55-SacrificialLamb-A

And We Thought We Knew You:
Soul Journey With the Real Jesus

Sacrificial Lamb
GOD ESSENCE

Wednesday, About April 13, AD 30
Jerusalem, Judea

�� Yesterday Jesus was supposed to be anointed priest and king. [1]� Instead, tomorrow he will be executed.� Jesus was supposed to conquer the foreign occupation government and hierarchy of the Temple.� Instead, he will conquer hell.

�� Jesus is about to eat his last meal.� Even criminals are allowed a last meal.� He has chosen this one. It has taken him over three years to prepare it. [2]

�� The closest and dearest friends he has in the world still wear blinders.� Denial because they continue to limit reality as they know it.�

�� Last meal?� Never!

�� Knowing that Jesus will be at the head of the table, that seat is not arguable.� The rest are.

�� "Not so fast!� What are you doing at his right at the table?� That's for his second in command!"

�� "Indeed it is!� And I am confident that he will select me for that position!"

�� "Stand clear, friend.� That is not for you to say.� He has not appointed anyone yet.� I am just as likely to be his appointment.� Did you see the way I handled the crowd over at the Temple?"

�� Others are oblivious of the argument, for they are vying for the position to the left of Jesus.

�� "Hold on there, man!� He spends the most time consulting with me and everyone here knows that!� So step aside!"

�� "Who made you king?� I am the treasurer, and therefore I hold the most trusted position!� I will sit there!" [3]�

�� Jesus has already seated himself, hoping for a peaceful evening of deep togetherness as he says good-bye to them.� He is aching.� His heart is breaking.� He does not want to say good-bye.� He needs to be enveloped in comfort, not quarreling.� He needs to be surrounded with solace and reassurance, not arguing and bickering.

�� Can they not get their minds off that artificial material kingdom of God long enough to offer Jesus some encouragement?� He is trying to prepare to face Satan head on so they will not need to.

�� But the twelve he selected as his apostles, his ambassadors are individualists.� They have to be in order to face what is in their future.� Jesus has kept them together despite the vast differences in personalities for over three years.� He will do it once more. [4]

�� Brothers! he interrupts as he rises in place.� John, you sit at my left hand.� Judas, you come over to my right.� Peter, you sit over here next to John.� James, you sit next to Judas.....

�� The twelve go to their assigned seats silently feeling like school children, but knowing too that one must watch out for one's own interests, because it is certain that one else will.

�� Jesus sits back down.� "Don't you get it yet?" he asks, having to put his own feelings on hold for the time being.�

�� "In today's society, government heads and business owners order their employees around and the employees have to go along or be fired.� But not you.�

�� "Heads of organizations love to be put at the head table at banquets and to be applauded by their peons.� But not around here.� I am your butler, your aide, your custodian." [5]

�� However, Jesus continues, this does not diminish the fact that you have stuck by me for three grueling years.� We have hardly been home.� We have slept on the road.� We have been followed around by desperate people who don't mind trampling you to get to me.� We have gone places and associated with the kinds of people most respectable society rejects.�

�� We have been hounded by government spies and persecuted by religious leaders.� We have received death threats for the past two years.� And I keep telling you that there is only a harsh death awaiting each one of you.� Still you have stuck it out with me.

�� You know, Jesus, that we have tried.� Really tried.� You have not always made sense, but we have always believed in you.� We have known for a long time that you are from God and that somehow you are divine, although we are not quite sure how.

�� "And so," Jesus concludes, "I hereby announce that you will eat and drink in my personal dining hall in the kingdom God has been granted to me."

�� Smiles.� But cautious smiles.�

�� "Further, each of you will have your own throne and will judge all of the Jews." [6]

�� Everyone feels pretty good now.� But not cocky.� They know better.� Though it is hard not to be that way.� They try to follow Jesus' instructions.� He has just warned them that leadership means doing most of the dirty work.� They try to keep that in mind.� But thrones of their own!� Man!� Thank you, God!� Thank you!

