Who would you spend the day with if you know it’s your last day on earth?

 How or What would you do? 

Matthew 26 recorded what JESUS answered, when He was asked where was HE going to celebrate the Passover; nobody but HIM knew that it would be His last. 

“¹⁷ On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?” ¹⁸ “As you go into the city,” he told them, “you will see a certain man. Tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.’” ¹⁹ So the disciples did as Jesus told them and prepared the Passover meal there.”

It doesn’t say HE wanted to spend his last day with His earthly parents and siblings; or in Joseph’s workshop carving a chair or a table that maybe “mom” needed it. It doesn’t say He wanted to go on partying or any other farewell activity. First we’ll see how Matthew recounts it, and then we’ll review what he really saying to us.

Matthew 26: 20-46

²⁰ When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table with the Twelve. ²¹ While they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” ²² Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one, Lord?” ²³ He replied, “One of you who has just eaten from this bowl with me will betray me. ²⁴ For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!” ²⁵ Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, “Rabbi, am I the one?” And Jesus told him, “You have said it.” ²⁶ As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.”²⁷ And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, ²⁸ for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. ²⁹ Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.” ³⁰ Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

³¹ On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ ³² But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.” ³³ Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.” ³⁴ Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” ³⁵ “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.

³⁶ Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” ³⁷ He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. ³⁸ He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” ³⁹ He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” ⁴⁰ Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? ⁴¹ Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

⁴² Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away^[f] unless I drink it, your will be done.” ⁴³ When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. ⁴⁴ So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. ⁴⁵ Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!” 

In other words…

·        JESUS was having a “quiet” evening

·        Having supper with His disciples

·        Teaching them about the future

o   That though GOD will allow HIM to suffer

o   Once He’s betrayed and no longer among them,

o   The sheep He has been feeding will go away

o    HE will raise and will meet all of them in Galilee

·        Detailing how even when they love Him, they will deny and even betray Him

·        Channeling their fears

·        Reassuring about what has been written and was about to happen

·        Creating awareness of disciplinary actions

·        Explaining details of what it was being celebrate

·        Creating memories

·        Giving new meaning to “old” traditions

·        Teaching about communion

·        Singing hymns

·        Demonstrating how weak the flesh is

o   And not even the disciples who walked with Him couldn’t stay awake for long

·        How anguished and stress is dealt with

o   He brought a prayer partner

o   HE remained in prayer despite His anguish  

·        Showing that prayer is the answer

o   And that even when we use a prayer partner their support isn’t guaranteed

o   We MUST stay focus in GOD.

·        It’s ok to repeat yourself in prayer

·        Reminding them to watch out, for HIS words will remain!

My friend, we MUST be recognized that our skin and bones suit is weak, though we might exercise it and take care of it, we CANNOT forget that our inner person must be strengthen too. Our spirit need to be fed, daily, with spiritual food; by praying we tell it all to God, and as we do we calmed down a bit. THEN, we must read His Word, so our spirit would settle down, bringing forth that hope and peace that we can’t get in any department store. The more we use this patter to lead our lives, the more we will be transformed as our mind gets renewed in The Lord.

Try it for yourself, and afterwards, share with us what God has done for you. Your personal testimony, speaks volumes, do not be afraid and share it!

Until next time, God bless you!