Jesus and His disciples observed the Passover and the Lord’s Supper in the Upper Room (Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-30; John 13:1-30).
When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”
Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.”
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (Matthew 26:20-29)
Luke tells us that immediately after sharing the bread and wine, the disciples began arguing over which of them was the greatest (Luke 22:31-38). Jesus was giving His life away, and they were arguing about who was the best! Can you imagine how much that hurt?
Then Jesus predicted Peter’s denial, and Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same (Matthew 26:31-35).
But Jesus knew. He knew they would run.
That evening, Jesus gave His farewell discourse to the Disciples: “All men will know that you are my disciples by your love for one another” (John 13:35). (Also see Matthew 26:31-35; Mark 14:27-31; Luke 22:31-38; John 13:31-John 16:33).
Jesus shared that he was going away. The disciples were quite dismayed.
Philip said, “You can’t leave now! We don’t know where you are going, and we don’t know how to get there, and besides, we don’t even know who you are!”
Jesus said, “Philip, you still don’t know who I am?”
He’s making the handoff to entrust his men with the ministry. They are on the one-yard line and they are fumbling the ball. They are not even sure who he is! He must go to the cross still wondering whether or not they’ll get it (John 14:5-14).
Finally, before leaving the Upper Room, Jesus prayed His intercessory prayer for his disciples in John 17:
“I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I’m coming to you. Protect them by your name that you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world but for those you gave me. I am not praying that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:6-19, paraphrased)
Jesus took His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane. While He prayed in agony, begging God to avoid the cup of suffering, He asked them to pray for Him. Because He was fully human (as well as fully God), He actually needed their comfort and support.
But they fell asleep and left Him all alone.
Can you imagine the disappointment in his voice as he replied, “Could you not pray for me one hour?” The disciples failed, so God sent angels to comfort Jesus (Matthew 26:30, 36-46; Mark 14:26, 32-42; Luke 22:39-46).
Judas betrayed Jesus. Jesus said to Judas, “Must you betray me with a kiss?” John identified the kiss as a “passionate lover’s kiss.”
Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns, and weapons.
Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.
“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.
Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” (John 18:2-9)
Jesus was arrested and taken to the house of Annas and then to Caiaphas the high priest early Friday morning.
Photo Credit: ©Thinkstock/RomoloTavani
