There is an overlap between Wednesday and Thursday in Holy Week in this post, but as there is much material to be covered on Thursday, I have decided to add some of that material here...up to the departure of Judas from the Upper Room.
Unknown to the disciples, dark clouds were gathering and soon a storm would be unleashed on them such as they had never known, the origin of which was not of the earth…and yet, as they would learn later, Jesus was in complete control. No one did anything to him that he did not allow. His hour had come, and he followed through in obedience to his Father’s will.[1]
The leading priests and elders met in secret at the palace of the Roman appointed High Priest, a man by the name of Caiaphas. There they plotted together as to how they might capture Jesus secretly and dispose of him permanently. The only thing stopping them from hatching this diabolical plot was the Passover itself…they knew the crowds favoured Jesus and they did not wish to risk a riot. So, they planned and waited for an opportune moment. The forces of darkness would soon grant them their desires.
While the disciples were sleeping, one of their own, Judas Iscariot snuck out and went to the leading priests and the captains of the Temple guard. He agreed to deliver Jesus to them for a price. From that time one, Judas was seeking to betray him…to betray them all…but in the end, the only one betrayed was himself.
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Jesus taught in the Temple the whole of the next day. The crowds gathered early in the morning, eager to hear what he had to say. Strangely, there were no more confrontations with any other leaders. It seemed as if the lines had been drawn and Jesus and his followers were on one side, while the leaders and their followers were on the other. Part of this division was more than likely due to geographical location…Galilee versus Judea. That evening they, together with the other pilgrims from out of town, repaired to the Mount of Olives and slept under the clear, ink blue, star studded sky. All was peaceful and calm, and Simon drifted to sleep easily. Although he still struggled with much of what Jesus had been saying since they arrived in Jerusalem this time, he had decided to trust him…who was he, a mere fisherman, to question the Messiah. Even the learned men did not seem to understand.
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Because of the manner in which the Pharisees and the people from Galilee reckoned days from sunrise to sunrise while the Sadducees and the people from Judea reckoned days as beginning at sunset and ending on sunset,[2] Jesus and his disciples celebrated the feast a day earlier than those holding to the Judean calendar. This suited the priests as it made it easier for them to sacrifice the thousands of lambs needed for so large a crowd.
On the 14th of Nisan, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, according to the Galilean reckoning, Jesus sent Simon and John to prepare the Passover for them.
“Where do you want us to prepare it?” they asked.
“As you enter the city, you will see a man carrying a water jug…”
“A man?” Simon asked. No self-respecting man would be seen in public carrying a water jug.
“Yes, Simon, a man carrying a water jug. Follow him. Speak to the owner of the house where he enters and ask him where the guest room is set aside for the Teacher and his disciples to eat the Passover. He will take you upstairs to a large room already furnished and ready, and there you will prepare the meal.”
Peter and John went and found all just as Jesus had said. They had their Passover lamb slaughtered as was the custom and began to prepare the meal.
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That evening, Jesus and his disciples left the Mount of Olives and descended into the Kidron Valley on their way to the city. As they came to the steps leading to the gate, people were bathing themselves in the ritual baths as had become customary.[3] Descending into the waters in preparation for the most holy celebration was an act of contrition…a symbol of cleansing…confessing personal and national sins…repenting and resolving to keep God’s Holy Law…and then ascending into newness of life…ready to meet with God on the Holy Mountain in a spiritual sense.
Jesus and his disciples did the same. How often had they not engaged in this ritual without much thought as to what they were doing? This time, however, was different for Simon. Their long-awaited king was about to fulfil his dreams…not only his but also the dreams of their nation! His self-awareness was acute…sharp…focussed. As he walked up out of the ritual bath, he thought he was ready for anything.
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On the way to the upper room, the disciples began to jostle for position around the table. There were two places, one of either side of the host, which were considered the places of honour…who would sit on Jesus’ right and on his left? Looking back, Simon felt ashamed of this…unknown to them at the time, this night was the darkest hour of Jesus’ life…and they had been squabbling about who was to be considered the greatest.
As it turned out, all their arguments were to no avail. Jesus indicated he wanted John to sit on his right and Judas to sit on his left.[4]
“Judas!” Simon thought. “He was not even part of the inner three.” But having thought that, he immediately remembered Jesus instructing people to take up the lowest position rather than the higher one for fear of being shamed when moved. He quickly repaired to the lowest space, usually reserved for the one who served.[5] But he neglected to do the duty of foot washer…in fact, all of the disciples conveniently forgot about this demeaning chore.
