As Palm Sunday, Holy Week and the celebration of Easter approach, walk with me please through the records of those last hours of the earthly life of Jesus Christ. What does God want you to know? What were those last hours like for Jesus Christ?

In this session we examine the Passover preparation recorded by all four gospel writers.

Matthew’s account recorded in chapter 26:

¹ And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,² Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.³ Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,⁴ And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. ⁵ But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.⁶ Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,⁷ There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.⁸ But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?⁹ For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.¹⁰ When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.¹¹ For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.¹² For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.¹³ Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

Mark’s account recorded in chapter 14:

¹ After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.² But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.³ And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.⁴ And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?⁵ For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.⁶ And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.⁷ For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.⁸ She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.⁹ Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.¹² And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?¹³ And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.¹⁴ And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guest chamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?¹⁵ And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.¹⁶ And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover

Luke’s account recorded in chapter 22:1-2

¹ Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.² And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.⁷ Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.⁸ And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.⁹ And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?¹⁰ And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.¹¹ And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guest chamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?¹² And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.¹³ And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

John’s account recorded in chapter 13:

¹ Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

Questions for Reflection

1) What is the significance of Jesus Christ knowing of the details of His betrayal in advance?

2) Why did the chief priests and scribes want to kill Jesus Christ?

3) Why did the chief priests and scribes believe the people would be in uproar?

4) What is the significance of the woman anointing Jesus Christ?

5) Why did the disciples obey Jesus Christ?

6) Why did the owner of the upper room obey Jesus Christ?

7) How well do you obey Jesus Christ?

8) What do these records mean to you?

9) What does it mean to you that Jesus Christ never stops loving His own?

Our Focus -Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Our Challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti