The Word This Today
John 16:16…
Jesus was very sensitive to the emotions His disciples were going through on the evening of that Passover.
It was THE Passover all of scripture had pointed to, and none of them recognized that fact except Jesus.
He knew.
On that evening when thousands of Passover lambs were sacrificed and consumed throughout Jerusalem, they were being led by the Lamb slain since the foundation of the world to His own slaughter.
They didn’t know it then, but within hours their Master would be tried by the Sanhedrin, beaten beyond recognition, and nailed to a cross. He would die, just as the thousands of Passover lambs in and around Jerusalem would.
When God gave Moses the instruction for how the Passover which would release Israel from bondage would take place, none of them had any idea what that instruction was pointing to.
All His disciples knew now was something was unfolding they had not anticipated. While Jesus had told them on at least three occasions He was going up to Jerusalem to suffer and die, they had refused to mentally grasp this was even possible.
And yet, here again, on this last night gathered with them, Jesus again told them He was going away – and that where He was going, they could not come. They were so upset by this news none even thought to ask Him where He was going.
Even when Jesus told them He was leaving them to go to His Father in heaven, it did not settle their hearts. That was well beyond their ability grasp. How could that be possible – and how could it be preferrable to all they enjoyed with Jesus presently?
In His final words of instruction to His disciples, Jesus sought to settle their hearts for what they were about to experience, not only on this night – but also in the difficult future each of them was heading into all while separated from the One Who had loved each of them so well.
Pastor Bill
Jesus was very sensitive to the emotions His disciples were going through on the evening of that Passover.
It was THE Passover all of scripture had pointed to, and none of them recognized that fact except Jesus.
He knew.
On that evening when thousands of Passover lambs were sacrificed and consumed throughout Jerusalem, they were being led by the Lamb slain since the foundation of the world to His own slaughter.
They didn’t know it then, but within hours their Master would be tried by the Sanhedrin, beaten beyond recognition, and nailed to a cross. He would die, just as the thousands of Passover lambs in and around Jerusalem would.
When God gave Moses the instruction for how the Passover which would release Israel from bondage would take place, none of them had any idea what that instruction was pointing to.
All His disciples knew now was something was unfolding they had not anticipated. While Jesus had told them on at least three occasions He was going up to Jerusalem to suffer and die, they had refused to mentally grasp this was even possible.
And yet, here again, on this last night gathered with them, Jesus again told them He was going away – and that where He was going, they could not come. They were so upset by this news none even thought to ask Him where He was going.
Even when Jesus told them He was leaving them to go to His Father in heaven, it did not settle their hearts. That was well beyond their ability grasp. How could that be possible – and how could it be preferrable to all they enjoyed with Jesus presently?
In His final words of instruction to His disciples, Jesus sought to settle their hearts for what they were about to experience, not only on this night – but also in the difficult future each of them was heading into all while separated from the One Who had loved each of them so well.
Pastor Bill