Reading
- Matt. 26:1-5, 14-16; Luke 22:3-6
- The Daily Bible section entitled, "Final Week -- Wednesday"
- Luke 21:37-38
- John 12:37-50
- Luke 22:7-13
Devotional
The exact timing of some of the events recorded in today's text is impossible to determine. The editor of The Daily Bible has placed them on Wednesday, with a significant explanation given in the reading.
Jesus taught at the temple during the day and spent the nights on the hill called the Mount of Olives. Even though He had performed countless miracles and taught with authority, there were some who refused to believe. Still others, even among the religious leaders, did believe Jesus to be the Son of GOD, but refused to publicly say so because they were afraid of the other religious leaders who would put them out of the synagogues. Sadly, the Scripture says, they loved the praise of men more than that of GOD.
Jesus made one final public appeal, apparently on this day, the day before He was crucified:
44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
(John 12:44-50 NIV)
After these things, Jesus sent Peter and John to prepare a room in the city for the Passover.
