During the week Jesus continued to go to the temple court yard, speaking truth boldly and provocatively. His amazing language was pointed and direct and passionate. You should read it. I read out of Matthew 23-25 today. There is far too much to summarize.
Jesus had made the message clear. The religious authorities had perverted what God had entrusted to them. The poor, oppressed, and outcast had a special place in his heart, and a special place in God's kingdom. If one desired to be with Jesus, with God, one should stand among the least, the last, the lost.
Any different way would lead to destruction.
And that destructive way was the choice of the powerful people that week.
As the plot against him was being hatched, Jesus planned and served a final meal for his disciples, as if there were still more that he wanted them to know, that they must know. It was the night of the Passover meal. Jesus served his friends. At one point in the meal Jesus said that one of them would betray him. He was right, of course, and Jesus told Judas to go do what he will do. But Jesus continued with the meal. Remarkably, he washed their feet. And towards the end of the Passover ritual, Jesus added something. He blessed the bread, broke it, and served it to his friends, telling them it was his body that was broken for them. He then took the cup of wine, blessed it, and asked his friends to drink, saying that it was his blood that was shed for them, for forgiveness. He asked his friends to share this meal often, and when they did, always remember him.
There wasn't a whole lot left to say, or maybe the time for talk was over. Surely the disciples were speechless, except maybe Peter. They did a little singing, as often happens after the conversation lulls, and then they walked to the Mt. of Olives. Jesus, always trying to prepare his friends for what lay ahead, warned them that they would all betray him, but even so, he would meet them later in Galilee. Peter, bless his heart, spoke up and said that he would never betray Jesus. Jesus told him that he would deny Jesus three times before the rooster crowed.
One can only imagine the mood of the group as Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. He had spoken of death and betrayal. Yet he seemed to have no plan to escape. Jesus prayed so hard he was sweating blood. Peter, James and John dozed off. Jesus prayed some more, asking God for a different way, if there was one. There was none.
Then the quiet of the night was shattered by an armed crowd, sent by the religious leaders to arrest Jesus. Judas, who had been with Jesus for a couple of years, was with them. He identified Jesus, betraying him with a kiss. Peter, bless his heart, drew his sword to protect Jesus. Jesus told Peter to put it away, reminding Peter that Jesus had a heavenly band of angels if he wanted to use them, but it was not the thing that had to be done. Then Jesus healed the wound Peter had inflicted on his captor.
Jesus was arrested and taken away to the High Priest.
His friends deserted him and ran away.
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