jesus said: “Thou couldest
have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above,” a tacit
acknowledgment of his standing with God (John 19:11).
It was now the sixth hour, sometime between six and seven in the morning (John
19:14). Pilate tried to release Jesus, but threatened with infidelity to Caesar,
he yielded. He washed his hands, but he could not wash away his guilt. Some
years later he would die by his own hand (Eusebius, The History of the
Church, 2.7.1).
Golgotha
They took Jesus to the place of the skull, Golgotha. Exhausted, without sleep,
having passed exquisite emotional pressure, weakened by brutality, Jesus was
required to bear his cross to the hill of execution (John 19:17), assisted in
some manner by Simon of Cyrene who was conscripted for the occasion (Matthew
27:32). All that he endured led to his death before the thieves on either side
of him.
At Golgotha, iron nails would blow-by-blow fasten each hand, then each foot, to
the rough wooden cross. He would endure six hours of exposure and indignity. But
he was still mindful of pursuing his mission.
His garments were distributed by lot,
He assured the repentant thief,
He gave John the charge of his mother,
He claimed Psalm 22 from the cross,
He tasted vinegar to fulfill prophecy,
He exclaimed “It is finished,”
Then quietly commended his spirit to God.
The sky darkened at noon-day
for three hours. Jesus died between two thieves, he was buried in a rich man’s
tomb, the earth quaked at his death, the temple veil rent from top to bottom,
the tombs were opened and bodies thrown up. The soldiers feared, and the
Centurion said, “Truly this was the son of God” (Matthew 27:54).
Friday, Nisan 14, came to a
close. The Sabbath of rest began, and Jesus rested in the tomb. His pain had
ended, his work was done. In the houses of Israel around the land, two candles
were lit to bring in the Sabbath (jewfaq.org/shabbat.htm
, compare Exodus 20:8, Deuteronomy 5:12). These candles are named Zakhor
(remember), and Shamor (observe). Now we remember. Now we observe.
“He was oppressed, and he was
afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth … He was taken from prison and from
judgment … he was cut off … for the transgression of my people was he stricken …
He made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death … He had done
no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased [Jehovah] to
bruise him; he hath put him to grief [and] made his soul an offering for sin. …
He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied … my righteous
servant [shall] justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will
I divide him a portion with the Great.” (Isaiah 53:7-12)
On the third day he was
raised king of all creation!
Remember Me
It is this that we remember, when we remember the
sacrifice of Christ. Before these events were 3½ years of daily giving—teaching,
healing, exhorting, setting an example, opening a “new and living way” for us
(Hebrews 10:20). That had been preceded by thirty years of righteous, Godly,
devoted living, patiently preparing for his life’s service. All of this our Lord
has done for us. Let us now return our little all to him.
