The single greatest event in history!
We here at Scriptural Salvation Baptist Tabernacle ask you to join us as we turn our attention to the final few days of Christ's life. We remember this time today as modern Christians by celebrating the Last Supper, joining each other in Communion, remembering Good Friday, and rejoicing on Resurrection Sunday; Easter.
Before the Last Supper (Read Matthew 26:1-16, Mark 14:1-11, Luke 22:1-6)
The Last Supper took place on Thursday Night. Here is what we learn about what happened right before this:
~From Mark we learn the day: It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him,for they said,“Not during the feast, lest
there be an uproar from the people.” (Mark 14:1-2 ESV)
~From Luke we learn the who (Judas Iscariot) and why (Satan): Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them.(Luke 22:3-4 ESV)
~From Matthew we learn the price: “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. (Matthew 26:14 ESV)
~From Mark we learn the day: It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him,for they said,“Not during the feast, lest
there be an uproar from the people.” (Mark 14:1-2 ESV)
~From Luke we learn the who (Judas Iscariot) and why (Satan): Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them.(Luke 22:3-4 ESV)
~From Matthew we learn the price: “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. (Matthew 26:14 ESV)
Communion with Christ (Matthew 26:17-29, Mark 14:12-25, Luke 22:7-23)
~During the Last Supper Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and passed it out amongst the disciples. “Take, eat; this is my body.” (Matthew 26:26 ESV) Luke tells us “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19 ESV)
~Then Jesus took a cup of wine, blessed it, and passed it around to the disciples. “Drink of it, all of you, for
this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26:27 ESV)
~The bread and wine are symbols of Christ's body and blood and in order to remember what He did for us we are to practice communion until He returns.
~Then Jesus took a cup of wine, blessed it, and passed it around to the disciples. “Drink of it, all of you, for
this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26:27 ESV)
~The bread and wine are symbols of Christ's body and blood and in order to remember what He did for us we are to practice communion until He returns.
Peter, too? (Matthew 26:30-35, Mark 14:26-31, Luke 22:24-34)
~We learn of Satan entering Judas and turning him against Jesus, but we quite often forget that Satan isn't satisfied with just one. Just like in Judas' case, Satan was seeking to get Peter too. “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have
turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32 ESV)
~In Matthew and Mark we hear Jesus predicting that all the disciples will not stay with Jesus for the rest of the night: “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’" (Mark 14:27 ESV) Peter makes a bold statement when he claims that he will be the only one left, "Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away." (Matthew 26:33 ESV)
~Matthew & Mark have Peter's response as, "But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” (Mark 14:31 ESV) Luke adds that Peter says, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” (Luke 22:33 ESV)
~Peter is told that before the night was out- before the rooster crows (Mark says before the rooster crows twice)- that Peter would deny Jesus 3 times.
turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32 ESV)
~In Matthew and Mark we hear Jesus predicting that all the disciples will not stay with Jesus for the rest of the night: “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’" (Mark 14:27 ESV) Peter makes a bold statement when he claims that he will be the only one left, "Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away." (Matthew 26:33 ESV)
~Matthew & Mark have Peter's response as, "But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” (Mark 14:31 ESV) Luke adds that Peter says, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” (Luke 22:33 ESV)
~Peter is told that before the night was out- before the rooster crows (Mark says before the rooster crows twice)- that Peter would deny Jesus 3 times.
Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:39-46)
~Eight disciples are told to sit and wait- "And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And he took with him Peter and James and John." (Mark 14:32-33 ESV) Jesus takes Peter, James, and John away from the group but leaves them to pray by Himself, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” (Matthew 26:38 ESV)
~Jesus' prayer goes as follows, "And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:26 ESV) We have to remember that just like Jesus, it's not about what we want, it's all about the Father wants.
~Luke adds that during the prayer, "And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground." (Luke 22:44 ESV) Matthew and Mark record that Jesus finds Peter, James, and John sleeping at least twice during His prayer and this time when Jesus returns to the three they are sleeping again. “Are
you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” (Mark 14:41-42 ESV)
~Jesus' prayer goes as follows, "And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:26 ESV) We have to remember that just like Jesus, it's not about what we want, it's all about the Father wants.
