Over the next thee days we’ll slowly reflect on the last meal that Jesus shared with his disciples before going to the cross.

In a manner reminiscent of Jesus’ instructions to the disciples prior to his entry into Jerusalem (cf. Matthew 21), Jesus now gives some mysterious instructions to the disciples about how to find the venue to celebrate the Passover meal. Every year, the disciples would have celebrated the Passover as a commemoration of the Israelites miraculous rescue out of Egypt by God. They had celebrated this meal every year of their lives. They had no cause to think that this would be any different, but something about Jesus’ instructions and that his appointed time is near should have indicated that this would be a Passover with a difference.

What comes next would have taken the disciples by surprise as Jesus announces that one of them, one of their own fellow brothers, would betray their Lord. Whilst the reader of Matthew has already been privy to Judas’ premeditated betrayal (verses 14-16), this would have been a huge shock to all who were present. The disciples are sad, they can’t fathom who it might be and they’re worried that it could be them. But of course, we know: it’s Judas. Judas, in a last-ditched act of hypocrisy, even tries to deny it to Jesus’ face. But Jesus knows Judas’ heart, and he knows ours, too. Yet even in the knowledge of Judas’ sin, even with the power to escape from the clutches of the authorities, Jesus will willingly go to the cross so that even the darkest sin of our lives can be forgiven, if only we put our trust in him. AL

Questions

What do you think the disciples were expecting of this meal? Do you think that you would ever be capable of betraying Jesus? Why does Jesus still go to the cross even though he had the power to escape the authorities?

Prayer

Gracious God, thank you for going to the cross so that even our darkest sin may be forgiven. Please help us to cling to you and follow you faithfully with our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.