Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover

 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover.  And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.  Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.  So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and the captains, how he might betray Him to them.  And they were glad, and agreed to give him money.  So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.

Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed.  And he sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat."  So they said to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare?"  And He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will met you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters.  Then you shall say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"'  Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready."  So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.

- Luke 22:1-13

In Tuesday's reading, after Jesus' long discourse on the destruction of the temple at Jerusalem and His second coming, He spoke to them a parable:  "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.  When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.  So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.  But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch therefore, and pray always that you maybe counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."  And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.  Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.

 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover.   My study bible explains that the Passover (Pascha/Πάσχα in the Greek) is the celebration of the destruction of the firstborn of Egypt and the deliverance of God's people from bondage (Exodus 12:14).  In remembrance of this event, the Jews would slaughter an unblemished lamb to be eaten with unleavened bread.   It notes that this is a prefiguration of Christ's Passion, in which the only-begotten Son of God is slain in order to deliver His people from their bondage to sin and death, and then is raised to lead them into the eternal Kingdom.  In the West, this event is commemorated as Easter, known in the East as Pascha (the primary term referring to the death and Resurrection of Christ).  

And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.  Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.  So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and the captains, how he might betray Him to them.  And they were glad, and agreed to give him money.  So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.  According to the commentary in my study bible, Satan does not enter a person except by the person's consent.  It explains that the reason Satan chose Judas and none of the others is that Judas had a place for Satan in his heart, while the others did not.  Luke explicitly mentions that Judas was numbered among the twelve, which emphasizes for us the readers the depth of betrayal involved -- and how many are being betrayed.  My study bible comments that this shows us that a religious position is worthless if it is not accompanied by faith and virtue.

Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed.  And he sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat."  So they said to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare?"  And He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will met you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters.  Then you shall say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"'  Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready."  So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.  Again, my study bible comments on the term Passover here.   "Passover" can refer to the original event of the ancient Jews, the celebration of that event, the food that is eaten, or the lamb that is slain.  According to patristic commentary, Peter represents zeal and John represents spiritual understanding, the two virtues with which we are to partake of Christ's supper.

It is interesting to note the careful, explicit preparations and instructions given by Christ for His Passover Supper (at which the Eucharist will be instituted), underscoring the importance and significance of this time.  The other time we read of such detailed instruction before an event is in the preparation for the Triumphal Entry (see this reading).  As such, they suggest what is called in Greek kairos/καιρος, a significant time, an "acceptable time to the Lord" (2 Corinthians 6:2), a moment when our worldly time is specifically intersected by a divine event.  The entrance of the Messiah/Bridegroom into Jerusalem is one such event, the Passover/Passion and momentous sacrifice of Christ, made once for all of history and all the world, and memorialized and re-enacted forever via the Eucharist, is another.   It is an indication of a time of fulfillment.  Like the birth of Christ, the divine interrupts human history to reveal an essential truth.  It's important to consider Pascha/Passover/Easter and its meaning for us.  Christ fulfills the Passover with Himself as the Passover, the Lamb slaughtered once and for all, and for deliverance of all of the world (John 3:16).  This moment is one of transfiguration, one that changes meanings and values, by revealing what is at the center of history for all of us who call ourselves faithful to Christ.  It's important to understand the notion of sacrifice and its purpose.  In John's Gospel, Jesus says, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain" (John 12:24).   Jesus is the "firstborn" who offers Himself so that the "firstfruits" may be revealed, with Himself first of all (Revelation 14:4).  Jesus feeds us with us His Body and Blood, to produce something new in us and among us.  This is a purpose of transfiguration, for the whole world, and we don't yet know its fullness, but we are in the midst of its effects, which we see only partially.  St. Paul writes, "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known" (1 Corinthians 13:12).  What we must understand is that the purpose of sacrifice is just what Jesus describes when He speaks of His own sacrifice:  it is for fruition.  It is so that we may grow and produce fruits unseen and unknown, incalculable in their fullness -- and through time.  Faith is just as Christ describes His sacrifice:  it is planting seeds for growth and harvest.  It's no accident that the parable of the The Sower is the first He gives, and that the parables of wheat and harvest, even of weeds which mimic the good wheat, all form the notable foundation of His preaching and use of parables (see Matthew 13).  What sounds to us like something grim is in fact nothing of the sort.  Sacrifice is the work of an infinite God of goodness, meant so that we may harvest an incalculable -- even eternal -- abundance.  This sense of sacrifice cannot fit into notions of payment:  there is no way we could possibly pay for the gifts we're given, and they are given freely, as the prerogative of an unlimited God.  Payment is a far too confined concept to understand this process and how our lives work together with God's grace.  Let us consider that when we sacrifice for our faith, we are following in the footsteps of the Firstborn, the One who shows us the way.  Do you take time out for prayer?  Do you make a priority for your faith before other things?   Is there a time for gratitude rather than the constant pursuit of worldly goals?  These are just some examples of that kind of sacrifice:  what we give our time and effort for, what we put first before we rush toward something else.  Let us remember the purpose He gives us.  On that notion hinges so much of what we are capable of doing with the gift of our lives.

