The Advent of Easter, Part XX by Pamela Christian—Copyright © 2019
This post represents Nissan 12th and 13/14 in the last days of the life of Jesus. Many researchers, including myself, agree in the week of Jesus’ life Nissan 13/14 was our Tuesday/Wednesday. Remember, the Jewish days begin at sunset and conclude at sunset the next day. (See: http://www.eaec.org/newsletters/2012/vol-15-3/the-passover-week.htm)
Sometime in the daylight hours before sunset on Nissan 12th, (our Tuesday) while Jesus was at the home of Simon the leper, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, which is very costly. She poured it over Jesus’ head. While some who were present objected strongly, Jesus defended the woman and stated, “She has done what she could; she has anointed by body beforehand for burial.” (Matthew 16: 6-13) Most definitely those within hearing did not realize Jesus’ burial would very shortly occur.
This same afternoon, Judas Iscariot, who was one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, sought the chief priests of the religious leaders willing to participate in their plot to kill Jesus. Judas agreed to betray Jesus for a sum of money.
This is the same day Jesus’s disciples asked Him where they would celebrate the Passover. Jesus instructed them where to go and what to do for the intimate meal He planned for all of them together.
On Nissan 13th, before the Feast of Passover, when Jesus knew His hour had come to depart from this world, He laid aside His garments, and taking a towel, tied it around His waist. I imagine Jesus greeting the disciples as they arrived at the place where they would share the Passover meal.
Jesus poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet. Imagine how the disciples must have felt. Jesus had been their Teacher. Washing people’s feet was a task reserved for non-Jewish slaves. In a culture where people walked long-distances on dusty roads in sandals, it was customary for the host to arrange for water and a slave to be available for foot washing.
Jesus was Jewish, yet he took on the task that was reserved for non-Jewish slaves. I see this as a foreshadow of the all-inclusive invitation for “whom so ever wills” to become a disciple of Christ, regardless of their heritage. Here Jesus provides yet another example for us to follow, that we may serve one another in humility. Jesus washing the feet of His disciples is a final proof of His love for them. In the days of Jesus.
The evening of this day, the calendar changes to the 14th of Nissan, the day the Passover Meal is to be eaten. Jesus and His disciples followed the custom for celebrating Passover, but only Jesus knew this would be His Last Supper.
Knowing the significance of what was about to take place, Jesus declared, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Luke 22:15). It was at this Seder that Passover at last obtained its real meaning and deepest significance. Passover was the memorial of the physical, historical redemption of God’s people from slavery, but only a shadow of the ultimate redemption about to take place. Jesus was about to become the ultimate sacrifice, to die once for all (Hebrews 9:26).
Events following Jesus’ Last Supper, His sudden arrest, unjust trials and sentence of crucifixion will be the topic of the next post.
For April 13-14, 2019 read and meditate on the following Scriptures:
Matthew 26-27:31, Mark 14:1-15:15, Luke 22:1-23:25, John 13:1-38.
Read John 14–18, noting these were Jesus’ last instructions given in all earnest during his final hours with His disciples, before His crucifixion.
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