The Last Supper Service

 

Songs of Praise

Opening Prayer

 

The Last Supper is held in memory of Jeshua’s last night before his Impalement.

Jeshua teaches us that He is our Bread of Life and our Cleansing Blood.

This Supper sets the scene for the coming Sacrifice of our Messiah, and thus leads us into the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread.  It is unique in that it was instituted by Jeshua specifically for us, his disciples.

 

Mark’s account begins with Jeshua asking His disciples to prepare a place for them to keep the Passover:  (Mark 14:12-16)

 

And it is the first day of Unleavened Bread when the Judeans sacrifice the Passover.  His disciples said to Him, “Where do You desire for us to go to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

So He sent two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and behold, you will meet up with a man carrying a vessel of water; go follow him.  And where he goes in, say to the lord of the house, ‘Our Master says, “Where is the guest house where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’  And behold: he will show you a large upper room that is furnished and prepared; make that place ready for us.”

And His disciples went out, and came to the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared for the Passover.

 

That evening, they return to the place they have prepared, and have a remarkable evening meal there:  (Mark 14:17-26)

 

And as it became evening, He came with His twelve.  Now as they reclined and ate, Jeshua said, “Truly, I say to you that one of you who eats with Me will betray Me.”

And they began to be grieved, and were saying to Him, one at a time, “Is it I?”

Then He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, who dips with Me in the dish.  And the Son of Mankind will go as it is written about Him, but woe to that person by whose hand the Son of Mankind is betrayed!  It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

And while they were eating, Jeshua took bread, and blessed it and broke it, and gave it to them and said to them, “Take it; this is My body.”  Then He took a cup, and gave thanks and blessed it and gave it to them, and they drank from it, all of them.  And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, that is shed for the sake of many.  Truly, I say to you, I will not drink from the product of the vine again until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.”

And they sang praises and they went out to the Mount of Olives.

 

John’s account adds further details about that evening:  (John 13:1-17)

 

But before the Feast of the Passover, Jeshua knew that the time had come that He would depart from this world to His Father, and He loved His own who were in this world, and He loved them to the end.  And during supper, He cast Satan into the heart of Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, so that he would betray Him.

Then Jeshua, because He knew that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and He was going to God, He rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded His loins.  And He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel which girded His loins.

But when He came to Simon Peter, Simon said to Him, “My Lord, are You washing my feet for me?”

Jeshua answered and said to him, “This thing I am doing you do not understand now, but afterwards you will know.”

Simon Peter said to Him, “You will never wash my feet for me!”

Jeshua said to him, “Unless I wash you, you have no portion with Me.”

Simon Peter said to Him, “In that case, my Lord, not only wash my feet for me, but also my hands and even my head!”

Jeshua said to him, “But he who has been immersed1 only needs to wash his feet and then all of him is clean; and all of you are clean, but not all of you.”  For Jeshua knew he who would betray Him; because of this He said that not all of you are clean.

And when He had washed their feet, He took His garments, reclined and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you?  You call me ‘our Master’ and ‘our Lord’, and you speak well, for so I am.  Therefore if I, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet for you, how much more should you wash one another’s feet?  For I have given you this example, that as I have done to you, you should also do.

“Truly, truly I say to you; there is no servant who is greater than his lord; nor a envoy2 who is greater than he who sent him.  If you know these things, happy are you if you do them.  John 13:1-17

 

Now let us do what Jeshua commands us to do.

 

[Footwashing Ceremony, as commanded by Jeshua.where we each wash another’s feet.]

 

Now we will read Matthew’s account of this evening:  (Matthew 26:17-28)

 

Near the first day of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jeshua and said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare the Passover for You that You may eat?”

And He said to them, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘Our Rabbi says, “My time has come; I will perform the Passover with My disciples, in your presence.”’”

So His disciples did just as Jeshua had directed them; and they prepared for the Passover.  And when it was evening, He reclined with His twelve disciples.

And while they were eating, He said, “Truly, I say to you, one from among you will betray Me.”

And it grieved them greatly, and each one of them began to say to Him, “My Lord, is it I?”

