aberdeenPassion
ONE LIFE GIVEN A group of men & women are sitting just outside Jerusalem, looking towards the city walls. This is Jesus and his followers. Entering the City
For three years, Jesus has been travelling around Galilee, talking sometimes to small groups, sometimes to large crowds. He has told stories to help them understand, he has fed huge crowds from virtually nothing, and he has healed people, even bringing the dead back to life. But now the travelling is done. There is a sense of unease amongst the disciples about going into Jerusalem – as James puts it “We’re not ready to take them on”. And Jesus does not slip quietly into the city, instead he is welcomed by large, noisy crowds waving branches as he enters through the East Gate on a donkey, fulfilling the prophecies about the Messiah – the significance of this is not lost on the authorities.
three times before morning – Peter is outraged. Jesus then goes to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray – these are his last moments of reflection.
Arrested
Late on Thursday night, Judas leads the Temple Guard to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, away from the crowds. The disciples’ reaction to Jesus’ arrest is a mixture of shock, fear and anger. Peter, ever the headstrong one, makes a lunge for those who have come to arrest Jesus and wounds one of them. Jesus tells them not to fight and heals the man. As Jesus is taken to Caiaphas’ home, Peter and John follow.
Jerusalem is the seat of power both of the religious authorities and the Roman occupying force. Word has spread about what Jesus has been doing. And when Jesus causes uproar in the temple courtyard by throwing the money changers out, calling them thieves, he makes a direct challenge to the Chief Priest Caiaphas and the Jewish High Council. Caiaphas will not allow anyone to challenge his position and is determined to stop the commotion around Jesus growing any larger. He tries to discredit him, to trick him, but Jesus avoids all the traps set for him and his popularity grows by the day. The whole city is talking about him, and Caiaphas is left appearing to have lost his authority. Caiaphas is incensed and he moves to remove Jesus permanently from the scene. Caiaphas has a trump card, though - Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples has agreed to betray his friend and provide information to the Temple Guard. The plot to eliminate Jesus begins to take shape.
Peter is approached by several people who recognise him as one of Jesus’ followers. In a state of fear and dismay, Peter denies that he even knows Jesus. Peter’s anger and fear blinds him till realisation dawns. He had sworn to Jesus just a few hours earlier that he would never let him down. Peter is crushed at the thought of his own betrayal of Jesus.
Sharing a Last Meal
Tried
Jesus shares the Passover meal with his disciples. They have become so close this group – they have become a family. He explains why he must sacrifice himself, using bread and wine as symbols of his suffering. And he also tells him that one of them, one of this family, will betray him. The peace of the meal is shattered by this devastating statement – the disciples argue angrily over who is under suspicion. Jesus warns Peter not to let his faith fail. Peter in his usual impetuous way, vehemently states that his belief in and support for Jesus will never fail even if it means death. But Jesus tells Peter he will deny him
“All your pain is because of me I’ll never clean the slate Of the fact of my treachery” Peter Time is now of the essence – for Caiaphas to be successful, before dawn while the city sleeps, he must force first the Jewish High Council and then Pilate to agree that Jesus is so dangerous he must be executed. This process is illegal and unjustifiable but Caiaphas is determined to the point of obsession to have Jesus silenced. Late into that same Thursday night, the High Council is convened and Caiaphas asks Jesus, who has clearly been mistreated in his short time in custody, whether he claims to
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