Jesus’ Final Days

²² As they (Jesus and His disciples) were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then He broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it, for this is My body.” ²³ And He took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them (His disciples), and they all drank from it. ²⁴ And He said to them, “This is My blood, which confirms the (new) covenant between God and His people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many. ²⁵ I tell you the truth, I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.” ²⁶ Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives. Mark 14:22-26 (NLT)

The Last Supper occurred on the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread (Thursday of Passion Week) when the Passover lamb was sacrificed (Mark 14:12; see also Matthew 26:17; Luke 22:7). For the Jews, the Passover and Festival of Unleavened Bread celebrated their exodus and redemption from Egyptian slavery by God’s mighty hand (see Exodus 12). During the celebration, the Jewish people sacrificed an unblemished and spotless young lamb (see Exodus 12:3-6, 21; Deuteronomy 16:1-4). Unbeknownst to the people, Jesus was the final Passover Lamb sent by God to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29, 36; see also John 3:16-17; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Peter 1:19; 1 John 2:2). God would sacrifice His Son Jesus on Calvary’s Cross and make Jesus the perfect, unblemished, and spotless Lamb of God (1 Corinthians 5:7).Through faith in Jesus’ sacrificial death, God brings a greater “exodus” by purchasing our redemption from sin and evil (see Luke 9:31; Romans 3:25).

On the first day of the festival, Jesus’ disciples asked Him where He wanted to go to eat the traditional Passover supper (Mark 14:12; see also Matthew 26:17). However, Jesus had already planned an upper room for Him and His disciples to celebrate the Passover supper (Mark 14:13-16; see also Matthew 26:18-19; Luke 22:10-13). Jesus sent two of His disciples into Jerusalem to prepare the Passover supper (Mark 14:16). Luke’s Gospel names these two disciples as Peter and John (Luke 22:8).

In the evening, Jesus arrived with the other disciples into the upper room (Mark 14:17). Jesus and His Twelve disciples sat (or reclined) around the table eating (Mark 14:18; see also Matthew 26:20; Luke 22:14). Luke’s Gospel adds that Jesus said during the supper, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the Kingdom of God” (Luke 22:15-16, NIV; see also Revelation 19:9).

During the supper, Jesus said, “I solemnly declare that one of you will betray Me, one of you who is here eating with Me” (Mark 14:18, TLB; see also Psalm 41:9; Matthew 26:21; Luke 22:21; John 13:18, 21). A great sadness swept over Jesus’ disciples and one-by-one each disciple asked Jesus, “Am I the one?” (Mark 14:19, TLB; see also Matthew 26:22; Luke 22:23; John 13:22). Then, Jesus replied, “It is one of you Twelve eating with Me now” and acknowledged Judas as His killer (Mark 14:20; see also Matthew 26:23, 25; John 13:26-30). Then, Jesus said, “I must die, as the prophets declared long ago; but, oh, the misery ahead for the man by whom I am betrayed. Oh, that he had never been born!” (Mark 14:21, TLB; see also Matthew 26:24; Luke 22:22). John’s Gospel tells us that Judas Iscariot left the room after Jesus identified Him as the betrayer (John 13:26-30).

As Jesus and His disciples ate the Passover supper, Jesus took the bread and asked God’s blessings over the bread (Mark 14:22; see also Matthew 26:26; Luke 22:19). Then, Jesus broke the bread into pieces and gave the bread to His disciples and said, “Eat it — this is My body” (Mark 14:22; see also Matthew 26:26; Luke 22:19). Luke’s Gospel adds that Jesus said, “This is My body, which is given for you. Do this to remember Me” (Luke 22:19, NLT). Then, Jesus took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for the wine and gave the wine to His disciples; and the disciples drank from the wine (Mark 14:23; see also Matthew 26:27; Luke 22:17). Then, Jesus said to His disciples, “This is My blood, poured out for many, sealing the new agreement (covenant) between God and man” (Mark 14:24, TLB). Matthew’s Gospel adds that the wine became Jesus’ blood “poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many” (Matthew 26:28, NLT). Next, Jesus said, “I solemnly declare that I shall never again taste wine until the day I drink a different kind in the Kingdom of God” (Mark 14:25, TLB; see also Matthew 26:29; Luke 22:18). Luke’s Gospel adds that after supper, Jesus took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant (agreement) between God and His people—an agreement confirmed with My blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you” (Luke 22:20, NLT). The New Testament, or new covenant, is God's new arrangement with humanity based on the death of Jesus.