Then He answered and said, “Whoever dips his hand with Me in the dish, he will betray Me.3  And the Son of Mankind goes just as it is written about Him, but woe to that person by whose hand the Son of Mankind is betrayed!  It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

Judas, the traitor, answered, and he said, “Rabbi, is it I?”

Jeshua said to him, “You have said it.”

And as they were eating, Jeshua took bread, and blessed and broke it, and He gave it to His disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”  And He took a cup, and He gave thanks, and He gave it to them, and He said, “Take, drink from it, all of you.  This is My blood of the New Covenant, which is shed in exchange for the many for their release from sins.  Matthew 26:17-28

 

So Mark and Matthew both record Jeshua offering them, spiritually, His body and blood.  Paul comments on the customs they kept for this ceremony of the Eucharist, which means Thanksgiving:  (1 Corinthians 11:19-34)

 

For there will also be contentions among you, that those who are approved among you may be known.  Therefore when you assemble, you do not eat and drink according to what is appropriate for the Day of our Lord.  But one eats his own supper by himself in front of a hungry one and another one is drunk.  What!  Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink?  Or do you despise the congregation of God and you shame those who have nothing for themselves?  What will I say to you?  Will I praise you in this?  I do not praise.

For I received from our Lord that which I also handed down to you: that our Lord Jeshua on the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and He blessed and broke it and He said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for yourselves; you will do this for my memorial.”  Likewise, after they had eaten, He also gave them the cup, and He said, “This cup is the New Covenant in my blood.  Every time that you drink this cup, you will do it for my memorial.”

For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, it is our Lord’s death you commemorate, until His Coming.  Therefore whoever eats this bread of Lord Jah and drinks from His cup and is unworthy of it will be guilty of the blood of Lord Jah, and of His body.  Because of this, let a person search their soul, and then let them eat of this bread and drink of this cup.  For whoever eats and drinks while unworthy eats and drinks condemnation to his soul for not discerning the body of Lord Jah.  Because of this many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.  But when we are judged to be chastened by our Lord, we are chastened lest we are condemned with the world.

From now on, my brethren, when you assemble to eat, you will wait for one another.  But whoever is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you assemble for condemnation.  But the rest I will instruct you on when I come.  1 Corinthians 11:19-34

 

Let us meditate upon these things, our thankfulness for what Jeshua has done for us, and our readiness for taking the Bread and the Wine.

 

[Quiet time for personal reflection and prayer.]

 

[Taking Bread and then Wine using Matthew 26:26 to 28using unleavened bread and red wine (or red grape juice).]

 

And as they were eating, Jeshua took bread, and blessed and broke it, and He gave it to His disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”  Matthew 26:26

 

[Rise up and offer the unleavened bread to Jehovah and give thanks for it, using Jeshua’s words.  Then break the unleavened bread into pieces and pass them around.  Wait for everyone to get their bread and eat it.]

 

And He took a cup, and He gave thanks, and He gave it to them, and He said, “Take, drink from it, all of you.  This is My blood of the New Covenant, which is shed in exchange for the many for their release from sins.  Matthew 26:27-28

 

[Rise up and offer the wine to Jehovah and give thanks for it, using Jeshua’s words.  Then pour the wine into glasses and pass them around.  Wait for everyone to get their wine and drink it.  Then thank Jeshua for offering us His body and blood for our healing, cleansing and salvation.]

 

Jeshua continues to teach them after Supper:  (John 13:18 to 18:1)

 

“I do not speak concerning all of you for I know those whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’4  I am telling you this hour, before it happens, that when it does happen and has occurred, you will believe that I AM! I am.  Truly, truly I say to you; whoever receives him who I send receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”  Jeshua said these things and He groaned in His spirit, and testified and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.”

Then the disciples stared at each other because they did not know whom He spoke about.  Now there was one of His disciples reclining on Jeshua’s chest, him who Jeshua loved.  Simon Peter therefore motioned to this one to ask Him who it was He spoke about.

And that disciple fell onto Jeshua’s breast and said to Him, “My Lord, who is that person?”

