Before beginning the Last Supper, Jesus tells His disciples, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Luke 22:15). Following the Passover meal, Jesus will be betrayed, arrested, beaten and crucified, all part of God’s plan to redeem the lost world, saving mankind from spiritual bondage and death. Not only did Jesus serve the disciples the Passover meal, but He ate with them and fervently desired to do so. Jesus, both fully God and fully man, shared the Passover meal with the 12 men that will eventually be the foundation of the church (Ephesians 2:20). This foreshadows Jesus instituting the New Covenant but also shows God’s love for mankind and His deep desire to have a relationship with us.
Despite the number of times Jesus taught about the Kingdom of God, the twelve closest people to Jesus still did not “get it” until the very end. Jesus told them that this would be their last meal together and that He would be betrayed by one of them. Their response? They argued and wanted to know which one of them would be considered the greatest.
Later, the disciples followed Jesus to the Mount of Olives. He told them, “Pray that you may not fall into temptation” (Luke 22:40). Jesus withdrew from them and prayed in the garden, in anguish, sweating like drops of blood falling to the ground, yet His closest friends fell asleep when He needed them most. Jesus prayed for Peter, “that your faith may not fail” (Luke 22:32). Later, Jesus was arrested, and Peter, who claimed he would follow Jesus unto death, denied Him three times.
Far from a harsh rebuke, Jesus showed incredible patience, kindness, and gentle correction for His followers—for they lacked understanding. Lord, help me to be more like you.
Like a lamb to the slaughter, a sinless, innocent Jesus offered Himself up as a living sacrifice. Facing humiliation and an excruciating death beyond what words can describe, He willingly gave himself up and took it all. What a patient, loving Savior we serve.
Prayer Prompts:
- Teach me to become more like Jesus in my daily life
- Open the eyes of my heart to see ways I can be kind, patient, and loving
- Thank God for His infinite patience and love as He guides you