~Luke adds that during the prayer, "And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground." (Luke 22:44 ESV) Matthew and Mark record that Jesus finds Peter, James, and John sleeping at least twice during His prayer and this time when Jesus returns to the three they are sleeping again. “Are
you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” (Mark 14:41-42 ESV)
Jesus betrayed and arrested (Matthew 26:47-56, Mark 14:43-52, Luke 22:47-53, John 18:1-11)
~We've all heard the story- Jesus is betrayed by a kiss. But there is much more to this story. At the end of the prayer where Jesus was sweating and it was like drops of blood Judas, the betrayer, shows up in the garden with Temple Security (not their official names). "So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons." (John 18:3 ESV)
~Judas gave the Temple Security a pre-determined sign of who Jesus was- Judas would walk up and give Jesus a kiss. As the crown gets there Jesus asks who they are looking for and Judas walks forward, says, "Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him." (Matthew 26:49-50 ESV) Luke adds that Jesus says, "Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:48 ESV)
~When Jesus is grabbed by the Temple Security, Peter draws his sword and slices the ear off of a servant named Malchus. Jesus tells Peter, "Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” (John 18:11 ESV) "For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” (Matthew 26:52-54 ESV) Jesus reminds them that they could have grabbed Him while everyone was listening in the Temple courts but instead they arrested by night in the darkness.
~Judas gave the Temple Security a pre-determined sign of who Jesus was- Judas would walk up and give Jesus a kiss. As the crown gets there Jesus asks who they are looking for and Judas walks forward, says, "Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him." (Matthew 26:49-50 ESV) Luke adds that Jesus says, "Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:48 ESV)
~When Jesus is grabbed by the Temple Security, Peter draws his sword and slices the ear off of a servant named Malchus. Jesus tells Peter, "Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” (John 18:11 ESV) "For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” (Matthew 26:52-54 ESV) Jesus reminds them that they could have grabbed Him while everyone was listening in the Temple courts but instead they arrested by night in the darkness.
Jesus goes on trial (Matthew 26:57-75, Mark 14:53-72, Luke 22:54-71, John 18:12-27)
~Matthew & Mark both begin with an account of Jesus going straight from the Garden arrest to the house of the High Priest. They both record a similar mock mini-trial with many coming forward and giving ridiculous, contradictory testimony. Then comes the denials of Peter. (The same Peter who said that he would follow Jesus to prison or death denies even knowing Jesus three times to three separate people)
~Luke gives an account of Peter denying Christ first and being mocked by the captors and then Jesus being taken before the Sanhedrin (or the Jewish council) and a trial of Jesus before the council.
~John says that the house Jesus was taken to was not Caiaphas' but was instead Annas' house. We are told that both men (Annas and Caiaphas) were serving as High Priest (Luke 3:2). Caiaphas led the trial before the Sanhedrin.
~Therefore, during the night, Jesus is taken to Annas' house and a mock trial (where Jesus would have been mocked and beaten by the captors) takes place. It was while this mock trial/ beating that Peter is waiting outside and denies Christ three times. When the morning comes Jesus is sent from the house of Annas to the more "official" Sanhedrin trial. "Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest." (John 18:24 ESV)
~Luke gives an account of Peter denying Christ first and being mocked by the captors and then Jesus being taken before the Sanhedrin (or the Jewish council) and a trial of Jesus before the council.
~John says that the house Jesus was taken to was not Caiaphas' but was instead Annas' house. We are told that both men (Annas and Caiaphas) were serving as High Priest (Luke 3:2). Caiaphas led the trial before the Sanhedrin.
~Therefore, during the night, Jesus is taken to Annas' house and a mock trial (where Jesus would have been mocked and beaten by the captors) takes place. It was while this mock trial/ beating that Peter is waiting outside and denies Christ three times. When the morning comes Jesus is sent from the house of Annas to the more "official" Sanhedrin trial. "Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest." (John 18:24 ESV)
Hope you enjoyed our remembrance of Thursday of Holy Week...
We will continue the journey next time, so until then- Bless all of you!