Jeshua answered and said, “He is the one for whom I will dip and give a piece of bread to him.”  And Jeshua dipped the bread and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.  And after the piece of bread, Satan entered into him.  Then Jeshua said to him, “That which you do, do quickly.”

But none of those reclining there understood concerning what He said to him.  For some thought, because Judas carried the purse, that Jeshua had commanded him to buy what was needed for the feast or that he should give something to the poor.  Judas, having now taken the piece of bread, went at once.  And when he departed it was night outside.

And Jeshua said, “Now the Son of Mankind is glorified, and God is glorified in Him.  And if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately.  My children, I am with you a little while longer.  And you will seek Me; and as I said to the Judeans, ‘Where I am going, you are unable to come,’ and even now I say this to you.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you are to love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if among you, you have love for one another.”

Simon Peter said to Him, “Our Lord, where are You going?”  Jeshua answered and said to him, “Where I am going you cannot come now, but you will come after Me at the end.”

Simon Peter said to Him, “My Lord, why can I not come after You now?  I will lay down my soul for Your sake.”

Jeshua said to him, “Will you lay down your soul for Me?  Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow until you have denied Me three times.  Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, and believe in Me.  There are many rooms in My Father’s house.  If it were not so, I would have told you, for I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you with Me; that where I am, you may be also.  And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

Thomas said to Him, “Our Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how are we able to know the way?”

Jeshua said to him, “I AM! I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life.  No one comes to My Father except through Me.  If only you had known Me, you would also have known My Father; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”

Philip said to Him, “Our Lord, show us the Father, and that will satisfy us.”

Jeshua said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, and you do not know Me, Philip?  Whoever sees Me sees the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father.’?  Do you not believe that I am in My Father, and My Father is in Me?  These words that I speak I do not speak from Myself; but My Father who dwells in Me, He does these works.  Believe that I am in My Father and My Father is in Me; and if not, believe because of the works.

“Truly, truly I say to you that whoever believes in Me, these works that I do, he will do also; and more than these he will do, because I go to the Father.  And whatever you ask in My Name, I will do for you, that the Father may be glorified by His Son.  And if you ask of me in My Name, I will do it.

“If you love Me, keep My commandments, and I will ask My Father, and He will give you another Redeemer,5 who will be with you forever.  He is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it has not seen Him nor does it know Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and He will be in you.  I will not leave you as orphans; for I will come to you in a little while.  And the world will not see Me, but you will see Me.  Because I live, you will live also.  In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you.

“He who has My commandments with him and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.  And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.”

Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “My Lord, why is it that You will reveal Yourself to us, and not to the world?”

Jeshua answered and said to him, “He who loves Me keeps My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling with him.  But he who does not love Me will not keep My words; and this word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.  These things I have spoken to you while I am with you.  But the Redeemer, the Holy Spirit, that one whom My Father will send in My Name, He will teach you everything, and He will remind you of everything that I said to you.

“Peace I leave with you, My own peace I give to you; it is not as the world gives that I give to you.  Do not let your heart be troubled, and do not fear.  You have heard and I have told you that I am going away and I will come to you.  If you love Me, you will rejoice that I am going to My Father, for My Father is greater than I.  And now, behold, I have told you before it happens, that when it does happen, you may believe.

“I will not talk much with you after this, for the prince of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.  But that the world may know that I love My Father, so I do just as My Father has taught Me.  Arise, let us depart from here.

“I AM! I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine dresser.  Every branch in Me that does not yield fruit He takes away; and every branch that yields fruit He prunes, that it will bring forth much fruit.  Now you are purged because of the word which I have spoken to you.

“Remain in Me, and I in you.  Just as the branch cannot yield fruit from itself, unless it remains in the vine, neither can you, unless you remain in Me.  I AM! I am the vine and you are the branches.  Whoever remains in Me, and I in him, this one brings forth much fruit; because without Me you are not able to do anything.  For unless a person remains in Me, he is cast out like a withered branch; and they gather and throw them into the fire to burn.  But if you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, you may ask whatever you desire; it will be done for you.  In this My Father is glorified, that you yield much fruit; and you will be My disciples.

“Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; remain in My love.  If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.  These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be perfect.

“This is My commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you.  There is no greater love than this, that a person will lay down his soul for the sake of his friends.  You are My friends if you will do everything that I command you.  After this, I do not call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master does; but I have called you My friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have taught to you.

“You have not chosen Me, but I chose you and I have appointed you that you should also go and yield fruit, and your fruit will remain, so all that you ask My Father in My Name He will give to you.

“These things I command you, that you will love one another.  And if the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you.  And if you were from the world, the world would have loved its own.  But you are not from the world, for I have chosen you from the world.  Because of this, the world hates you.  Remember the word that I have spoken to you, that there is not a servant who is greater than his master.  If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.  And if they have kept My word, they will keep yours also.  But all these things they will do among you because of My Name, because they do not know Him who sent Me.

“If I had not come and spoken with them, they would not have their sin, but now they have no sacrifice for their sin.  Whoever hates Me hates My Father also.  And if I had not done the works in their sight which no one else has done, they would not have their sin; that the word would be fulfilled which is written in their Instruction, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’6  But now they have seen and also hated Me and even My Father.

“But when the Redeemer of the accursed comes, whom I will send to you from the presence of My Father, He is the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the presence of My Father, He will testify about Me.  And you also will testify, who have been with Me from the beginning.

“These things I have spoken to you, that you may not stumble.  For they will drive you out of their assemblies; and the time is coming that all who kill you will think that they offer an offering to God.  And these things they will do because they do not know either My Father nor Me.

“These things I have told you, that when their time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.  And these things I did not say to you earlier, for I was with you.  But now I go to Him who sent Me, and not a man among you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’  Because I have said these things to you, sorrow has come and has filled your hearts.  But I speak the truth to you, that it is better for you that I go; for if I do not go, the Redeemer will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.

“And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin, and concerning righteousness, and concerning judgement: Concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to My Father and you will not see Me again; and concerning judgement, because the ruler of this world is judged.

“I still have much to say to you, but you are not able to grasp it now.  However, when He, the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak from himself, but everything that He hears He will speak; and He will make known to you things to come.  And He will glorify Me, for He will take what is Mine and show it to you.  Everything that My Father has is Mine.  Because of this I said to you that He will take of Mine and show it to you.

“A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.”

Then His disciples were saying one to another, “What is this that He says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’ and that ‘I go to My Father’?”  And they were saying, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’?  We do not understand what He says.”

Now Jeshua knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? Truly, truly I say to you; you will weep and mourn, and the world will rejoice; and there will be sorrow for you, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.  When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow in her because the day of her delivery has come; but when she has given birth to a son, she no longer remembers her distress, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.  Therefore you also have sorrow now; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.  And in that day you will not ask Me anything.

Truly, truly I say to you; everything that you ask My Father in My Name He will give to you.  Until this hour you have not asked anything in My Name.  Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be complete.

“These things I have spoken to you in parables; but the hour is coming when I will not speak to you in parables, but I will tell you openly about the Father.  In that day you will ask in My Name, and I do not say to you that I will ask from the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I have come from being with the Father.  I came from being with the Father and have come into the world.  Again, I leave the world and I am going to be with the Father Myself.”

His disciples said to Him, “Behold, now You are speaking plainly, and You are not speaking one parable!  Now we know that You know everything, and do not need anyone to question You in this.  We believe that You have come from God.”

Jeshua said to them, “Do you believe?  Behold, the hour comes, and now it has come, when you will be scattered, each man to his place, and you will leave Me alone.  But I will not be alone, because the Father is with Me.  These things I have spoken to you, that in Me there will be peace for you.  In the world there will be suffering for you; but take heart, I have overcome the world.”

Jeshua spoke these things, lifted His eyes to heaven, and said: “My Father, the hour has come.  Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, because You have given absolutely everything to Him.  He will give everlasting life to them.

“And these things are everlasting life, that they will know You, because You alone are the God of Truth, and He whom You have sent; Jeshua the Messiah.  I have glorified You on the earth.  I have finished the work that You have given to Me to do.  Now, My Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with that glory which I had together with You before there was a universe.  I have revealed Your Name to the children of men whom You have given to Me from the world.  They were Yours, and You have given them to Me, and they have kept Your Word.

