gethsemane revisited

While midweek was the calm before the storm.. Thursday is when the purpose of the Holy week and all the pieces of the Easter message came together. 

In the evening a room is prepared for the emotional gathering of Jesus and his disciples to share in The Last Supper.  The disciples were innocently oblivious to what was about to happen and I believe so would all of us. There were only quiet words and compassion expressed between Jesus and his closest friends on this night. Of course as a cartoonist I do have one little toon lamenting the risks of breaking bread in fear of bad carbs.

The Garden of Gethsemane  was the next setting where Jesus prepared for the time of his arrest, and for what was to happen in the coming hours. 
None of this was a surprise to Jesus as it all was part of God's plan to save the world. Jesus prays while his disciples sleep, and while Jesus continues to agonize over what is to come, he prays "not my will but yours be done" and Satan is stomped. all while Judas approaches with Jesus captors.

The Arrest of Jesus.. While Jesus knew his arrest was eminent it was a shock and emotional devastation for his disciples who just the Sunday before were effectively the presidential cabinet for the soon to be exalted King of the Jews. So as Jesus is arrested his captors initially fall over like dominos.

 Then Peter leaps into action to save ironically the.. Savior and chops off the ear of one of those in the arresting party, but Jesus heals the severed ear and then does a quick check with the words.. " Can you hear me now? Good. "
So the disciples scatter in fear, and Jesus is brought before the religious leaders for an graveyard shift fixed courtroom.

This was no true trial as the verdict had been decided well before the arrest of Jesus. The hatred of Jesus by the Jewish religious folk of the day inspired this after midnight travesty of justice. As Justice was not the purpose of this gathering, but death of this man named Jesus was.
The testimonies against Jesus were supported and fixed as a parade of false testimonials, and teller of tall tales were brought forward as witnesses for the state.
These lies against Jesus were used to fuel high drama in this early morning mock court in session. One priest cried out in outrage as part of this hateful mob scene.

What a horrible empty day this was as each hour grew progressively worse leading up to Good Friday when Jesus was crucified.  But, thank you God this horrible day was just one piece in your great plan for salvation.  Yes Jesus would be crucified, but then resurrected that first Easter morning.

May God bless each of us with the realization of this wonderful Holy Week message of salvation.

Blessings, Jeff