Before the Cross: Events of the Holy WeekSample

Events of the Holy Week: Thursday

The Lord’s Supper serves as a reminder, a symbol, and a proclamation. Today, as we take the bread and the cup, it is a remembrance of what Christ has done on our behalf. The bread and cup does not actually turn into Jesus’ body and blood, but rather is a symbolic reminder for us today and should only be practiced by believers of Christ.

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” – Matthew 26:36-46

Jesus experiences a time of overwhelming sorrow and distress as He faces the cross, and He expresses this in three agonizing prayers. What’s amazing about this is how He says “if this cannot pass unless I drink it, you will be done.” Jesus understood it was the will of the Father for Him to drink the cup, meaning pay the penalty for our sins through the Cross. Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!