All four gospels come together, again, for the Feast of the Passover and that evening is covered in detail…this is also the first sabbath day of the festival. There is a foreboding of what’s to come. The washing of feet is symbolic of how the master should treat those subordinate to him, and how his disciples should treat each other (Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:14-38; John 13).
…JOHN 13:1,3-9,12,14,16,17…Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end…Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God, and was going back to God, rose from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towell, girded Himself about. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. And so He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now; but you shall understand hereafter.” Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part of Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head “…And so when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?”…”If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet”…”Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master; neither is the one who was sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed, if you do them.”
Again brash Peter speaks without thinking. Jesus is his Master and it’s not proper that he should allow him to “debase” himself, but look how quickly he recovers and volunteers to a full body-wash. Another example of Peter’s slavish acceptance, but misunderstanding, of what his role is in relation to Jesus.
All four gospels bring out the fact that Jesus informs his disciples that someone will betray him. John tells of Judas’ departure to fulfill his role in the divine plan (Matthew 26: 21-25; Luke 22: 21-23; John 13: 18-32; Psalm 41: 1).
…JOHN 13: 18-32…”I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the scripture may be fulfilled, ‘HE WHO EATS MY BREAD HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.’ From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He. Truly, truly I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent me.” When Jesus said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified, and said,”Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.” The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking. There was reclining on Jesus’ breast one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore gestured to him, and said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.” He leaning back thus on Jesus’breast, said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus therefore answered, “That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.” So when He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. And after the morsel, Satan then entered into him, Jesus therefore said to him, “What you do, do quickly”. Now no one of those reclining at table knew for what purpose He had said this to him. For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things we need of for the feast”; or else that he should give something to the poor. And so after receiving the morsel he went out immediately into the night. When therefore he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of God glorified, and God is glorified in Him; if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately.”
…PSALM 41:9…Even my close friend, in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.
(Note: It’s almost like Jesus…the Protagonist is staging this event, wherein Judas…the Antagonist becomes the villain, and the supporting players…the twelve disciples are witness to his “treachery.” A nice piece of “business” with the morsel of bread. Is this staged so that those present will bear witness that it satisfies the prophecy?
And when he says,”Now is the Son of God glorified etc.,” he means that the “wheels” have been set in motion towards his ultimate sacrifice.
In Da Vinci’s painting, they are seated at the table, whereas the bible states that, in the custom of the day, they are “reclining at table”…artistic license. Some say that Judas is on the right of Jesus…black hair, blue robe. I don’t believe it, because the morsel of bread is on Jesus’ left. I believe Judas sits on his immediate left and is looking down at the bread.)
In subsequent verses the symbolic importance of the “bread” and “wine” is related. It is felt by many that these become symbols of the “new” covenant…the “body” and “blood” of Jesus, who would soon be sacrificed for the sins of all mankind, taking the place of the lamb that is the usual Passover sacrifice (Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:17-20).
…LUKE 22:17-20…And having taken a cup, when He had given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And having taken some bread, when He had given thanks, He broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” And in the same way He took the cup, after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant of My blood.”
The new covenant sacrifice is a radical departure from the old covenant, when creatures were sacrificed, because only the flesh was offered. The blood was drained before the sacrifice and poured on to the ground, thus passing into Hades…the unkown. (Deuteronomy 12:16 “…Only you shall not eat the blood; you are to pour it out on the ground like water”). This was done because the blood is the “soul” which belongs to God.
When he drinks and offers the wine/blood Jesus is saying that the blood is now to be a part of the sacrifice. His soul is to be within us.
I also believe that, as with many things he did, the wine and bread were symbols. When he refers to the wine and the bread, he is proposing as a toast that the wine and bread should be thought of as something similar to his blood and flesh. He did not intend that his proposal be accepted as the actual partaking of his blood and flesh. I believe, further, that he intends these symbols to be used as remembrances of his sacrifice. And following his crucifixion, when sacrifices would be required by law, this would be the way that they should be observed…rather than sacrificing animals.
This new covenant represents one more threat to the established hierarchy.
That night during the meal, several of the disciples contend with one another about who would be the “greatest” among them. Jesus reminds them that the “greatest” will be the ones who serve, and he tells them of their future as judges of the twelve tribes…in the Kingdom of Heaven (Luke 22:24-30).
…LUKE 22:24-30…And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors’. But not so with you, but let him who is the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as the servant. For who is greater, the one who reclines at table, or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves. And you are those who have stood by me in my trials; and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you that you may eat and drink at My table in My Kingdom, and you will sit on the thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel…”
Jesus tells them that they will be the ones to bring the news of the coming kingdom after he has gone, and be scattered throughout the world. And that this time they are to carry swords. They sing hymns and then depart, once again, for the Mount of Olives (Matthew 26: 30; Mark 14:26; Luke 22:35-39).