�� They are interrupted by the home owner with a skin of red wine.� Although the host must not do so, Jesus takes the skin from the waiter and dismisses him.� He stands up and walks around the table to each place, personally filling each cup. [7]

�� Jesus is celebrating the Passover one night early. [8]� But there is no lamb.� Why would he do it without the lamb?� True, he calls himself the lamb of God, but who would butcher him? [9]

�� Jesus sits down and recites the kiddush.� Everyone drinks the first of the four cups of wine they will eventually be given. [10]

�� Then Jesus bows his head.� His hands are joined over his head as he leans his elbows on the table.� Sometimes his shoulders rise and fall slightly.� His breathing is deep but sparse.� Still they wait.� They know he is praying silently and alone.

�� A few moments pass.� They do not keep track.� This is the man they love and idolize.� This is the man who has come to them directly from God.� This is the man who knows God face to face.

�� Slowly Jesus takes down his hands and raises his head.� He takes another deep breath.� He is trying to retain some semblance of composure, even though tears have escaped and betrayed his deepest thoughts.

�� He looks over at Judas to his right.� Judas looks back, but quickly looks away.� He rolls his eyes toward the ceiling, shakes his head slightly, and clenches his teeth.� Still Jesus looks at him.� Judas knows it, so he clears his throat.�

�� "Uh, Peter, did I give you enough money to pay the rent here?" Judas finally says, trying to get Jesus' attention off him. [11]

�� Jesus looks around the table.� "You have no idea how I have longed for this time alone with you before my torture begins.� This will be our last meal together before the new kingdom of God is established and this meal takes on new meaning." [12]

�� Now comes the ceremonial hand washing before cutting and eating the bitter herbs.� The basin and pitcher of water are there and the thirteen towels.� Instead of passing everything around to each person, Jesus once more stands.� He takes off his robe and tucks a towel in the tied waist of his tunic.

�� He sees that all their sandals are muddy.� When they arrived earlier, none of them had volunteered to get a mat to wipe their feet.� None of them volunteered to provide a brush so everyone could get the thick mud off.� None had washed their feet.

�� He approaches Judas first.� Come sit on this bench, Judas, he urges.� Judas obeys with a superior sneer.� Thereupon Jesus kneels in front of him and sets the towels down.� Then he pours water into the bowl.� He looks up at Judas with pain in his eyes.�

�� Are you sure, Judas, you want to go through with this?� Won't you change your mind?� Judas looks at the others with self-importance.� He has got Jesus eating out of his hands.� What a weakling.

�� Jesus gently sets Judas' feet in the bowl and, with hands that will be bleeding from nails by breakfast the next day, he rubs soap on them.� He pours water over them and rubs them clean.� He takes Judas' feet out of the bowl, then, while drying them, he looks up once more at Judas.�

�� Judas, are you without the shadow of a doubt sure?� We've been friends a long time.� I gave you the power to perform miracles.� You were a preacher, and a powerful one.� We have eaten meals together and done our laundry together, and I've confided in you.� Are you sure?

�� But Judas looks away from Jesus once again and grins largely and arrogantly at the others.� See what Jesus is doing for him?� Jesus knows he had better get along with Judas, because Judas has friends in high places. [13]�

�� As Judas struts back to his seat, Jesus pours out the dirty water into the empty urn.�

�� Jesus works his way around the table, inviting each man in turn to sit on the bench, washing the feet of each one like a common servant.� Everyone responds to this gesture in a different way.� Some feel awkward, some feel humbled, some try to argue him out of it, some analyze how he does it. [14]

�� "Now you are all clean," he says while putting his robe back on, "though actually not all of you are." [15]

�� Huh?

�� He sits back on his cushion.� "Do you understand what I have just done?� You call me your teacher and leader, and that is what I am.� So if I, your teacher and leader, washed your dirty feet, you must now wash each other's dirty feet." [16]�

�� The homeowner comes in with the meal on a serving table.� There is not much on it.� Just the bitter herbs, a dip, and unleavened bread.� Ah yes, the bitter herbs, representing the bitterness of their ancestors' slavery in Egypt. [17]

�� Jesus turns his attention back to Judas.� He can still change his mind.� There is time.� Does Judas want to?� Judas has a look of disdain on his face.� Jesus looks at him, but Judas glares back.�

�� Judas' scowl turns to a sneer.� Jesus blew his chance.� He could have had all of Jerusalem eating out of his hands.� He could have been head of the whole Jewish religion, king of the whole country, conqueror of the world.� Emperor and Most High Priest Jesus.

