1540640 Jesus’ farewell moments during the last supper of Passover – Matthew 26:20-29;31-35, Mark 14:17-31, Luke 22:14-38, John 13:1-14:31, Thursday April 14 A.D. 29 Jerusalem
And now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his time had come that he would depart from this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. Now when evening and the hour had come, he came with the twelve. He was sitting at the table eating with the twelve disciples and apostles.
There arose also a contention among them, which of them was considered to be greatest. And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so with you. But one who is the greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves. For who is greater, one who sits at the table, or one who serves? Is not it he who sits at the table? But I am in the midst of you as one who serves. But you are those who have continued with me in my trials. And I appoint to you a kingdom, even as my Father appointed it to me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom and you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
And during supper, the devil put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came forth from God, and was going to God, arose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. And he took a towel, and wrapped a towel around his waist. Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. Then he came to Simon Peter. And he said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” And Jesus answered and said to him, “You do not know what I am doing now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!” And Jesus answered and said to him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” And Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” For he knew him who would betray him, therefore he said, “You are not all clean.”
So when he had washed their feet, put his outer garment back on, and sat down again, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me, ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord.’ You say so correctly, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Most certainly I say to you, a servant is not greater than his lord, neither one who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen. But that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me.’ From now on, I say to you before it happens, that when it happens, you may believe that I am he. Most certainly I say to you, he who receives whomever I send, receives me; and he who receives me, receives him who sent me.”
And when Jesus had said this, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, as they sat and were eating. Jesus said, “But behold, most certainly I say to you that one of you will betray me—he who eats with me. The hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man indeed goes, even as it has been determined and written about him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.” And they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing. And they began to be exceedingly sorrowful, and each began to ask him one by one, “Is it I, Lord?” And the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom he spoke. One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was at the table, leaning against Jesus’ breast. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, and said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom he speaks.” He, leaning back, as he was, on Jesus’ breast, asked him, “Lord, who is it?” And Jesus therefore answered and said to them, “It is one of the twelve. It is he to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it. He who dipped his hand with me in the dish, the same will betray me.”
So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. And after the piece of bread, then Satan entered into him. And Judas, who betrayed him, answered and said, “Is it I, Lord?” He said to him, “You said it.” Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” And now no man at the table knew why he said this to him. For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus said to him, “Buy what things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. Therefore, having received that morsel, he went out immediately and it was night. And when he had gone out, Jesus said, “And now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. And if God has been glorified in him, then he will immediately glorify him. Little children, I will be with you a little while longer. You will seek me, and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ So now I say to you.”
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had blessed it and had given thanks, he broke it. And he gave to the disciples, and he said to them, “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in memory of me. I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for I say to you, I will no longer by any means eat of it until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” And likewise, he took and received a cup after supper, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them, saying, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Take this, and share it among yourselves, for most certainly I say to you, I will no more drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it anew in the Kingdom of God. All of you drink it, for this cup is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.” And they all drank of it.
And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered abroad.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.” A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you; that you also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” And Jesus answered and said, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow afterwards.”
But Peter answered and said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you. Even if all will be made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble. Although all will be offended, yet I will not.” “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat, but I prayed for you, that your faith would not fail. You, when once you have turned again, establish your brothers.” And he said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!” Jesus answered and said to him, “Will you lay down your life for me? Most certainly I say to you, Peter, that you today, even this night, before the rooster will by no means crow twice, you will deny that you know me three times. The rooster will not crow until you have denied me three times.” But Peter spoke all the more and said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you.” All of the disciples also said the same thing.
“Do not let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also. And where I go, you know, and you know the way.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” And Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on, you know him, and have seen him.”
Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” And Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you such a long time, and do you not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How do you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? And the words that I say to you, I speak not from myself; but the Father who lives in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; or else believe me for the very works’ sake. Most certainly I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to my Father. And whatever you will ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you will ask anything in my name, I will do it. If you love me, keep my commandments.
And I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever,—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive; for it does not see him, neither knows him. You know him, for he lives with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more; but you will see me. Because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. He who has my commandments, and keeps them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him.”
Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, what has happened that you are about to reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?” And Jesus answered and said to him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him. He who does not love me does not keep my words. And the word which you hear is not mine, but the Fathers who sent me. These things I have said to you, while still living with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful. You heard how I told you, ‘I go away, and I come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I said ‘I am going to my Father;’ for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it happens so that, when it happens, you may believe. I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world comes, and he has nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father commanded me, even so I do.
And he said to them, “When I sent you out without purse, and wallet, and shoes, did you lack anything?” And they said, “Nothing.” Then he said to them, “But now, whoever has a purse, let him take it, and likewise a wallet. And whoever has none, let him sell his cloak, and buy a sword. For I say to you that this which is written must still be fulfilled in me: ‘He was counted with transgressors.’ For that which concerns me has an end.” And they said, “Lord, behold, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “That is enough.” Arise, let us go from here.