Then, Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives into a garden called Gethsemane (Mark 14:26; see also Matthew 26:30; Luke 22:39). The hymn song would have been a portion of Psalms 115-118, traditionally sung during the Passover supper.

Biblical scholars call Jesus’ last supper with His disciples the Last Supper, Lord's Supper, Communion, or Eucharist (thanksgiving). Many believers of Jesus continue to celebrate Jesus’ last supper with His disciples as Jesus instructed just before His sacrificial death on Calvary’s Cross (Luke 22:19; see also 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). During His last supper, Jesus took two traditional parts of the Passover meal, the passing of bread and the drinking of wine, and gave them new meaning as representations of His body and blood (see also 1 Corinthians 10:16-17). The supper became to symbolize a new covenant that God made with His people (Mark 14:24; see also Luke 22:20). This new covenant comes out of the old covenant celebrated by Moses and the Israelites in the wilderness (see Exodus 24). Jesus’ sacrificial death brings redemption and salvation to all people who believe and accept (Romans 3:25-26). Jesus’ sacrificial blood confirmed the new covenant between God and His people and His blood was poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many (Matthew 26:28; see also Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; Hebrews 9:22; Revelation 1:5).

Luke’s Gospel adds that after the supper, Jesus’ disciples began to argue among themselves about who was the greatest among them (Luke 22:24). Jesus told His disciples, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant” (Luke 22:25-26, NLT). Then, Jesus asked His disciples, “Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as One who serves” (Luke 22:27, NLT; see also Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45; John 13:13-16; Philippians 2:7). Jesus goes on to say to His disciples, “And just as My Father has granted Me a Kingdom, I now grant you the right to eat and drink at My table in My Kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the Twelve tribes of Israel (Luke 22:28-30, NLT).

As Jesus and His disciples were heading to the Mount of Olives, Jesus said to His disciples, “All of you will desert Me” (Mark 14:27, TLB; see also Matthew 26:31). Then, Jesus quoted from Zechariah 13:7 and said “for God has declared through the prophets, ‘I will kill the Shepherd, and the sheep will scatter.’ But after I am raised to life again, I will go to Galilee and meet you there” (Mark 14:27-28, TLB; see also Matthew 26:31-32; Mark 16:7). Then Peter vigorously said to Jesus, “I will never desert You no matter what the others do!” (Mark 14:29, TLB; see also Matthew 26:33). However, Jesus already knew that Peter and the others would desert and deny Him. In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to Me again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32, NLT). Then, Jesus said, “Peter, before the cock crows a second time tomorrow morning you will deny Me three times” (Mark 14:30, TLB; see also Matthew 26:34; Luke 22:34; John 13:38). However, Peter exploded and declared to Jesus, “No!” and declared, “Not even if I have to die with You! I will never deny You!” (Mark 14:31; see also Matthew 26:35; Luke 22:33; John 13:37). Along with Peter, all the other disciples declared their allegiance to Jesus (Mark 14:31; see also Matthew 26:35).  

In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus asked His disciples, “When I sent you out to preach the Good News and you did not have money, a traveler’s bag, or extra clothing, did you need anything?” and the disciples all replied, “No” (Luke 22:34-35, NLT). Luke’s Gospel records Jesus reversing His earlier advice regarding how to travel (Luke 9:3; Luke 10:4). Now, Jesus instructed His disciples to now take your money, a traveler’s bag, and a sword on their journeys to preach the Good News (Luke 22:36-38). After Jesus returned to glory, Jesus predicted His disciples would face hatred and persecution and they needed to be prepared (Luke 22:35-38).

John’s Gospel adds that during the Passover supper, Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, including Judas Iscariot’s feet, and provided a lesson on humility (see John 13:1-20). Moreover, John’s Gospel provided additional teaching, often called the “Upper Room Discourse” (see John chapters 13 through 16) and the Jesus’ prayer for His disciples (John 17). John 17 provides Jesus’ longest recorded prayer. Later that evening, Jesus’s disciples would argue over which of them was the greatest, so His lesson on humility and service towards others did not penetrate their hearts (see Luke 22:24-27).