�� At this point Jesus, the host, cuts the long endive leaves.� He pronounces the benediction over them and passes them out.� Each person dips it and eats it.� He thinks of the bitterness of sin enslaving all of mankind.� He thinks of the bitterness Judas must harbor against him for not being an earthly king like everyone had expected.� He thinks of the love he has for Judas which, right now, is difficult to maintain, but which he must maintain lest he, too, become bitter. [18]

�� Judas is disgusted.� Three years wasted.� Down the drain.� For nothing.� Jesus has turned out to be nothing but a fraud.� Charade and all.

�� Jesus breaks the unleavened bread in two, laying half of it by his plate for later and leaving the rest on the platter.� He raises the platter and everyone recites, "This is the bread of affliction which our forefathers ate."�

�� Now it is time for the second cup of wine.� Jesus once more stands and pours it for each one.� He sits back down and someone one ritually asks, "Why is this night different?"� Jesus is supposed to explain the bitterness of their slavery in Egypt.� He does not.

�� "I have a very difficult announcement to make," Jesus finally says, once he realizes Judas has his mind completely made up.� He stares a moment at his friends.� Then he says each word slowly as though forcing them to come out into the open against their will.

�� "One of you at this table is going to betray me." [19]

�� Shock fills the room.� No!� None of them would do such a thing!� Jesus, are you okay?� You've been working too hard!� The crowds are getting too much for you!� The death threats the past couple of years have clouded your thinking!

�� His closest friends on earth look at each other in bewildered panic.� Not one of them would ever think this.� It would be nothing short of treason.� Jesus is the best thing that ever happened to them.� How could any of them even consider turning on him like that?

�� Does he know something they do not?� Has he discovered a dark secret inside someone's heart that they don't even know is there?� He has always warned them that Satan is ever lurking, trying to ease into hearts unawares.� He often knows them better than they know themselves.� What is it that he knows?

�� "Jesus," Thaddeus responds.� "Am I going to do it?"

�� "Or me?" Matthew dares to ask.

�� "Or me?" Thomas hesitatingly adds.

�� Peter leans over and whispers to John next to him.� "You're sitting closest to him.� Ask him who would dare do that to him." [20]

�� They must be told.� They have the right to know.� There is no use hiding it or delaying it any longer.

�� Without replying, Jesus raises his cup of wine and the others follow.� They recite "Slaves we were" and drink their second cup.

�� Jesus once again raises the platter with unleavened bread and everyone repeats the required benediction over it.� Then everyone washes their hands again, saying the required benediction over that.

�� Jesus takes the unleavened bread, breaks it up, and sends two pieces to each person.� Then, with his two pieces, he takes another piece of the bitter herb, the endive. [21]

�� "The person I hand the bread and bitter herbs to dipped in the sauce is the one."

�� Jesus cannot bring himself to say the man's name.� That name had meant so much to him in the past.� He even has a brother by that name ~ Judas. [22]

�� Everyone watches carefully, his heart racing faster and faster.� Will I be the one?� Or I?

�� The bread is dipped and handed to Judas.�

�� You, Judas?� You?� No, Jesus, you are wrong.� No one is going to betray you.� Not even Judas.� Are you sure, Jesus?

�� "The Son of Mankind will be executed exactly as predicted centuries ago, handed over to the enemy by one of his best friends. [23]� But the man who chooses to betray him will ruin his life so completely, he will wish he had never been born." [24]

�� But wait!� Judas has not taken the bread yet.� He does not have to.� He could say, "Not me!� I'm not going to do it."� There's hope!� Maybe Judas will not take the bread. [25]

�� He does.� Judas actually reaches over and accepts the bread in Jesus' hand. [26]

�� Even if he did take the bread, surely he did not understand what Jesus said.

�� Jesus looks at Judas and softly says, "You'd better leave now.� Get it over with."

�� "You asked for it, Jesus," Judas whispers.� "In the long run, you'll be glad I did."

�� Judas immediately rises from his floor cushion, checks his money pouch, and leaves.