…LUKE 22:35-37…And He said to them, “ When I sent you out without purse and bag and sandals, you did not lack for anything, did you?” And they said, “No, nothing.” And He said to them, “But now, let him who has a purse take it along, likewise also a bag, and let him who has no sword sell his robe and buy one. For I tell you, that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me, ‘And He was classed among criminals; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment.’”
John goes into greater detail about the role Jesus would play and that of the disciples. He reminds them that he is “the way”, and they are to follow, and that they will be able to do anything in his name. He says that after he is gone, the Great Comforter, the Helper (God’s spirit) will abide in them (John 14).
John 14:1,2,5,6,8,1013,1618,26,30…”Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I am going to prepare a place for you”…Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; how do we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me”…Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us”…“Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me; otherwise believe on account of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father will be glorified in the Son”…“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him, because He abides with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I wll come to you”…But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you”…“I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.”
When Jesus says that the Helper, the Spirit of Truth abides with them, he is referring to himself. Jesus is filled with the “Spirit”. It is necessary for him to leave, so that the Helper will be free to distribute itself throughout the disciples. Because the Holy Spirit works through him, he will return to them in that guise and not “leave them orphans.”
He tells them that he is the “vine”, the Father is the “vinedresser”, and they are his “fruit”. They are no longer “slaves”, but “friends”, because everything has been made known to them. What they do, they do for his sake, and the world will hate them for it. He again reminds them that he will send the Helper to assist them (John 15).
…JOHN 15: 1,5,8,15,18, 23-27…“I am the true vine and the Father is the vinedresser”…“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing”…“By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples”…”No longer do I call you slaves; for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you”…”If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you”…”He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well. But they have done this in order that the word may be fulfilled that is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause’. When the Helper comes whom I will send to you through the Father, that is the spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me, and you will bear witness also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.”
He reminds them that he is going soon and that they will stay behind and carry on his work, and the “Helper” will guide them. They will be outcasts, and eventually killed by those who think they are doing God’s work. The disciples are confused about what he means by “going”, but then he makes it plain to them that he is to die and then live in glory (John 16).
…JOHN 16:2,5,13,17,19,28-30,33…“They will make you outcasts from the synagogue; but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God”…“But now I am going to Him who sent me; and none of you asks Me, “Where are You going”…”But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come”…Some of His disciples therefore said to one another,.”What is this thing He is telling us, ‘A little while, and you will not behold Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘Because I go to the Father’?”…Jesus knew what they wished to question Him, and He said to them, “Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you will not behold Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me’?”…“I came forth from the Father, and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again, and going to the Father.” His disciples said, “Lo, now You are speaking plainly, and are not using a figure of speech. Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God”…”These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
In this chapter, Jesus makes it clear that the Spirit of Truth…the “Holy Ghost”speaks the words that are given Him from God, the Father. The Spirit of Truth is the voice of God…that speaks through your conscience.
His prayer to the Father is one beseeching Him to look after his disciples, after he is gone; and to glorify him (Jesus) together with himself (God) (John 17).
…JOHN 17:1,2,9-11,14,15,20-22,25,26…“These things Jesus spoke; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son may glorify Thee, even as Thou gavest Him authority over all mankind, that to all whom Thou hast given Him, He may give eternal life”…”I ask on their behalf, I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine; and all things that are Mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine; and I have been glorified in them. And I am no more in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to Thee, Holy Father, keep them in Thy name, the name which Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, even as We are”…“I have given them Thy word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask Thee to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one”…“I do not ask in behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me. And the glory which Thou hast given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one”…“O righteous Father, although the world has not known Thee; and these have known that Thou didst send Me; and I have made Thy name known to them, and will make it known; that the love wherewith thou didst love Me may be in them, and I in them.”
He tells the disciples that they will “fall away from him”; and despite protestations to the contrary, Jesus prophesies that Peter will deny him three times, before the dawn (cock’s crow). All gospels are in agreement that Peter will deny him (Matthew 26:31-35; Mark 14:27-31; Luke 22:31-34; John 13:36-38).
…MARK 14:27,29-31…And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, because it is written, ‘I will strike down the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered’…But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away, yet I will not.” And Jesus said to Him, “Truly I say to you, that you yourself this very night, before a cock crows twice, shall three times deny me.” But Peter kept saying insistently, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they were all saying the same thing, too.