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover

 And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.  Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover.  And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.  Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.  So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them.  And they were glad, and agreed to give him money.  So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.

Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed.  And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat."  So they said to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare?"  And He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters.  Then you shall say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"'  Then he will show you a large furnished upper room; there make ready."  So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.

- Luke 21:37-Luke 22:13

In the recent readings, Jesus is in Jerusalem.  He has made His Triumphal Entry, cleansed the temple, and faced the challenges of the leadership.  He has also returned a few challenges of His own.  He speaks to the leadership, His disciples, and also the public.  (See readings from last Saturday,  Monday,  Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday).   In Friday's reading, Jesus began to speak about the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, and how they are to endure what is to come, and on Saturday we read His teachings on both the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the age, when He will return.  In yesterday's reading, He spoke to them a parable:  "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.  When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.   So, you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.  But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

 And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.  Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.  My study bible tells us:  "Olivet is the Mount of Olives, a hill on the east side of Jerusalem where pilgrims stayed when the city was overcrowded during festivals such as the Passover."

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover.   My study bible says that these two feasts were distinct but largely overlapping -- so they could be identified as one.

And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.  Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.  So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them.  And they were glad, and agreed to give him money.  So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.  My study bible notes:  "That the religious leaders feared the people means the populace at large favored charismatic figures such as Jesus.  Therefore, there is need for treachery, night arrest, and quick trial."

Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. A note tells us that "the Passover lambs were ritually slaughtered about noon on the first Day of Unleavened Bread, roasted in the afternoon, and eaten that evening -- marking the beginning of the Passover Festival.  Unleavened bread was eaten in remembrance of the urgent Exodus from Egypt, in which there was not time for the bread to rise."

And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat."  So they said to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare?"  And He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters.  Then you shall say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"'  Then he will show you a large furnished upper room; there make ready."  So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.  This scene given us in Luke reminds us of the earlier similar teachings of Jesus, in which two of His disciples were told where they would find a donkey's colt for Him to ride on, as He made His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. 

There are many elements in today's reading that we might call "elemental" to the Gospels, as they are hints of phenomena that surface again and again, giving us glimmers and reminders of events in common.  There's the prescience of Jesus on display again, as noted above.  First, before His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, He told two disciples they would meet a man who would give them the colt for Him to ride upon into Jerusalem.  Today, there's the particular exactitude again of the particular phrase they are to say to the man they will meet, and the particular room to make ready for the Passover.  These elements mirror and reflect one another, and they cause us to reflect.  Somehow the events and their exactitude, their precise elements described and foretold by Jesus give us a hint about what is happening here, and especially their importance.  We don't often see this side of Jesus, but it does occur and it teaches us something about Him, as well.  It's another quality of His holiness, although not used as often in His public ministry as powers of healing, or feeding, and casting out demons, and teaching; it's something shared with His apostles who are "sent" on these specific missions.  There's another familiar element in Luke and that is the fear of the leadership for the people.  Tellingly, Luke doesn't really give us a reason why Judas goes to the authorities, except to say that there is a spiritual battle going on here.  His betrayal of Christ is meant to teach us something about that -- and Luke's Gospel has just told us of Jesus' warnings of future betrayals and persecutions to His followers.  And there is His daily teaching of the people, who flock to hear Him, and His exchanges with the leadership.  He stays with the pilgrims on Olivet, a sojourner in Jerusalem.  The Passover teaches us something, the Feast of Unleavened Bread reminding us of Exodus.  Jesus will be our Passover Lamb, our sacrifice in His voluntary mission to us, and remains so for us today.  His "Exodus"  is imminent and will come at the end of this Passion Week.  ("Exodus" is the word used in Greek as He discussed what was to happen in Jerusalem with Elijah and Moses at the Transfiguration).  All of these various elements happen in a repeated pattern, so that we are reminded, we remember, and we reflect.  Over and over again, we get glimmerings of spiritual truths for our understanding, so that we understand what Jesus is about, what His holiness means, what He offers us, and His fulfillment of the spiritual history of Israel, as well as His example to us all.  The familiarity of elements teaches us what holiness is, and serves as a model for the future.  He cares for His disciples.  He takes care of every need appropriate to His duties, including making sure the Passover is properly cared for, the place where they are to meet all arranged.  The elements are set for what is necessary and what is to come, and especially the Last Supper at which He will introduce yet another remembrance and repetition from His ministry, something central (and truly "elemental" in a most phenomenal way) which we are told to repeat in the fullness of what is to come, which we will read about in tomorrow's lectionary reading.  The elements mix and tumble, even as elements in our own lives mix and tumble, of good and bad, high and low, exaltation and betrayal.  But Jesus is the pivot, the Teacher, the One around whom all things revolve.  What does His remembrance teach you today? 

