The final week of Jesus’ life part 2

1) The God of the Bible is a God of history.
2) God believes that historical information has value and we need to study some history.
a) Wednesday an interesting day in the final week of Jesus’ life.
b) It is interesting because we do not know what Jesus did on this day.
c) For all we know, Jesus could have taken Wednesday as a “day off.”
3) Perhaps Jesus used Wednesday to relax a bit and spend some time in prayer.
4) Jesus may have well needed Wednesday to rest because of what happened on Thursday.
5) It is very possible that the arrival of Thursday Jesus never slept again.

WHEN THURSDAY CAME IT WAS TIME FOR JESUS TO CELEBRATE THE PASSOVER.
a) In Mt. 26:17-19; Mk. 14:12-16; Lk. 22:7-13 Jesus gave His apostles some instructions.
b) He said they should go into the city and they would find a man carrying a pitcher of water.
2) If a man was carrying a pitcher of water, that was a pretty unusual sight.
a) Jesus gave a command and these men obeyed.
b) They also had faith that they would meet this fellow.
c) This is what God requires from people today – heaven instructs and we obey.
3) The man who met the apostles had a room – a room that met the needs of Jesus and the apostles.
a) This room was furnished with all that was needed for the Passover.
b) This fact is also important.
c) When so many people flow into an area, space eventually gets limited.
d) Jesus sent out the apostles to get a room about not long before it was time to east the Passover.
4) The apostles were given a place that was more than adequate for their needs.
5) In fact, Lk. 22:12 says this man gave the apostles a “large” room.
6) There was no miracle involved in the preparation of this room or even in getting the apostles to it.
7) What we find here in this story is an example of God’s providence.
8) God works within the laws of natural to help people and fulfill His will.
a) Thursday evening (which was the beginning of Friday) for the Jews, was Passover time.
b) Jesus created an institution at the Passover meal that we remember today.
c) Unlike the Passover meal that was observed annually, the Lord’s Supper is observed weekly.
d) Jesus does not want that remembered once or twice a year.
e) Neither does He want it remembered once a quarter or once a month.
f) Jesus died so we could have forgiveness of sins – we need to remember that ever week.
g) We do this by observing the Lord’s Supper.
h) Lk. 22:24-30 – READ
9) The apostles had a falling out with one another not long before Jesus died.
10) What we see here in Lk. 22 still happens in congregations today.
a) Jesus also announced His betrayal.
b) Satan had “entered” into Judas.
11) Moving from Thursday to Friday we find Jesus coming to the Garden where He prayed three times.
12) Jesus experienced several trials (which we hope to study next week) and was then crucified.
13) He spent about six hours on the cross.
14) On Sunday the tomb was empty.
15) Jesus was raised from the dead and He now reigns in heaven.

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