How much does Jesus love you?
Jesus, God, the creator of everything, left the splendor of Heaven to come to earth in human form. He came as a very helpless, dependant infant and was born in a smelly animal stable.
Why would he do this?
There are lots of reasons he would not want to! He knew that his life here was going to be short, that he would have many people follow him but then reject him when his crucifixion was imminent. He knew that his death was going to be extremely brutal physically.
Importantly, Jesus also knew that he would have extreme pressure on him mentally as he would be taking on the sin of the whole world. He would be unmercifully mocked, ridiculed, and challenged to save himself from their hands. Mark 15:29,30
Nevertheless, Jesus was silent as he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. Isaiah 53:7 These words were prophesied about his death about 700 years before they came to pass.
Incredibly, Jesus did not retaliate or defend himself!
He came to be the Perfect Lamb of God to take on the sins of the world and he did not change his mind!
Jesus’ death brought about two very significant changes in our relationship to God.
- Jesus was the final sacrifice for sin – ending the Jewish sacrificial system.
- His death also opened up direct access for us to come into God’s presence at any time.
It’s now the first day of the festival of unleavened bread – two days before the Passover lambs are sacrificed.
Jesus and his disciples are in Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. The leading priests and religious leaders of the Jews are questioning and challenging Jesus – seeking for a way to discredit him, to find a way to accuse him of blaspheming God. A conspiracy is brewing! They continue to seek an opportunity to capture Jesus and secretly put him to death before the Passover celebration to avoid a riot. Mark 14:2
But their plan is not God’s plan!
Meanwhile, Jesus and his disciples are in Bethany eating supper with Simon, a man who had leprosy. An unnamed woman (quite possibly Mary of Bethany) shows up at this meal with a beautiful jar of expensive perfume and pours it over the head of Jesus, anointing him while he was reclining at the table.
Some in attendance at this meal scold her harshly! They indignantly claim that the perfume could have been sold and the money could have been better used to help the poor.
Jesus stands up for this woman saying,
“leave her alone. Why berate her for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you and you can help them whenever you want to, but I will not be here with you much longer.
She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time. (With this statement, Jesus was making it clear once again that he was going to be crucified.)
I assure you wherever the good news is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be talked about in her memory.”
Jesus and his disciples celebrate the Passover Meal; the bread and the wine; The betrayer is called out!
The leading priests and the teachers of religious law were not successful in finding a way to kill Jesus.
So, Jesus is planning preparations for the Passover meal with his disciples. They need a place to meet so he sends two of his disciples into Jerusalem to make arrangements for them to have their meal together. Jesus said to them, “as you go into the city, a man carrying a picture of water will meet you. Follow him. At the house this man enters, say to the owner, The teacher asks, ‘Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’
Just as Jesus said, the disciples go into the city and see a man carrying water – which is an unusual sight – as carrying water was considered a woman’s job. Sure enough, they found everything just as Jesus said. There was a large room upstairs already set up for them to prepare for the supper.
In the evening Jesus arrives with the other disciples and they recline around the table eating together. Then Jesus makes a very disturbing announcement.
“The truth is, one of you will betray me, one of you who is here eating with me.” Mark 14:18
Of course, this caused a lot of distress and speculation as each one asks,
“I am not the one, am I?” Mark 14:19
Jesus gave a clear answer confirming that it was one of the 12 – eating with him. Mark, the writer does not tell us right away who the betrayer is.
At this time, Jesus begins to tell them clearly once again that he is going to die just as the scriptures declared long ago. He also states how terrible it will be for his betrayer. In fact, Jesus said, it would be better if he had never been born! Mark 14:21
As they are eating, Jesus takes a loaf of bread and asks God’s blessing on it. He then broke it in pieces and gave it to his disciples saying,
“take it for this is my body.” Mark 14:22
Then Jesus takes a cup of wine and gives thanks to God for it, then he shares it with his disciples and they all drink from it.