�� "Has he gone out to buy the Passover lamb?" Thaddeus mentions to Philip.

�� "I don't know.� Maybe he is going to find some people who couldn't afford a Passover dinner and pay for theirs."

�� o"Or maybe...."

�� "No, Judas would never do that." [27]

�� Quietness.� What is going on?� Confusion.

�� Judas, the man who thinks he can destroy God.� But in the process, God will be more powerful than ever.

�� "Now at last, I, the Son of Mankind, will reveal to all mankind who I really am." [28]

�� Well, that is a relief.� There is not going to be any betrayal.� After the Passover Feast, Jesus will go back into Jerusalem, the parades will begin again, people will insist even more than ever that Jesus take over. �

�� Jesus' expression becomes more intimate.� He leans forward on his cushion, his eyes squint in an effort to focus on the minute thoughts of his heart, and he opens his hands to his loyal friends.

�� "My children...."

�� Yes, they do feel like children around him.� Even though most of them are about his age, some a little older.� Whenever he calls them children, they know he is feeling very protective.�

�� "....I have only a few short hours left with you, then it's all over."

�� So little time, and yet so much to say....

�� "You will look everywhere for me, but you cannot walk or ride to where I am going." [29]

�� "What is he talking about?" they begin to ask each other.

�� "Is Judas going to have him kidnapped?"

�� "Is he giving up on our country and going somewhere else?"

�� "Is he going to the palace and not taking us with him?"

�� "You know, if you had not brought in those foreigners, things would have been better for him."

�� "Well, if you hadn't taken him to eat with all those frauds."

�� "I don't see any difference in that than when you...."

�� Oh, how are they ever going to get along without Jesus to keep peace among them?

�� Jesus looks at them all.� There is Matthew, the government tax man, and Simon, the malitia man.� There is Peter, the bragger, and Thaddeus, the awkward shy guy.� Over here is John who doesn't like outsiders, and Andrew who is always bringing in outsiders.�

�� What is going to happen to them all with Jesus gone?

�� "Here is a new rule.� Not only must you get along, but you must now love each other.� I loved each of you with all your differences.� You must love and get along each other as the same way ~ with all your differences." [30]

�� Thomas, who offers to die before his enemy, looks over at James who usually wants to bring fire out of heaven on the enemy.� Philip, who insisted Jesus meet the criteria of the prophets, stares uneasily at Nathaniel who believed merely after Jesus had said he'd seen him under a tree.� And, of course, everyone looks with a little disdain over at James, Jr. the short guy who, as usual, is dressed like a hermit when all the rest of them wore nice robes to dinner that night. [31]

�� "Do you know how people are going to tell that you are my followers?� You love each other just as you are." [32]

�� Though ordinarily the lamb is now served, under special circumstances, it is substituted with eggs.� The priests will kill and devour the final Passover Lamb tomorrow.� On a hill.� It will take them six hours to kill their Lamb. [33]

�� As they eat, they talk among themselves.

�� Peter who has been brooding over what Jesus said earlier, asks, "If you are leaving us, at least tell me where you are going so I can join you without having to search for you."

�� "Some day.� But not now."

�� "You are not going to put me off that easily, Jesus.� We have been friends too long.� You are directly from God.� Nothing will stop me from following you wherever you're going.� If I don't succeed, I'll die trying."

�� "Oh, Peter.� You think you know yourself so well.� Within a few hours you will deny you ever knew me."

�� "No!� Never!"

�� Jesus says no more about it. [34]

�� Why is Jesus bypassing the Jewish tradition?� He has not retold the story of their ancestors' slavery in Egypt centuries before.� He has not recalled their eating unleavened bread before their escape because they had no time to let it rise.� And he has only indirectly referred to the lamb of God to be slaughtered and eaten.� Nor smearing its blood on their door posts so the death angel would pass over and not harm them. [35]

�� Instead, he tells about a place his friends can go some day free from the Satan's slavery of sin over them.

�� "Do not be so disturbed.� Trust me on this.� Trust God.� My father has many mansions in his city� Would I lie to you?� I am going to get your mansions ready.� Well, if I'm going to go to all that trouble for you, don't you think I'll be sure to come back for you so we can all be together again?" [36]

�� "But, Jesus, why do we have to wait?"