³⁵ He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting Him might pass Him by. ³⁶ “Abba, Father,” He cried out, “everything is possible for You. Please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine.” Mark 14:35-36 (NLT)

After the Passover supper and disciples’ declaration, Jesus and His disciples came to an olive grove called the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:32; see also Matthew 26:36; Luke 22:39; John 18:1). Gethsemane was a garden on the slope of the Mount of Olives. Then, Jesus instructed His disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray” (Mark 14:32, NLT; see also Matthew 26:36). Luke’s Gospel states that Jesus told all His disciples, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation” (Luke 22:40, NLT). In Mark and Matthew’s Gospels, Jesus took Peter, James, and John alone with Him to pray (Mark 14:33; see also Matthew 26:37). This was the third time Jesus had taken Peter, James, and John with Him. Peter, James, and John were with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration (see Matthew 17:1) and in the home of Jairus where He raised Jairus' daughter from the dead (see Luke 8:49). Now, Peter, James, and John went with Jesus to watch and pray while in the Garden.

While praying, Jesus became deeply troubled and distressed (Mark 14:33; see also Matthew 26:37). Jesus said to Peter, James, and John, “My soul is crushed by sorrow to the point of death; stay here and watch with Me” (Mark 14:34, TLB; see also Matthew 26:38). Then, Jesus went on a little further, fell to the ground, and prayed to God the Father that if it were possible the awful hour awaiting Him might never come (Mark 14:35). Jesus prayed, “Abba, Father . . . everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will” (Mark 14:36, NIV; see also Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:42). Jesus knew what lay ahead of Him, and He struggled with His coming death (Hebrews 5:7-9). However, Jesus willingly submitted Himself to God’s will to bring salvation to all people (Luke 2:10-11).

Then, Jesus returned to Peter, James, and John and found them asleep (Mark 14:37; see also Matthew 26:40). Jesus specifically called out to Simon Peter and said, “Asleep? Could you not you watch with Me even one hour?” (Mark 14:37, TLB; see also Matthew 26:40). Jesus said to Peter, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak” (Mark 14:38, NIV; see also Matthew 26:41). “Watch and pray” is a warning that is often repeated in the Holy Scriptures because evil temptations prowl to devour you (e.g., see Nehemiah 4:9; Mark 13:33; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2; 1 Peter 5:8). The way to overcome evil temptation is to keep watch and pray! Continual prayer is essential because God’s strength can shore up our spiritual defenses and defeat evil attacks and temptation (see Luke 18:1; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Next, Jesus went away again and prayed for a second time, repeating His pleadings to God the Father (Mark 14:39; see also Matthew 26:42). Once again Jesus returned to Peter, James, and John and found them sleeping, for they were very tired and they did not know what to say to Jesus (Mark 14:40). Then the third time when Jesus returned to Peter, James, and John, Jesus said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes My betrayer!” (Mark 14:41-42, NIV). At that point, Judas Iscariot, along with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs, came and arrested Jesus (Mark 14:42-43; see also Matthew 26:47-49; Luke 22:47-48; John 18:2).

Only Luke’s Gospel tells us that an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened Jesus while He prayed in the Garden (Luke 22:43). Moreover, Luke’s Gospel indicated that as Jesus prayed more passionately, and He was in such agony of spirit that His sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood (Luke 22:44). Finally, Luke’s Gospel states that after praying and just before His arrest Jesus returned to all the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief (Luke 22:45). Jesus instructed His disciples, “Get up and pray, so that you will not give into temptation” (Luke 22:46, NLT).

⁷ While Jesus was here on earth, He offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the One who could rescue Him from death. And God heard His prayers because of His deep reverence for God. ⁸ Even though Jesus was God’s Son, He learned obedience from the things He suffered. ⁹ In this way, God qualified Him as a perfect High Priest, and He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him. Hebrews 5:7-9 (NLT)

References

Life Application Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005).

The Holy Bible NIV 2011 (Grand Rapids, MI: Biblica, 2011).

The Living Bible Paraphrase (Tyndale House, 1971).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).

Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary – New Testament (Victor Books, 1989).