Night Before DAWNÀpẹrẹ
Night 4
Thursday night. What’s most important in it? I can’t seem to choose. When I start thinking about what seems most important in this night, I remember other things that seem just as or more important.
Washing the disciples’ feet! Such an incredible example to everybody there and to me personally, as an example of God serving a man! Just think about it! These words overturn all our understanding of faith, divinity, serving, and leadership.
The intercessory prayer for the disciples of that time and for the future disciples. The Highest Priest stands up for people, realizing their weaknesses, failures, fears, concerns, and lack of confidence.
A cup with wine as a symbol of blood. Is there a sin that the blood could not wash? Is there something God cannot forgive? Or even a better way to say: Is there something of which God cannot forgive ME?
Bread as a symbol of Jesus’ body. As He says: “this is my body, which is for you”. He says that even before He endures strokes of a whip and the cross. He gave His body for me so that I would not be broken but firmly stand in Him!
The prayer in the garden. The uncompromising fight, which He won. It was probably the very moment when the decision of facing death was made, the decision that saves us today: “May Your will be done!”
Jesus’ request to watch with Him. Does Jesus need human support? The support of three sleepy men. I’m not better than them. I often fall asleep when I need to have my eyes wide open to help someone stand in truth.
Judas's betrayal, a servant’s ear, Peter’s sword, soldiers’ torches, the priest’s house, the disciples’ running away, loneliness in the enemy camp. Did I forget anything in this list of important events?
Everything started from the phrase: “I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples”. This phrase greatly impresses me. It shows me the personality of Jesus. He WANTED to have all the following events. He saw them beforehand, but He didn’t avoid them, and He wasn’t forced to do any of it. Jesus knew that no one else but He Himself was going to become the LAMB for the dinner, but He took the initiative and showed His desire to be there.
Where people were running away, He stayed.
When people were sleeping, He stayed awake.
When people were searching for smaller things, He was serving.
When people were thinking that He was taken by force, He was going willingly.
It is the night. The night of willingly made important decisions. Easter is close!
Nípa Ìpèsè yìí
Night is a special time of day. Not it's active part, but the time when we move from all our meetings, conversations, and business – to sleep. There were some special nights in the lives of Jesus' disciples. A few nights before Christ’s Resurrection. Let’s take a look at them.
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