God Speaks
Jesus Celebrates Passover, Washes the Disciples Feet and Indicates Who Will Betray and Deny Him
Verse of the Day: [When we are faced with temptaion, may we heed Jesus’ instruction.] On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” . . . “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” (Luke 22:40, 46 NIV 2011)
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We Respond
Luke 22
Reflection: After His triumphal entry and clearing of the Temple, the plot to kill Jesus intensified. Subconsciously, Satan convinced Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus to the officials at the Temple. Jesus gave instructions to Peter and John to prepare what turned out to be His last Passover with the disciples. The meaning of that ceremony was about to be fulfilled. The ultimate Passover Lamb was about to die. Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper (also called communion) and tried to explain its meaning, but the Apostles didn’t get it. They were still arguing over who was the greatest. Jesus told Peter that he would deny knowing Him three times before dawn. Jesus said that all that was written about Him in the scriptures must and will be fulfilled. On the Mount of Olives, Jesus told the disciples to pray very seriously, then modelled it for them, but they fell asleep. Even in the midst of the turmoil of His betrayal and arrest, Jesus showed His power and compassion by healing the High Priest’s servant’s ear which had been cut off. Peter denied knowing Jesus three times that night, just as Jesus had predicted. Then Jesus was mocked and cruelly treated. Jesus greatly upset the Council when He claimed, however truthfully, that He was God, the great I AM.
Prayer: Dear Great and Awesome God, it’s a wonderous thought that You, the Triune Godhead, conceived this intricate plan to save human beings even before You created us. The Jewish leaders’ jealous plot to kill Jesus was part of that plan. Please keep me humble and submissive to You so that Satan cannot subconsciously convince me to betray Jesus. As the blood of the Passover lamb was applied to the lintel and doorposts of the Jewish houses, so I apply the blood of Jesus Christ to my life allowing me to escape the death penalty my sins deserve. Thank You that the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper is meant to remind me of that. There is no question: You are the greatest! Please help me to never deny knowing You, my Lord and my God. Please help me to do my tiny part in seeing that scripture is fulfilled. Jesus, teach me to pray as You prayed on the Mount of Olives. Should I ever be betrayed and/or arrested for faith in Jesus, may I in some small way reflect Your power, compassion, and love. Like Peter, I frequently make great boasts of my loyalty to You, Jesus, but then I fail You under the pressure of fear and mockery. Jesus, please give me the strength of character You displayed before the Council. You boldly and unapologetically declared the truth of who You are. May I do the same and glorify Your name. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, which one of these He wants you to work on or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will praise and thank God for the ways He is working even when things around me are in great turmoil and confusion.
- I will apply the blood of Christ to my life by writing out a list of my sins and then writing over them with a red pen or marker, “Covered by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.” [this is even more powerful if you can do it with a spouse, trusted friend or counselor who will pray with you and hold you accountable to change what you can.]
- I will ask the Lord to use whatever He needs to show me the lies I have believed that really come from Satan, the ungodly world, or my own human nature.
- I will look for ways to be bold and courageous and stand up for God’s truth and His people, then do it.
John 13
Reflection: The account of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet is commonly known; however, many people do not pay close attention to verse 3. It conveys that because Jesus knew where He had come from and where He was going, He could perform this example of humble, servant leadership. Scriptures indicate that Jesus knew (likely from the beginning) that Judas would betray Him, yet He always acted in love toward him. In that way, Jesus modeled the new commandment He was giving them. Down through the ages God has received great praise because of all that happened to Jesus at that time. * Then Jesus foretold Peter’s denial. After stating that fact, Jesus told Peter and those in the room not to be troubled but to trust in God and in Himself.
Prayer: Dear Almighty God, thank You that Jesus washing the disciples’ feet gives me a pattern of humble, servant leadership to follow in my day-to-day interactions with people. Please help me to remember to Whom I belong and where I am going so that I can do the tasks of love You have designed me to do. There will likely be those in my life who will betray me. Please help me to follow Your example and always act in love toward them, thus obeying the new commandment of self-sacrificial love You have given Your disciples. May You, Lord God, receive great praise because of all that happens in my life. * Help me to remember whenever I mess up (sin), like Peter’s denial, Jesus doesn’t want me to be troubled but to trust Him for the forgiveness He died to give me. I just have to ask. Thank You, Lord.
*A paraphrase of John 14:31-32 TLB
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, which one of these He wants you to work on or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will thank the Lord for washing me completely by the blood Jesus shed for me at the cross so that I can now stand clean before the Father in heaven.
- I will daily come to God in prayer to confess any known sin and keep short accounts with God.
- I will ask the Holy Spirit to show me specific ways I can love someone else as Jesus did, then do them.
- I will guard my heart by daily prayer and Bible study so that I can be strong to resist denying Jesus.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.