The evening had come. Passover. It was now the 14th of the first month and Yeshua and His Disciples were reclining at the table. We have already gone over some of the things from yesterday’s post but not necessarily in an orderly fashion. Matthew and Mark record that they had the evening meal and Judas was exposed as the betrayer. Then they both tell of the institution of the Lord’s Supper. Luke doesn’t record Judas being called out as the betrayer but just shows that at the meal, the Lord’s Supper took place. So now, Judas has left the room and Yeshua teaches the remaining disciples. All three synoptic gospels tell of Peter’s future denial, but only Luke records the Disciples arguing over who was the greatest. And then, all three synoptics say that they left for Gethsemane. Next, we’ll see what John records about the further teachings and then get onto the arrest, the trial, and the crucifixion. It’s a long day.
John’s retelling begins in chapter 13 where Yeshua gets up from the evening meal and washes the feet of the Disciples (13:2-17). He then predicts Judas’ betrayal and sends him on his way (13:18-27). This is where Judas left the meal and some of the disciples thought he was going to buy things needed for the feast (13:28,29). Yeshua then predicts Peter’s denial (13:31-38). For the next four chapters, John records the teachings Yeshua gave to His remaining disciples that the other gospels do not record. Here we learn that Yeshua is the only Way to the Father, His promise to return, the promise of the Holy Spirit, that He is the vine and we are the branches, about loving each other and keeping His commandments, how the world will hate the disciples, the work of the Holy Spirit, and how the Disciples’ grief will turn to joy. Yeshua then prays for Himself, His disciples, and prays for all believers. Then they leave for the Garden of Gethsemane.
It is late, it is dark, and Yeshua leaves the disciples to go pray alone. You know the story. They fall asleep and Yeshua chastises them three times for doing so (Matt. 326:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:39-46). Then Judas arrives with some soldiers and those sent by the chief priests, teachers of the Law, and the elders to arrest Yeshua (Matt. 26:47-56, Mark 14:43-52, Luke 22:47-53, John 18:2- 11). Peter grabs his sword and chops off the ear of one of the guards, but Yeshua heals the man and tells Peter to put his sword away. The disciples then flee, leaving Yeshua to be taken away to the house of the High Priest, Caiaphas.
While Yeshua is inside being questioned, Peter is outside denying he knows Him three times (Matt. 26:69-75, Mark 14:66-72, Luke 22:54-62, John 18:15-18, 25-27). Caiaphas declares Yeshua guilty of blasphemy and sends Him to Pilate. Judas regrets his decision and returns the money, but the chief priests and elders refuse to accept it. Judas hangs himself (Matt. 27:1-10).
Pilate questions Yeshua and finds nothing wrong with Him and wants to release Him, but the chief priests demand that He is guilty. Pilate gives the people a choice between Yeshua and Barabbas, and they demand to have Yeshua crucified (Matt. 27:11-26, Mark 15:1-15, John 18:28-40). Luke alone records that Pilate found Yeshua to be a Galilean, so he sent Yeshua to Herod who ruled over Galilee. Herod found nothing wrong with Yeshua and sent Him back to Pilate (Luke 22:66-23:25).
You know the story. To save time, we’ll just say that Yeshua was crucified and died (Matt. 27:32-56, Mark 15:21-41, Luke 23:26-49, John 19:17-37). Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus took Yeshua’s body down off the cross and wrapped it with spices in strips of linen (Matt. 27:57-61, Mark 15:42-47, Luke 23:50-56, John 19:38-42). Mark, Luke, and John all record that it was Preparation Day and the Sabbath was about to begin (Mark 15:42, Luke 23:54, John 19:42).
Yeshua is laid to rest. The stone is rolled over the entrance of the tomb. Joseph, Nicodemus, and all the women that were watching all return to their homes; lost. The sun descends below the horizon. The High Sabbath begins and the Passover Meal is being eaten throughout Jerusalem. The joyous occasion only brings sorrow on this night.
It seems His Passion has come to an end.