That Wednesday

Without electricity for evening illumination, bedtime was likely only a couple of hours after sundown and with the chickens in full throat by 5 AM, the day was usually in full swing shortly thereafter.  For Jesus, this would be the last morning with Lazarus, Mary and Martha as tomorrow He would be in the custody of enemies.  His friends and followers did not know such, but were anticipating the Passover supper that night so preparations for that special time would consume much of the day.

It is likely that Judas was missing early in the morning having left for the temple to find the leaders.  He was angered by the scolding Jesus laid on him the previous night in Simon’s house when he complained about the money wasted anointing Jesus (Matthew 26:7).  Judas struck a deal to help them take Jesus with minimum exposure in exchange for 30 pieces of silver – personal wealth (26:15).  Little did he know that tomorrow he would be dead by his own hand.

Reported by Luke – And in the day time He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet. Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him (Luke 21:37-38).  So, Jesus was likely on the trail for the temple by 6ish in order to touch people with healing and hope, present the Father, explain the Scriptures, further train the 12, and teach concerning life under a New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31).

The journey to the temple that morning would have been uniquely marked by the movement of  thousands of lambs and goats through the Kidron Valley that separated Jerusalem from Bethany.  These were the lambs raised for purchase to be killed sometime between 3 and sundown that day in order to partake of the Passover remembrance meal as prescribed by God.  Many of these sheep were raised in the fields around Bethlehem and possibly by the very shepherds who had seen Jesus when just hours old, 33 years earlier (Luke 3:23).  Could it be possible that Jesus, dropping off the Mount of Olives, laid eyes on one or more of those shepherds that had laid eyes on him back then?  The sheep were taken to the Inspection Gate at the NE corner of Jerusalem where the priests were tasked with seeing that each was flawless per God’s guidelines (Exodus 12:5).  It was a chaotic scene that morning.

Jesus would have likely stayed in the temple through the morning oblation which occurred at nine.  Despite the crowds and questioning and confused disciples, it would have been a very rich time of worship of God.  Makes me think of us going through these very days so busy with lesser things.  Do we find rich times of worship?  (Saturday night I stumbled onto the song, “Is He Worthy” and found myself swept up in thought and emotion – I cried.  I listened to it again two times that night then on Sunday morning, I tuned to David Jeremiah and they were singing it.  In the midst of the mundane and craziness of the world, find time to be moved.  I love Jesus!)

The middle of the day would have been about preps for the Passover Meal.  Jesus had apparently prearranged both a room and furnishings along with a “secret” rendezvous with a man marked carrying a water jug and sent John and Peter to connect and finish preparations (Luke 22:7-13).  This was most likely to keep the location from Judas so that the meal would not be terminated by Jesus’ arrest.  Part of the preparations that the two had to accomplish was the purchase and killing of a lamb, capturing its blood and applying it to the door frame, and preparing the mutton for the meal.

Also, the day was about washings – both ceremonial and practical.  When they gathered later that day, Jesus noted that they were bathed but in moving through the city their feet were again soiled so He washed each (John 13:10).  After sundown, Jesus gathered with the 12 and declared: “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves” (Luke 22:15-17).

Thus, He set up what we call Communion.  He earnestly desired to do so with His people and talked of His suffering and coming kingdom.  It is a message for us.  May His desire be ours:  that we are His by faith and deeply desire to be with Him, that His suffering be remembered, that His kingdom comes, and that we partake together.  May our Communion this Sunday be special!