LS-39-The Betrayal Night

The Betrayal Night With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer.--Luke 22:15. The end was drawing near. Once, when His enemies beset Him, He passed through the midst of them, and went His way. But He realised that when the appointed time came, He must endure the cross. As the time of separation approached, He thought much of His disciples. An indescribable tenderness towards them filled His soul. Their coming sorrow called forth His sympathy; their weakness, His concern. Thus He planned to spend His last evening with them, to prepare them in some measure for what was to come. How lovingly He dealt with them! Mat tender lessons He gave them; what words of courage and hope; with what holy compassion and grace He bore them in prayer to His Father!

They needed a lesson in humility and service, and to teach them He girded Himself as a servant, and attended to the lowly task of washing their feet. "I have given you an example," He said, "that ye should do as I have done to you."

He was about to leave them. It was expedient that He should do so. It would enable Him to be with them more truly than ever. But their hearts would be desolate for a while, and He encouraged them with His word about the mansions in the Father’s house, where He would prepare a place for them, and where some day they would dwell with Him again.

Meanwhile, He gave them a commission. They had work to do. But it was to be a spontaneous service, and their achievement as natural a fruitage as that of the branches on the vine. "Herein is my Father glorified," He said, "that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples."

He Himself was about to go forth to die, and they themselves would be scattered. Tribulation awaited them. The world persecuted Him-it would persecute them. But the warning was not given to affright them, but to prepare them, to strengthen them. "Be of good cheer," He said, "I have overcome the world."

Finally, as was natural, He prayed for them, He prayed that they might be kept from the evil one, that they might be sanctified, and that they might be united in love.

It was a wonderful night. He knew that the cross awaited Him on the morrow, but it did not oppress Him. "Not a shadow intercepted His view of the face of His Father or dimmed the satisfaction with which He looked on His own work just about to be completed. It was as if the passion were already past, and the glory of His exaltation were already breaking around Him" (Stalker).