Truly

As Jesus sat with the disciples at the Last Supper, I can only imagine how intense things must have been.  

Jesus knew what was coming. He had been telling the disciples, but they still didn't want to believe it.

Jesus was a truth-teller. Even when people didn't want to receive the truth, He gave it nonetheless. 

Truly, He told them: one will deny, one will betray, and many will scatter. 

Jesus already knew what they would do and how they would do it. 

Some were in denial that they would do the things He did, and some had already done them. 

Judas had, in fact, already betrayed Him and sat there denying it right to Jesus' face.  

And yet.

He washed their feet.

He served them.

He sat and ate with them.

He gave them bread and wine and explained how the bread symbolized His body and the wine was His blood poured out for the forgiveness of sins.

After their meal together, they all went to the garden, and Jesus asked them not once, not twice, but three times to stay awake while He prayed. Each time, they fell asleep.  

Jesus was praying in anguish for them and they just slept.

Every time I read the accounts of this day, I don't know how Jesus didn't just say, "You know what, forget it. You people are driving me crazy. No matter what I do, you don't listen, you ignore me, and you return to your wicked ways. I'm just done with you all. Peace OUT!" 

But that's not what happens.

Jesus prays for God to take it all away; I mean, who wouldn't if they knew what was about to happen? 

But Jesus accepts his fate and the will of God and turns the focus of His prayers to us—to the sinners, those who don't listen, ignore Him, and return to our wicked ways. 

He doesn't spend all His time thinking of Himself trying to escape the terrible suffering that awaited Him in mere moments.  

He is thinking of us. Despite of it all, He loves us and His grace and mercy never ceases.

Truly, if that is not love, I don't know what is.

Matthew 26: 20-21

When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me."

Mark 14:18

While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”

Matthew 26: 26-29

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."

Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."

Luke 22: 42-46

Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."

John 17

Read this whole chapter. It's amazing!