Thursday of the Passion Week invites us into the most intimate picture we have of Christ with His disciples. After three years, Jesus and His disciples had formed a bond that was more than simply teacher and follower 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 the life of Christ.

Starting with John 13, we find the last day of Jesus involving:

• 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, a picture of how Jesus provides for those who do and will follow Him (chap. 14)
• Instructions on how to bear fruit, abide in me – a picture of dependence (chap. 15)
• Outlining the role of the coming Counselor – the promise of a future (chap. 16)
• Praying to the Father on their behalf and anyone who will believe (chap.17), the reality of God’s power to all who will entrust their lives to Him

Jesus then leaves the quiet solitude of this intimate setting and begins to make his way through the city. 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. Owners of local inns could have been finishing up haggling with the out-of-towners 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. While the travelers settled in, the noise of sheep is ringing in the ally’s, rent was being agreed upon, and people discussed Moses and God’s great work of deliverance; Jesus walks with his disciples through these streets to the garden to meet with His Father because He can only truly rely on His Father in this moment.

Jesus leaves the city that has rejected him as King, walks down into the Kidron Valley. As He walks, Jesus crosses the stream that flowed in the bottom of the valley 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 (it is estimated that an animal had to be sacrificed every 4 seconds to provide for all the families in Jerusalem for the Passover meal). Jesus enters an olive grove, the Garden of Gethsemane – the common meeting area for Jesus and His disciples (John 18:1-2).

Meditation

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 your situation well. When reality hits and you learn that some people do not 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.