'Appreciating God's Love'
Final Week of Jesus
Jesus Celebrated Passover
Mark 14:13-14 And He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him. Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?" '
On the eve of Passover, our Lord Jesus being a devout Jew kept the Passover and ate the Passover lamb with His disciples. Since the Jewish day starts from evening (6pm) till the next evening, then the eve of Passover is beginning of the Day of Passover.
Later, on the same day of Passover, our Lord Jesus was crucified. He died at about 3 pm on the same day before the evening of the next day sets in.
Note - our Lord celebrated Passover on the eve or the beginning of the day of Passover. Before the end of the day of Passover, He offered Himself to died on the cross to become the perfect sacrificial Passover Lamb for the redemption of all men.
Mark 14:16-17 So His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover. In the evening He came with the twelve.
New Covenant of His Blood
Mark 14:22-24 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And He said to them, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many."
Out of the grace of God, while Jesus was eating the Passover meal with His disciples, He instituted the Holy Communion to constantly remind and encourage them of His great love, care and concern for men.
He reminded them that the Word was made flesh, and whenever they partake of the bread (Word), they must always abide in His words so that they will be empowered to be like Him.
He also reminded them that whenever they partake of the cup, His blood poured out for them have cleansed them of all their sins of old. Being made righteous, they must be holy just as God is holy by staying away from sinning.
However, if they sin, God is gracious, righteous and faithful and will forgive them if they confess their sins. God has also given to every born Christian the Holy Spirit of redemption to convict him of sin.
Jesus Washed Disciples' Feet
John 13:3-5 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
When our baby has covered himself with his foul excreta, immediately we will joyfully cleanse him knowing that he will be more comfortable when cleansed. This is our love for the baby built within every parent.
But if your aged parent fouls himself, will you cleanse him? Well, if we appreciate their love, care and concern, every filial child will joyfully cleanse his parents, but if without this filial love he will resent doing it.
Our Lord Jesus, the Saviour and great Healer - their Lord and Master humbled Himself to cleansed the feet of His disciples as an example for us to wash one another's feet.
If we can wash one another's feet, then we truly have the love for one another, just like the love we have for our own little children.
Note brethren, let's not live like the earthly kings but as the King of kings in humility, love and the operations of His mighty power.
John 13:14-15 "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you."