“Now I know that everything which You have given to Me is from Your Presence.  For the words that You gave to Me I have given to them; and they have received them, and they have truly known that I came forth from being with You.  I pray for them.  I was not praying for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours and they have believed that You sent Me.  And all that is Mine is Yours, and Yours is Mine, and I am glorified in them.

“From now on, I will not stay in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to join You.  Holy Father, keep them in Your Name, which You have given to Me, that they will be one like We are.  When I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your Name.  Those who You gave Me I have kept; and not a man among them has been destroyed except the son of destruction, that the Scripture would be fulfilled.7  But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that My joy will be complete in them.
“I have given Your Word to them; and the world has hated them because they were not of the world, just as I am not of the world.  I do not pray that You would take them out of the world, but that You will protect them from the evil.8  For they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

“Father, sanctify them in Your Truth, for Your Word is the Truth.  Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.  And for their sake I sanctify Myself, that they also will become sanctified in the Truth.  Nor do I pray for the sake of these only, but also for the sake of those who will trust in Me through their word; that they will all be one, just as You, My Father, are in Me, and I am in You; so that they also will be one in Us.

“And the glory which You gave Me, I have given to them, so that they will be one as We are one, so that the world will believe that You sent Me.  I in them, and You in Me; that they will be perfected as one, and that the world will know that You sent Me, and that You have loved them just as You have also loved Me.

“Father, these who You gave Me; I want it to be that where I am, they will also be there with Me, that they will see My glory which You have given Me because You loved Me before the creating of the world.  My Righteous Father!  Though the world has not known You, I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.  And I have made Your Name known to them, and I am proclaiming it,9 that the love with which You loved Me will be in them, and I will be in them.”

Jeshua said these things, and went out with His disciples to a crossing over the Kidron Brook, to the place where there was a garden, and He and His disciples entered.  John 13:18 to 18:1

 

They go to the garden of Gethsemene:  (Matthew 26:29-55)

 

“And I say to you, I will not drink of this product of the vine from this hour until that day when I will drink it with you anew in the Kingdom of My Father.”  And they sang praises and went out to the Mount of Olives.

Then Jeshua said to them, “All of you will be offended at Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of His flock will be scattered.’10  But after I have risen, I will go before you to Galilee.”

Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if everyone is offended by You, I will never be offended by You.”

Jeshua said to him, “Truly, I say to you that in this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

Peter said to Him, “Even if it’s required for me to die with You, I will not deny You!”  And all the disciples also said so.

Then Jeshua came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray.”  And He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and discouraged.  Then He said to them, “There is sadness in My soul, even onto death.  Remain here with Me and watch with Me.”

And He went a little way and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me.  However, not as I will, but as You will.”  Then He came to His disciples and found that they were sleeping, and said to Peter, “So you were not able to watch with Me one hour?  Take heed and pray, lest you enter into temptation.  The spirit is ready, but the body is weak.”

He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”  And He came and found them while they were sleeping again, for their eyes were heavy.  So He left them, went away again, and prayed for the third time, and He said the same words.

Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Therefore sleep now and get your rest.  Behold, the hour has arrived, and the Son of Mankind will be delivered into the hands of sinners.  Rise, let us be going.  Behold, he who has betrayed Me has arrived.”  And while He was speaking, behold, Judas the traitor, one of the twelve, arrived with a great crowd with him, with swords and clubs, coming from the chief priests and elders of the people.

Judas the traitor had given them a sign, saying, “Him who I kiss is He; seize Him.”  And immediately he came up to Jeshua and said, “Peace, Rabbi!” and he kissed Him.

And Jeshua said to him, “My friend, you have come here for this?”  Then they came near and laid their hands on Jeshua and seized Him.  And behold, one of those who were with Jeshua stretched out his hand and drew the sword, and attacked a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

Then Jeshua said to him, “Return the sword to its place, for all those who take up swords will perish by swords.  Or do you think that I can’t ask My Father, and He will immediately raise up more than twelve legions of envoys for Me?  How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that say it must happen thus?”

