Holy Week | Thursday

INTRODUCTION

Holy Week (or Passion Week) begins on Palm Sunday and ends on Resurrection Sunday (Easter Sunday). These are some of the most sacred days on the Christian calendar. I will release a blog post each day this week for you to use as a devotional guide. These posts will contain Bible readings, critical explanations of the text, devotional thoughts, and a prayer. So, please join me as we examine what Jesus was up to during Holy Week.

View previous posts in this series: Palm Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

THURSDAY

You can read about Thursday of Holy Week in the following passages: Matthew 26:17-75, Mark 14:12-72, Luke 22:7-71, John 13:1-18:27.

As you can see from the passages above, the Thursday before Jesus’ crucifixion is chock full of meaningful events. 

In the scriptures, we see that Jesus asked the disciples to secure a room in the city for them to eat the Passover meal together. The disciples did as he asked and then they prepared the meal.

In the evening, after washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus reclined at the table with the twelve. Then Jesus makes a shattering announcement: “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” These words break the disciple’s hearts. The text tells us they were extremely saddened. Eleven of them asked him, one after the other, “Is it I, Lord?”

Jesus answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me.” That wasn’t comforting because they all would have done that. It’d be like if we were sharing a meal, let’s say it’s Chicken Teriyaki from Hachi Hachi (Did your mouth start watering?) but we only have one bowl of teriyaki sauce, so we each dip our chicken into the bowl. 

Jesus continues, “The Son of Man goes as it is written of him (See the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 42-53), but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.” Then it’s Judas’ turn to ask, “Is it I, Rabbi? (Notice he doesn’t say Lord)” To which Jesus responds, “You have said so,”—a Greek expression that deflects the responsibility back upon the one asking. With that, Judas leaves the upper room to go and assemble the mob that would arrest Jesus.

Then Jesus takes the Passover meal, specifically the bread and wine, and reveals its true meaning—the bread represents his broken body and the wine represents the new covenant in his blood, “which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”Russ Ramsey, at The Gospel Coalition, points this out: “This meal will no longer remind them of God’s deliverance primarily from the external tyranny of Pharaoh, but from the internal tyranny of their own guilt and sin against God.” Praise God for Jesus’ sacrifice and the institution of the Lord’s Supper as our reminder! I cannot wait to take part of it soon, when we are all able to gather once again.

After supper, they went out to the Mount of Olives, then down to Gethsemane. There, Jesus asked them to sit while he goes to pray—“My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” And again, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And for a third time he prayed the same words. 

When he had finished praying, he finds the disciples sleeping (just as they were between each one of his prayers). He wakes them up and says, “See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

I’m sure they could have seen the flaming torches, through the trees, snaking toward them. The coming hours will be devastating.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS AND A PRAYER

What an incredible night—full of so many emotions: sadness, confusion, fear, anger, worry. And, yet, in the middle of it all, we get a clear picture of the Lord of heaven and earth. He’s a washer of a feet, a servant, a loving friend, in control, obedient to the Father—he’s the perfect Savior for all who believe in him for forgiveness of sins.

Maybe your life is full of all kinds of emotions at this moment. Don’t let your circumstances distract you from the God who is sovereign over those same things. Use them as motivation to send you straight to Christ.

Won’t you go to Jesus now? He says to you, as he said to his disciples that night, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me…These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son to give his life as a ransom for many. Help me to trust him in all things on this day. May the fullness of the joy of Christ mark my life. I love you, Lord. Amen.

For further learning, check out this video on Thursday of Holy Week by The Gospel Coalition.