(Note: The Church of St.Peter In Gallicantu ( cock crow)
on Mt. Zion (citadel) in Jerusalem is purportedly built on the spot where Peter denied Jesus. In the morning you can hear the resident roosters crow to greet the dawn.)
They come to the garden of Gethsemane (oil press) that night, while it is still early in the third day of the Passover (Matthew 26:36; Mark 14:32; John 18:1).
…MATTHEW 26:36…Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
The garden is somewhere on the forward slope of the Mount of Olives. By its name, it is evidently a garden that contains olive trees and a press for olive oil. In all probability it is the refuge that Jesus uses on the Mount of Olives, beginning on the fourth night before the Passover week. It is the location that Judas would expect to find Jesus, when he brings the priests to take him prisoner (Luke 22:39; John 18:2).
…LUKE 22:39,40…And He came out and proceeded as was His custom to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him.
…JOHN 18:2…Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place; for Jesus had often met there with His disciples.
The site chosen for Gethsemane’s location today, is a well-tended garden, just to the east of the bridge that crosses the Kidron ravine. It is well down the slope of the mount, in an angle made by the road and the rock path going up the hill. John mentions the “Kidron” (John 18:1).
…JOHN 18:1…When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, into which He entered, and His disciples.
In the garden Jesus prays that, if it is the Father’s will, the “cup” be taken away from him…that he not be crucified. He is praying for the strength to undergo what is to come. In Luke we read of his praying so intently that he sweats blood. An angel comforts him. This is evidently early in the morning of the second day of Passover, because, even though he asks his disciples to stay awake, he has to awaken them twice…Matthew says three times (Matthew 26:39-46; Mark 14:35-42; Luke 22:41-46).
…MATTHEW 26:39,40,42-45…And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt.” And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour?”…He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Thy will be done.” And He came back and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. Then He came to the disciples, and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners…”
…LUKE 22:43,44…Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening him. And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.
Jesus knows that it is God’s intention and desire that he be sacrificed for the good of mankind. Yet, he displays his “humanness” in beseeching God to save him from such a horrendous undertaking. Human indeed.
I make a conscious effort to emphasize his “humanness” in my play. I will give you one example, which many have said is the most poignant moment in the play. The crucifixion scene has yet to be played, and emphasis has been made on the fact that my play captures the passion of the crucifixion…it is the highlight of the play. Visualize this…I make what I call a “fake exit” to enhance the suspense, then turn to the audience, sensing what they are thinking and say,
“You are troubled at my going, knowing my journey will end in Jerusalem…Please do not be, it was foreordained…it is not my will, but the will of He who sent me. If it were left to me-—(I scan the audience seeking a woman with child, then deliver direct to her) You must know what this life means to me…How special to hold the child…smell the flowers…climb the hills…be with those you love. Is it any less precious to me? (Sit) but, it is time for the Passover lamb to be sacrificed…Salvation comes when my blood—-(Now I assume a trance-like state, rising and sitting on the back of the chair, and “ascend the cross”).
Judas, together with priests, scribes, elders, slaves, and guards, comes into the garden. Jesus is seized. The disciples prepare to fight for him. Peter cuts off the ear of a slave named Malchus (counselor), and Jesus heals him. He stops them from defending him. He questions the use of force to take him prisoner…but then says it must be done, again so as take him prisoner…but then says it must be done, again so as 49;Luke 22:47-53; John 18:3-12).
…MARK 14:43-49…And immediately while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came up, accompanied by a multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now he who was betraying Him had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I shall kiss, He is the one; seize Him, and lead Him away under guard.” And after coming, he immediately went up to Him, saying, “Rabbi!” and kissed Him. And they laid hands on Him, and seized Him. But a certain one of those who stood by (John says Peter) drew his sword and struck the slave (Malchus) of the high priest, cutting off his ear (Luke says “He (Jesus) touched his ear and healed him”). And Jesus answered said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me, as though I was a robber? Every day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me; but this has happened that the scriptures might be fulfilled.”
In this episode, I find great fascination in two ways. It is obvious by the fact that Judas kissed Jesus, in order to identify him, that Jesus appears no different than any of his disciples. In no way would his outward appearance betray him!
We think of the disciples as mild-mannered men. We forget that they are men used to living out of doors, facing the elements, guarding against predators, animal and human. They are armed with swords, which some of them know how to use. They are prepared to defend their master. Indeed, Peter attacks one of them. As an ex-military man I derive satisfaction in this knowledge. Of course Peter’s aim is not very good, or else the man moved at the last moment.
One of the scriptures referred to above (Isaiah 53:7).