�� "Why can't we go with you now?"

�� "We've gone with you everywhere else?"

�� "Just tell us how to get there."

�� "You already know how to get there [37]

�� "Jesus, we need to know what highway to take to get to you," Thomas interjects.

�� "I am the highway," Jesus replies.� "You will get to the city of my father through me." [38]

�� "Well at least show us who your father is," Philip insists.

�� Jesus sighs with frustration.� "You have been with me over three years, Philip, and you still do not understand?� You have seen me.� Therefore you have seen my father." [39]

�� No one else asks him any questions.� They do not understand half of what he is saying.� It will not be until AFTER that they do.� There's an incredibly callosal miracle they've got to witness first.� Then they will understand.

�� Not having a passover lamb to eat, Jesus takes the other half of the unleavened bread that he had saved by his plate for later.� Now he breaks it up into 12 pieces ~ one for each of them and one for himself. [40]�

�� He is quiet again.� He is thinking again.� He looks at the bread as he has never looked at it before.� He knows in a few short hours his own body will be tortured and broken in similar fashion.� In a few short hours Satan will chew him up, then loathingly spit him out. [41]

�� Jesus now stands up and personally passes the unleavened bread around at each person's place.� No one touches the bread.� They sense he is about to talk about it.� What will he say? [42]

�� Jesus returns to his place but remains standing.� He picks up his piece of bread.� The others follow his example.� He looks at it a moment.

�� "This is my body," he says quietly.

�� Your what, Jesus?

�� "This is my body," he repeats a little louder. [43]

�� They do not like the direction this whole thing is moving.

�� Jesus leads the group in prayer.� A prayer of thanksgiving for the privilege he has of dying for the world.

�� "Eat it," he then announces. [44]

�� Oh, Jesus.� Don't make us do this.� We don't want to eat what symbolizes your body.� Please, not this.

�� "Go ahead," Jesus whispers.� "Eat it."

�� Don't ever forget, world.� This unleavened bread no longer represents freedom from physical slavery, but freedom from spiritual slavery. [45]

�� Don't ever forget, world.� This bread represents my flesh and bones being clubbed by the soldiers, my skin and muscles being shredded by the steel on the whip, my every nerve screaming for relief.

�� Don't ever forget, world.� This bread represents what will happen in just a few hours now:� My limp body hanging from that awful cross, that terrible instrument of torture.

�� Don't ever forget the bread. [46]

�� Finally, Jesus pours the third cup of wine, says the proper benediction over it, and everyone drinks what is before them. [47]

�� He picks up his cup.� The others follow his example.� He stares at it.� It is red.� Blood red.

�� "Let us pray."� Jesus leads them in a prayer of thanksgiving for the privilege he has of suffering torture in the place of the world.� Of suffering death in the place of the world.� Being their sacrificial substitute.� His friends do not understand such a prayer. [48]

�� "Drink it," Jesus then admonishes, straining to maintain control.� "This....this," he takes a breath, "This is my blood."

�� Oh, no, Jesus.� You do not know what you are talking about.� There is going to be no bloodshed.� The blood of the lamb each year at Passover.� That is all that is needed.� The lamb's blood, not yours, Jesus.� It does not make sense.� Not your blood.

�� The men hesitate.� They have always been taught not to drink blood.� So why would Jesus make their drink represent blood?� They do not like it. [49]

�� "Drink it," Jesus repeats.� "Every time you drink this wine from now on, "he is whispering again, "remember what I did for you." [50]

�� Don't ever forget, world.� The wine represents the unusual way I will die.� No Jew is allowed to put anyone to death by crucifixion.� Only the Roman government is allowed to do that.� Unusual.� But predictable. �It has been known all along. [51]

�� Don't ever forget, world.� The wine represents a fountain flowing with blood to cleanse us.� You won't understand this.� Death creating life?� Yes, like a seed dying before it can rise up in grandeur. [52]

�� Don't ever forget, world.� The wine represents the blood that will rush from Jesus' hands and feet on the cross, and which will trickle from the crown of thorns on his head.

�� Don't ever forget the wine.

�� They do not know Jesus is preaching his own funeral.

