SCRIP-BITS

John 13:15.        For I have given you and example, that ye should do as I have done unto you.

It’s Holy Thursday friends; a somewhat chilly and cloudy spring day. And we’re now getting down to the nitty gritty of this Lenten season, although lots of things happened during the past week; Jesus taught the multitudes, spoke to the disciples about what was to happen to him, although they never fully understood what He was talking about. They still didn’t think that He would  die and leave them alone.

Sometime during the week, while lunching in Bethany with Simon, a Pharisee, Jesus was also anointed by a woman, bearing an alabaster box (flask or vial) of spikenard precious (expensive) ointment. Supposedly it was Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. She brake the box (vial) and poured it on his head, washed his feet with her tears, then wiped them with her hair, kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Some of those around were indignant, calling it a waste of valuable oil, which could possibly have been sold for three hundred pence, or the yearly income of a rural worker, and been given to the poor.

“And Jesus said, Let her alone, why trouble ye her? She hath wrought a good (beautiful) work on me. For ye have the poor with ye always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand (beforehand) to anoint my body to the burying (for burial). Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.’ (Mark 14:6-9)  And just as Jesus said, two thousand years later,  we’re still talking about that incident.

During that week, Jesus also washed the feet of His disciples. One night He got up from the supper table, took off His clothes, girded Himself with a towel, poured water in a basin, and began washing the disciples feet. When He gets to Simon Peter: ‘Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet are you washing my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now (you don’t understand); but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

Jesus saith to him, He that is washed (bathed) needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit (completely clean): and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should (would) betray him, therefore he said, Ye are not all clean. So after he had washed their feet, and was set down  again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord; and ye say well; for so I am. If I then your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you and example, that ye should do as I have done unto you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither is he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if you do them.’  (John 13:6-17)

That same evening, as Jesus was preparing for His betrayal, He said to them: ‘I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, he that eateth with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me: and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you will betray me.’ (John 13:18-21)

Obviously the disciples were confused and wondered whom it could be, then John, leaning next to Jesus asked Jesus who it was. ‘Jesus answered, he it is, to whom I shall give a sop (a piece of bread), when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly…. He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.’ (John 13:26-27, 30) That’s when Judas apparently went out and conferred with the Jewish leaders to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. They wanted Him dead, but were afraid of a possible riot with the many outsiders in the city to celebrate the Passover. Judas however promised an opportunity to betray him without the multitude around.

Finally, the day of the Passover arrives, and when the disciples ask Jesus where He wanted to celebrate it, He said to Peter and John,’ Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. And ye shall say to the goodman (master) of the house, The Master (Teacher) saith unto thee, where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the Passover with my disciples? And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.’ (Luke 22:10-13) Reminds us of the donkey and the colt on Palm Sunday.

Later that evening Jesus sat at supper with the twelve disciples, ‘And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you: do this in remembrance of me. And he took the cup , and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for you and for many. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day I drink it new in the kingdom of God. And when they had sung an hymn (or hymns), they went out into the Mount of Olives.’ (Mark 14:22-26 )

And that’s where the night’s drama really began. They retreated to a favourite spot of Jesus called the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus said to them, ‘Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee (James and John), and began to be sorrowful (grieved)  and very heavy (deeply distressed). Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here (stay here), and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayer, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch and pray with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me except (unless) I drink it, thy will be done.’ (Matt. 26:36-42)

Jesus then went back to the disciples and again found them asleep. Not saying anything to them, He went away and prayed the same words for the third time, then went back to the disciples, and said to them, ‘Sleep on now, and take your rest (are you still sleeping and resting?): behold the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.’ (Matt. 26:45-46)  

And while He was speaking, Judas arrived with a great number of people from the Jewish leaders, armed with swords and staves. ‘And forthwith He came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master (rabbi), and kissed him, (an arranged sign to the soldiers). And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.’ (Matt. 26:49-50)

Yes friends, Holy Week is just the introduction to a sorrowful Good Friday, but we do have a joyful Easter Sunday to look forward to! Much LOVE!

…Jesus…the shining example that believers ought to emulate…

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