Day 309

The Last Week

Read: Luke 21-22

The last week in the earthly life of our Lord was a busy one. Some of the major events were as follows:

(1) Warning of the end. Jesus described to his disciples what would happen before the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 and what will happen as the end of the world approaches. The purpose is to warn us to be ready at any time for the return of Christ.

(2) Institution of the Lord’s Supper. Jesus met with his disciples in an upper room to celebrate the Passover, a reminder of the miraculous way God freed his people from the slavery of Egypt. Jesus then took parts of the meal, the bread and the fruit of the vine, and used them to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, a periodic reminder to us of the more wonderful way God has set us free from the bondage of sin.

For Jesus the evening was marred by his knowledge that one of his disciples would betray him and by the argument among the disciples as to who was the greatest. Today it must hurt his loving heart as he sees ways in which we are disloyal to him and the power struggle which still takes place in many churches. Be sure that you are not involved in either.

(3) Prayer in the garden. Jesus is fully human. He pleads with his heavenly Father to find some way to save his people without the cross, but yet he is totally surrendered.

PRAYER
Father, may we be so deeply moved by the events in Scripture that we will have new attitudes. In Jesus’ name. Amen.