�� "This represents the new last will and testament of God.� This new testament will be established with my death.� My broken body and spilled blood will make the way of forgiveness." [53]

�� New will and testament of God?� God does not change.� How can there be a new will and testament?� What is going on, Jesus?

�� Are we not supposed to keep sacrificing a lamb every year at the Temple like God commanded centuries ago?� Are we not supposed to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem every year like God commanded centuries ago?�

�� We cannot stop doing these things, God.� Our parents took us to the Temple to do those things when we were children.� And their parents before them.� It was always expected.� We have always done these things.�

�� How can you expect us to change?� What will everyone think of us?� They probably will not even let us back inside the Temple if we refuse to offer sacrifices any more.� Jesus, you are expecting too much of us.

�� Jesus sits quietly.� His grief is far deeper than theirs.� He still has the torture ahead of him.� Can he take the torture without backing out?

�� It will be excruciating beyond belief.� He will be beaten beyond recognition.� He will be whipped until there is nothing left to call a back.� He will then be hung on a pole by three spikes and left to the vultures.

�� It is now time for the fourth and last cup of wine.� Jesus pours it and someone opens their outside door to indicate the safety they feel with God's watchfulness over the innocent.� They recite "Oh pour out your wrath, but not onto us.� We give you thanks." [54]

�� No one drinks the last cup.� He will drink it from the cross.

Suddenly Jesus rushes to the on other side of the room.� His back is to them.� They know he is struggling.� How could they think of the difficulties of changing ways they worship when they see the inner turmoil he is going through?� They watch him shake and know he is fighting tears.� Fighting his fears.� Fighting once again to regain control.

�� Oh, Jesus.� We don't want you to die.� Please, don't die.

�� Finally the others follow his example.� They sit in a circle.� A close circle.� Someone has brought Jesus' cushion too.� He sits with them and pours out his private heart to his closest friends.

�� A song.� He wants a song.� Not a great anthem to mark the occasion.� Not a full orchestra.� Not an organ or a choir.� Just a song.� He leads it.� Each joins in with imperfect voice. [55]�

�� Softly they sing.� Each offers his imperfection to his God.� Softly they sing.� No great organ or orchestra or coverups.� Softly they sing.� They do not wish to impress anyone.� Softly they sing.� They can hardly choke out the words.� They just want to touch the heart of Jesus.� Softly they sing. [56]�

�� Then it is time to go.

�� Yes, this has been Jesus' last meal.� Somehow, they all now know this.� They walk slowly.

�� Oh, Jesus, you have been tearing our hearts out.� Don't leave us.� They stay as close to him as they can.� Two walk at his sides steadying him as they descend the stairs and make their way across the courtyard.� Protecting him and hoping they can keep him from going away.

�� And as they walk out to the street and through the shadows of the night, they think.� Repeatedly they fight away their tears as the words he said earlier eclipse their hearts.

�� Don't ever forget the bread and wine.� Remember it, apostles of Jesus.� Remember it, generations yet unborn.� Remember what went on in this room an hour ago, a century ago, a millennium ago.

�� Not just once a year, or once quarterly, or once a month.� Remember it as you once remembered the Sabbath to keep it holy.� Soon the new day of God will be resurrection Sunday.� Remember that new day to keep it holy.� And remember the bread and the wine on that day.�

�� Don't ever forget.�

�� Don't ever, ever forget. [57]

LIFE APPLICATION

1.�� It is hard to take a place of insignificance away from the "head table," the "podium," the "front office" and watch others receive the accolades.� Jesus said in Matthew 5:5 Jesus said such people have their reward.� But those not rewarded God rewards.� How will this help you the next time you feel passed over for commendation?

2.�� Jesus became the janitor of his own dinner.� The next time you are passed over for being on the planning committee of a big event, what will you do instead?� God ~ not people ~ will judge us and our works.�

3.�� Jesus indicated to his Apostles that he was the final Passover Lamb and that he wanted them to stop their old religious traditions taught to them by their parents and participated in by their friends.� These are hard choices ~ chosing between esus and our family.� ��In the long run, will your friends and family have a better chance of changing and sharing first-place in your life with Jesus if you provide a good example of change?

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