After they all reclined, as was customary since the end of the Babylonian Captivity,[6] Jesus said, “I have been wanting to eat this Passover with you prior to my suffering. Hear what I say now: I will not eat it again until the significance of this meal is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
Simon looked over at Andrew, but it seemed clear that his brother had no idea what Jesus was referring to either.
As the meal was being served, Jesus suddenly rose, took off his outer garment and clothed himself with a towel. He poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of his disciples, drying them with the towel around his waist. There was an awkward silence as he made his way around the table.
Simon could feel his face burning as if hot coals had been cast on his head. When Jesus came to wash his feet, Simon could no longer constrain himself. “Lord are you really going to wash my feet?” he protested.
Without looking up Jesus simply stated, “I know there is much you do not understand Simon, but later it will come to you.”
“No, Lord! I simply cannot allow you to wash my feet.” Simon felt so ashamed. Why had he not done this loathsome task when he had to opportunity?
Jesus looked up into his disciple’s eyes. “Simon…unless I wash you, you can have no part of me.”
“Well, if that is the case…then do not just wash my feet…wash every part of me.”
Jesus smiled. “Simon you have already washed your body, remember?” “All that remains is that your feet be washed then your whole body will be clean. And,” he added looking up the group gathered together, “you are clean, though not every one of you.”
“Had someone forgotten to go through the ritual bath?” Simon wondered as Jesus dried his feet. “Who could have been so negligent?”
When Jesus had finished washing their feet, he put on his outer garment once more and returned to his place at the table. He looked at each of them, one at a time.
“Do you understand what it is that I have just demonstrated?” No one wanted to admit that they did not, so they all kept silent. So, Jesus continued, “You call me ‘Teacher’…you call me ‘Lord…and you are correct. That is who I am. I want to spend a moment contemplating this. If I, your teacher and yoru lord…if I have stooped to fulfil the menial task of washing your feet, you too must do the same to one another. I have given you an example to emulate. No servant is greater than his master, right?”
All the disciples nodded in unison, although they were still trying to understand what Jesus was trying to get across to them. Did he mean they should literally wash each other’s feet or was this act some sort of acted out metaphor?
“No messenger is greater than the one who sent him…you will be blessed if you do the things that I have shown you.”
“Jesus must have heard us disputing along the way as to who would be the greatest among us,” Simon thought. “That is why he is talking about us serving each other.”
“The pagan kings…they lord it over their subjects…they desire to be seen as benefactors. But it must not be so among you!” Jesus urged them emphatically. “The greatest among you must be the servant of all…the one who rules must be as the one who serves. Who is greater…the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? The one who reclines at the table, right? But I am here among you as one who serves.”
Simon thought he was beginning to understand. As always, Jesus had turned the cultural norms upside down…or perhaps it was right side up. But he still wasn’t clear as to the practical application of it all.
“You have all stood with me through thick and thin. When others left, you remained. Now I confer upon you a kingdom…as my Father conferred the kingdom on me. Because it is my desire that you all eat at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Simon glanced over at his brother. They smiled at each other. This was more like it…this was kingdom talk. But then his gaze met with that of Jesus. Was that sadness?
“I am, of course, not referring to all of you. I know those who are mine…the ones I have chosen. But that the Scriptures might be fulfilled, ‘my ally in whom I trusted, even he who shares my bread, has been utterly false to me’…I am telling you now, before it all happens so that when it all unfolds, you will believe me. Whoever accepts anyone I send, accepts me, and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”
A dark cloud came across Jesus’ face. Something was clearly troubling him. Then he said, “One of you…one of the twelve is to betray me.”
Simon nearly choked on a piece of unleavened bread. All the disciples were looking at each other. Who could it be? Simon motioned to John to ask Jesus which one he meant. John leaned back against Jesus and said quietly, “Lord, who is it?”
“It is the one to whom I give the bread I am now dipping in this dish.” Jesus dipped the bread, gave it to Judas Iscariot and said, “What you are about to do, do it quickly.”
“What is he going to do?” Simon wondered. “Was there something we forgot to buy? Where would Judas find anything to buy at this late hour? Perhaps Jesus means for him to give alms for the poor.”
When Judas had taken the bread, he left the room and stepped out into the darkness of the night.
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