In that hour Jeshua said to the crowds, “Have you come out, as against a bandit, with swords and clubs to arrest Me?  Every day I sat among you in the temple, teaching, and you did not arrest Me.  But this happened so the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.”  Then all the disciples left Him and fled.  Matthew 26:29-55

 

And now Jeshua is in the hands of the priests:  (Matthew 26:57 to 27:5)

 

And those who had seized Jeshua led Him to Caiapha the high priest, where the scribes and elders were assembling.  But Simon Peter followed after Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard.  And he went inside and sat among the guards so he could see the end.

Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council were seeking witnesses against Jeshua so they could kill Him, but they did not find any, even though many false witnesses came.  But at last two came and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to tear down the Booth of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing to this matter that these men testify against you?”  But Jeshua was silent.  And the high priest replied, saying to Him, “I charge you by the Living God that you tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

Jeshua said to him, “You have said it.  But I say to you, that later on you will see the Son of Mankind sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “Behold, he blasphemes!  Therefore, why do we need witnesses?  Behold, now you have heard his blasphemy!  “What do you want to do?”  They answered and said, “He is deserving of death.”  Then they spat in His face and they struck Him on His head; and others were beating him, and they said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah!  Who is the one who beat you?”

Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard.  And a certain maid came close to him, and said to him, “You were also with Jeshua the Nazarene.”

But he denied it before all of them, and said, “I do not know what you are saying.”

And when he had gone out to the porch, another maid saw him and said to those there, “This man was also with Jeshua the Nazarene.”

And again he denied it with oaths; “I do not know the Man!”

And after a little while, those who stood by came near to him and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, because your speech makes you known.”

Then he began to curse and say, “I do not know the Man!”  And in that hour the rooster crowed.  And Peter remembered the word which Jeshua had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”  Then he went out and wept bitterly.

When it was morning, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jeshua, that they would put Him to death.  And they bound Him, took Him and delivered Him to Pilate the governor.

Then Judas, the traitor, when he saw that Jeshua had been condemned, he repented and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders.  And he said, “I have sinned, for I have betrayed innocent blood.”

But they said to him, “What is that to us?  That is your problem!”

Then he threw the silver into the Booth and departed, and went and hung himself.  Matthew 26:57 to 27:5

 

As this night moves into day, Jeshua will be tortured, condemned and killed.  The Passover day is not a designated Holy Sabbath, and work is allowed on it, especially work to prepare for the First Day of Unleavened Bread.  But during this day we should frequently pause and remember what He was going through to redeem us from our sins, and the death penalty we deserved, as the day progresses.  Some of us choose to fast on this tragic, but necessary, day.

 

 

We will continue examining these events together at the Night of Solemn Observance tomorrow evening. . .

 

 

Closing Prayer

 

 

 

Prepared by the Central Highlands Congregation of God

https://chcpublications.net/

Revised 10 April, 2023

 

Permission is given to copy and distribute this service provided it is copied entirely and distributed without charge.

 

Scripture quotes are from the CHCoG translation, based on the Aramaic Peshitta New Covenant.

 

 

Endnotes

 

1 Literally “to swim”.

2 In Hebrew and Aramaic this is מַלְאַךְ mal’ak, meaning envoy or representative, but is often mistranslated as angel from the Greek aggelos.

3 Psa 41:9

4 Psa 41:9. Means to become an enemy - PY

5 As in the Peshitta, which is literally ‘one who saves from the curse’.  The Greek misinterprets the Aramaic and renders this as helper.  God’s Holy Spirit does help redeem us from our sinful nature.

6 Psalm 69:4 and 35:19

7 Dan 7:13-14, Psa 41:9

8 This verse does not support the pre-Tribulation‘rapture’.

9 And the Name that Jeshua was proclaiming is Jehovah: see Mat 4:7-10, Mark 12:29-30, Luke 4:18-19, 13:35, 20:42 and John 6:45, etc. By doing this, He was breaking the Roman command to not use Jehovah’s Name.

10 Zec 13:7