Jesus explains the significance of the wine to them. He says,
“this is my blood, poured out for many, sealing the covenant between God and his people.” then Jesus declares, “ I will not drink wine again until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
As they finish the meal, this diverse group of men sing a hymn together and leave to go to the mount of olives. I wonder what they sang…
Historical meaning and purpose of the Passover Celebration
The celebration of Passover (Pesach) was and continues to be to this day, a powerful reminder of how God rescued his people from slavery to the Egyptians. Significantly, it is a reminder of the last night before they departed Egypt when each family was instructed to sacrifice a one year old, perfect male, lamb or goat, and put its blood on the door post of their home so that the angel of death would pass over their house when going by. The blood of the lamb on the door posts signified their obedience and trust in God’s instructions in order to spare their first born child from death. Exodus 12:11-14
The disciples, years later did not seem to grasp the reality of Jesus’ imminent crucifixion. That last meal with the disciples, the Passover meal, was Jesus’ last day before becoming the perfect and final sacrifice for sin. There is no further need for animal sacrifice.
Jesus was the holy lamb of God given for us. His blood has bought our redemption. John 1:29
The book of Hebrews clearly teaches that Jesus is the final, once – for – all sacrifice for sin.
What does this scripture passage teach us about sin, salvation, and God?
- The old sacrifices were repeated and incomplete; they were a temporary means of forgiveness until Jesus came and offered himself as the final perfect sacrifice for sin. The priests had to offer sacrifices continually, but they could never fully remove sin. Hebrews 10:11
- Jesus, sacrifice of himself was offered once – for all time. It was never to be repeated. Hebrews 10:12 in this verse it says that Jesus sat down, indicating that the work at the cross was finished.
- His sacrifice truly removes sin. Unlike the old sacrifices, Jesus’ sacrifice actually cleanses us from our sin by His blood, shed for us. He brings us real forgiveness. Hebrews 9:26
- No further sacrifice is required. Hebrews 10:18
- There is a new and living way to know and have a personal relationship with God. Hebrews 10:14 We can come to Him at any time to confess our sin and to pray! Hebrews 10:19,20
In Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45 we read verses that describe the physical tearing of the temple curtain at Jesus’ death.
What is significant about the curtain to the Most Holy Place tearing in two from top to bottom? What the torn curtain means for us….
It is very significant because until this time, only the high priest could enter the most holy place and this curtain separated everyone from the most holy place. That barrier was removed. We no longer need a priest to be an intermediary for us to God. Hebrews 10:19–23 says:
And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s most holy place because of the blood of Jesus.
This is the new, life-giving way that Christ has opened up for us through the sacred curtain, by means of his death for us.
And since we have a great high priest who rules over God‘s people, let us go right into the presence of God, with true hearts, fully trusting him. For our evil consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.
Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
God the Father’s love, Jesus’ love and the love of the Holy Spirit for us is beyond anything we can imagine.
Jesus chose to be our perfect, sinless lamb!
Jesus' Love, His Gift of Salvation require a Response
These truths about our need for a saviour and his great provision makes me think of the beautiful words of an old hymn – How Can I Say Thanks? You can listen to it below.
May God give you eyes to see and ears to hear his beautiful gift and love for you. I pray you will choose to receive the gift of salvation that was purchased with a very high price- His punishment for sin in my place.
Jesus graciously offers this gift to all who come to Him with a tender heart of repentance of sin and a desire to follow Him.
How can I say thanks for all the things you’ve done for me?
Things so undeserved, yet you gave to prove your love to me.
The voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude,
All that I am, and ever hope to be, I owe it all to Thee.
So, just let me live my life and let it be pleasing Lord to Thee…..
Go deeper with these resources:
What is Passover?
The History and Celebrations Explained.
Sadly, most Jews did not and still do not recognize Jesus as their promised Messiah.
The Jews expected the Messiah to deliver them. Many did think he was the Messiah until He allowed Himself to be arrested, tried, and crucified on a cursed cross. Then the people stopped believing that He was the promised prophet. They rejected their Messiah Matthew 27:22.
Why Thousands Of Israeli Jews Are Embracing Christianity |Rosenberg Report
