Journey To The ResurrectionSample

Deception is apparently part of the human condition. We have a remarkable ability to mislead each other as a means to our ends. The serpent in the Garden was the first to deceive; we have learned his techniques well.

Consider the deceptions our Lord would face on this day in Holy Week. 

"Maundy Thursday" comes from the Latin word for "mandated." On this night of Holy Week, Jesus washed His disciples' feet and called them to love each other in humble service (John 13:31–35). So that we would remember His love for us, He then initiated the Lord's Supper. 

After Judas slipped away to bring the authorities, Jesus encouraged His disciples (John 14–16) and prayed for their faith (John 17). Then He retreated to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray for Himself and wait for the soldiers to arrest Him.

After His arrest, our Lord was made to stand trial three times before the Jewish authorities, then three times before the Romans. His trials were conducted illegally in at least five ways: 

1. Jesus was arrested without a formal charge. 
2. He was given no opportunity to prepare a defense. 
3. The proceedings began with a private trial by Annas, not the public trial required by law. 
4. The Sanhedrin was not permitted to initiate charges, only consider them.
5. The proceedings were conducted at night (Mishna Sanhedrin4:1).
6. And witnesses could not be solicited once a trial had begun.

The list continues: witnesses could not be paid for their testimony; the Sanhedrin discovered that their witnesses were false but did not punish them; Jesus was put under oath to condemn Himself; the witness was convicted only on the basis of His personal testimony; no discussion of the blasphemy charge was permitted; the Sanhedrin had no authority to pronounce the sentence of death; and they changed the charge from blasphemy to insurrection once they stood before Pilate.

All this awaited Jesus when He chose this night in Gethsemane to bear your sins and die on your cross. 

Whatever is going on in your life today, know that you are loved by the God who made you. Jesus thinks your eternal life is worth His illegal death.