Blog Archive

4/17/14

Walking with Jesus during Holy Week: Thursday Eating, Praying, Betraying

Jesus today desires to eat the Passover meal with his disciples. You are invited. It’s a special time; God’s covenant will be remembered, celebrated, and made new; later we will become aware of how sacred this hour was. But today we want to know, “Will you Jesus lead us into the Kingdom now?” or “Is this just another painful reminder of our lack of power?” It’s festival time, a feast day, a time of hope. Jesus though talked of betrayal, of dying, of something asked of him that he so wished to avoid. This is a hard day to walk with Jesus. Think carefully how you will engage. Listen. Choose. Will you eat with him at the last supper? Will you pray with him in Gethsemane? Will you watch as he is arrested and brought before the high priests? Will you run away?

Read and choose or be led: Matthew 26: 17 – 75.

20When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; 21and while they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me." 22And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, "Surely not I, Lord?" (Matt. 26: 20 - 21)

26While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." 27Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; 28for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Matt. 26: 26 – 28)

36Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." (Matt. 26: 36)

48Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him." (Matt. 26: 48)

73After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you." 74Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, "I do not know the man!" At that moment the cock crowed. 75Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: "Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly. (Matt. 26: 73 – 75)
Reflect on who Jesus is today, Maundy Thursday, this year.

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