Thursday of the Passion Week invites us into the most intimate picture we have of Christ with His disciples. After three years they have formed a bond that was more than simply master/follower, teacher/servant; they have become “friends” (see John 15:15). The emotions of the moment were thick. The air in Jerusalem was filled with religious activity since it was now the time of Passover. Jesus knew his time was short, but wanted to emblazon some final truths on the mind of His disciples so that when He is gone from their side, they will know that they are still in His hands.

At this point in the story, we turn to the Apostle John as he concentrates a large portion of his writing on the final events of Christ’s life.

Starting with John 13, we find Jesus:

Washing the disciples feet – a picture of how to serve (Chap 13)
Confronting his betrayer – a picture of how Jesus was never fooled (13:21-32)
Providing for the disciples – “I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor” (chap. 14)
Instructing on how to go on and bear fruit – “abide in me”(chap. 15)
Outlining the role of the coming Counselor – a promise of a future (Chap. 16)
Praying to the Father on their behalf and anyone who “will believe” (Chap.17) – a reality of God’s power.

Jesus then leaves the city that has rejected him as King, walks down into the Kidron Valley and crosses the stream that flowed at the bottom that had been by now turned to a crimson color due to the blood from the sacrifices running down from the Temple mount into the stream. Jesus enters an olive grove, the garden of Gethsemane, that was a common meeting area for Jesus and His disciples (John 18:1-2).

Although Jerusalem had swelled from an estimated 800,000 to over 2.5 million people, Jesus is alone. Sure, his disciples are walking with him. Yes, there probably were people with unique accents who had traveled from foreign lands echoing in the streets. Inn keepers could have been finishing up haggling with the out-of-town’ers over the price to rent a room for the evening. There was certainly the bleating of hundreds of sheep coming in and out of the sheep gate with shepherds yelling commands. There must have been discussion on the corner by some old men of how God instructed the children of Israel in the original Passover (see Exodus 12 and March 19 blog). While the travelers settled in, the noise of sheep ringed in the ally’s, rent was being agreed upon, and people discussed Moses and God’s great work of deliverance, Jesus walked with his disciples through the streets to the garden to meet with His Father.

It is in moments like these that we find Jesus in the midst of our lives. When you are feeling alone, Jesus understands. When emotions of betrayal gnaw at your soul, Jesus knows that well. When reality hits and you learn that some people don’t like you and there is really nothing you can do about it, its good to know Jesus has been there too. When you hope your life situation will improve soon, but in the back of you mind you know that it will only get worse before it gets better; please meditate on the fact that Jesus has walked that road before you.

I am grateful that Jesus refused to be a spectator. I am grateful that Jesus refused to play it safe. Jesus threw Himself into the game of life so that you could be assured that, although there are times when life seems out of control, Jesus understands and offers the grace to move forward in the midst of real heartache and pain.