Having finished what he wanted to say, concluding with what he knew would be his final prayer with his disciples before his own death, Jesus looked around at the eleven men still around the Passover table with him. He felt an overpowering fatigue and would have liked nothing better than to find somewhere to lay his head and just sleep. The events of the last week had taken him to new highs, but there were also lows. But he knew he had to press on. However, at this moment he was more concerned for his friends - he had just told them he no longer called them servants, which a Rabbi was entitled to do, but friends.
He had tried to tell them, give them some idea of what lay ahead. But they just did not seem to be getting it. He had not wanted to spell it out so graphically that he would scare them all off. Then what would have to show for his three years with them, his three years of toiling at his mission?
Now, he knew the end - or was it the beginning - of something new, something even greater than what had been happening these last three years - was only hours away. He had already dispatched Judas, setting him free to do what Jesus knew was inches heart. Jesus’ heart ached for Judas. He had been a loyal supporter these last years. Why, at this time, had he chosen to betray Jesus? Some things Jesus could not explain now, but he trusted his Father was still in control and things were unfolding according to his grand plan, a plan set in place before the beginning of time.
Jesus felt John at his left, with his brother James next to him. Simon Peter sat at his right. Oh Peter, he thought, you too are going to disappoint me, but perhaps not as much as yourself. I need to warn you, all of you, but especially you, Peter.
Addressing all of those with him, Jesus said with a heavy heart, remembering his three years with these faithful followers “You will all become deserters of me tonight; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I ma raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”
Peter, ever the quick to speak, blurted out, “Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.”
Turning to him, Jesus replied, “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you-“ he gazed directly into Simon Peter’s eyes, “-when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Peter wanted to ask, ‘Turn back from what?’ But sensing some of Jesus’ present anguish, said instead, trying to sound as reassuring as possible, “Lord, even though I must die with you, I will never deny you. I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” The other disciples began to make similar protestations when Jesus broke in, still directing his words at Peter.
“I tell you Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me.” Peter was stunned. He? Deny Jesus? Had he not just said that was something he would never do? He wanted to protest, to ask what that was supposed to mean, but Jesus had turned away and, lifting his arms, was leading them all in the final hymn of Passover:
“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Let all Israel say: "His love endures forever.
Let the house of Aaron say: "His love endures forever.
Let those who fear the LORD say: "His love endures forever."
In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free.
The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.
All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
They swarmed around me like bees, but they died out as quickly as burning thorns; in
the name of the LORD I cut them off.
I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me.
The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: "The LORD's right hand
has done mighty things!
The LORD's right hand is lifted high; the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!"
I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.
The LORD has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death.
Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter.
I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.
The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;
the LORD has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we
bless you. [1]
The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join
in the festal procession up [2] to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
Jesus paused for moment, letting the words they were so familiar with sink in. As he looked again upon his followers he wondered, Did they know the full meaning of what they has just sung. Of course not, he knew. However, they would learn it yet. First, they had to experience it, and that was beginning now.
He looked again at his followers, knowing he would never see them in the same way again. John, John, the young man he felt closest to. Jesus knew he would not be far away. This was reassuring because Jesus needed him. His mother, long widowed, needed a caregiver and John was the most suitable inches group. Jesus took another look at James. If you only knew, but it’s a good thing you don’t - you will be the first in our circle to be put to death by our adversaries - after myself.
Jesus shook his head, as if to get away from those thoughts and clear his mind for what lay ahead. He asked:
“When I sent you out without a purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?”
“Not a thing,” the men answered.
“But now,” Jesus continued, “the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was counted among the lawlesss’; and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled.” He could say that because he knew, with all the warnings he had given his men, that some had gone and purchased swords, Peter being one of them. So far, they had been keeping them concealed. However, now they admitted, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” The second one was Thomas’s. Jesus was not surprised. Thomas had grasped enough of what Jesus had been saying about his pending death to say, when they had set out to come to Bethany to see their friend Lazarus, that he was ready to go and die with him.
“It is enough,” Jesus finished as he rose and began to walk in silence towards the door. It was dark when they stepped out, and the chill of an early spring evening was settling in. The eleven knew where they were going. Jesus had seemed to want to stay near the city at night these days, not even going to their friends over the hill at Bethany. They just been bedding down in an olive grove at the base of the hill known as Gethsemane. They had become used to carrying extra cloaks to help ward off the cold at night as they huddled together in the garden.
Jesus looked up to his left as they set out into the Kidron Valley. The walls of the city were silhouetted against the darkening sky above them. As they followed the curve of the valley eastward and then north, the upper portion of the temple also came into view over the tops of the city wall.
The house of Israel, the priests, they could sing “The Lord is good, his love endures forever” in their homes and in the temple. Jesus knew that, under current circumstances in their land though, these were more words of hope that Israel clung to than conviction. The way they had suffered under the Greeks and now the Romans, it was not easy to really believe their God was good and still loved them.
So what entered their minds when they sang the second stanza Jesus wondered. How much of this was hope? How much of it was memory, the stories of the first Passover and the deliverance from slavery and oppression in Egypt led by Moses, the entry to the promised land under Joshua, the return centuries later from the exile to Babylonia. That was the last time they had felt somewhat free, although even then, they had been under the Persians. And their neighbours hd not been welcoming either, those whom he Babylonians had left behind, indeed, even transported here from other parts of their empire. Of course, no one else could know how much Jesus himself now clung to these assurances for himself as he trudged wearily along the valley with is followers in silence behind him.
The end of the fourth stanza was what really hit home to him. He would live - again. Yes, death waited, but there was also a resurrection. As the psalmist had written, “He will not give me over to death.” I will not stay dead Jesus told himself.
“…The gates of righteousness…” To his fellow countrymen, these were the gates of Jerusalem, through which they came time and again on their pilgrimages, to worship in the temple, where they believed their God was with them. But Jesus was thinking of another set of gates. Going through with what lay before him would give him the right to enter the gates of heaven itself.
“…the stone the builders rejected…” Oh my people, Jesus thought again. You are rejecting me, but I am the answer you are looking for and I will, ultimately, be the head of the kingdom you long for. I am your Messiah. You treated me as if I was, a mere week ago. You even sang and shouted these words, with boughs in hand as it is written, ”Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” We were indeed a procession entering Jerusalem, as the prophet Zechariah predicted. But all the religious leaders could think of was what a commotion you were making. They did not share your beliefs, your passion. They were only concerned that, especially at Passover when there were more Roman soldiers in Jerusalem than usual because of previous revolts during this season, that the soldiers would think this was the beginning of another revolt and there would be another bloodbath. Indeed, there was reason to fear. The Romans were cruel when it came to suppressing opposition. And there was going to a lot of that for his followers in the years to come too, Jesus knew. How would he ever prepare his followers for that?
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his love endures forever.” Jesus lifted his head and began humming the tune. He needed to do something to stay focused. One by one his followers joined in as they neared the garden.