The Teacher

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.

Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.

Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat." So they said to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare?" And He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. Then you shall say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?" ' Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready." So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.

- Luke 22:1-13

Yesterday's reading in the lectionary sequence was from the Gospel of John. It was the story of the woman caught in adultery. The temple leadership seeks to trap Jesus, and brings her before Him, telling Him they must apply the law and stone her. But Jesus responds in a peculiar way, writing on the ground. We don't know what He wrote, but we do know His response: "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." One by one, those who could also be convicted of sin left the scene, until there were no accusers left. Jesus said to the woman, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."

"Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover." These two feasts are actually separate or distinct, but my study bible notes that they were "largely overlapping" - therefore they could be identified as one. The Passover commemorates God's deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt. For all of Christian history, the Church has seen Christ's Passion as a new deliverance and redemption.

"And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people." My study bible notes, "That the religious leaders feared the people means the populace at large favored charismatic figures such as Jesus. Therefore, there is need for treachery, night arrest, and quick trial." The fear of the people is one more sign of their hypocrisy, and their care for show, reputation, and image. In the Gospels this translates into a sign that these are people who love the praise of men more than the praise of God.

"Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude." And here we have another "secret work," the work that takes place in the dark. We don't know exactly why Judas betrayed Jesus, but there has been much speculation and we are also given hints in the Gospels. (John's Gospel says it is because of greed.) It is my belief that we can see bitterness and resentment in his actions, perhaps a disappointment of false expectations, and also the failure to take his grievances to his master, and to the group, in dialogue. Our "dialogue" with the Lord is prayer.

"Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed." My study bible notes, "The Passover lambs were ritually slaughtered about noon on the first Day of Unleavened Bread, roasted in the afternoon, and eaten that evening -- marking the beginning of the Passover Festival. Unleavened bread was eaten in remembrance of the urgent Exodus from Egypt, in which there was not time for the bread to rise." We recall also the significance of the lambs - lambs' blood was sprinkled on the doorposts of the Jewish homes, so that the angel of death would "pass over." Christ is our "Passover lamb," our "sacrifice" who redeems and delivers.

And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat." So they said to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare?" And He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. Then you shall say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?" ' Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready." So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover. These instructions strike me as quite similar to those Jesus gave as He prepared to enter Jerusalem: "Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. And if anyone asks you, 'Why are you loosing it?' thus you shall say to him, 'Because the Lord has need of it.'" "The Teacher" has the same commanding power of "the Lord." This upper room of the Passover was considered by early church tradition to be in the home of the mother of John Mark, known as the Evangelist Mark. So, there is already familiarity with "the Teacher." But the coincidence of meeting someone carrying a pitcher of water is on another scale, and it teaches us about the awareness of this Lord, this Teacher, the knower of hearts, and the One who has taught us that the hairs on our heads are numbered with God's love and care. There's another understanding in this passage, that teaches us that Jesus' respect for the law and the customs of Passover is meant to mark a transition in tradition - not a rejection of the past and all that has come in the spiritual history of the People of God, of Israel, but rather a fulfillment, and a new manifestation of God's love, a revelation. He is also the Lord of the Law and the prophets.

We might find a lot of coincidences in our lives. We may live many instances throughout the years of our lives when we seem to be "replaying" some incident from our past, re-learning and perhaps re-examining our experiences in new lights. So we see this Passover feast as a great hallmark of spiritual history, in which we revisit an experience only to learn new things from it, to be given new dimension and direction, new insight about God and the revelation of Christ, our redeemer. The Passover is a religious festival commemorating the saving of Israel from slavery. We view our Lord, the Teacher, as He who comes to redeem us as well. He will pay the price for our freedom, a willing sacrifice. Jesus has taught that "unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor (John 12)." We can all think of things we have had to forgo, to give up, in order to grow and gain something better. As we await Advent, think about what you might forgo that stands as an obstacle to something better, a closer relationship to God, a deeper understanding of Christ. Perhaps in your own prayer life, you understand yourself to be moved toward the resolution of a conflict or dilemma in a way that seems like a great sacrifice. Challenge yourself to discipleship in this sense, in faith, and know that faith and trust put hope in something better. No one knows the outcome of faith in the individual disciple, and even Christ Himself asked, "Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8). Let us remember His faith and example, and allow it to reinforce and invigorate ours, to be our strength in a time of trial and need.