Week 1: the Last Supper * the Last Supper Was Meant to Be a Joy and a Celebration
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24 Hours That During the Lenten season, a study will be Changed the World held Thursday evenings beginning at 6pm. The name of the study by Adam Hamilton is 24 Hours That Changed the World This is a synopsis, all references are from the book above. Week 1: The Last Supper * The last supper was meant to be a joy and a celebration. The disciples were relaxed, unaware of the events to come. *The Israelites used a Passover lamb as the symbol of freedom from their enslavers. This animal was part of the covenant established by God, using the blood of the lamb to represent God passing over the household when the plague of death was one of the 10 sent to convince the king of God’s authority. There are celebrations to this day to remember the stories passed down through the generations. *Jesus uses the last supper as a teachable moment. It was a celebration, with the disciples not knowing this would be the last happy time with Jesus. He gave them a meal to remember. He was teaching by example, showing them the greatness in serving others. To this day, we celebrate with communion. Week 2: The Garden of Gethsemane * When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD; he brought me into a spacious place. 6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? 7 The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies. 8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans. 12 They swarmed around me like bees, but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them down. 13 I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me. 14 The LORD is my strength and my defense he has become my salvation. 17 I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done. Psalm 118 *This Psalm is most likely one of the many Psalms that Jesus recited that evening in the garden. Jesus, unlike the original Adam, would be faithful to God in the garden. Jesus uses the garden to address and reverse the fall of Adam and Eve. *Jesus has his 3 closest disciples with him. He asks them to wait and watch while he goes further into the garden. While they are waiting, they fell asleep. *Jesus felt enormous anguish deep in the garden for 3 possible reasons. 1. The ‘tempter’ (satan) was whispering into the night, ‘why do this?’, ‘are they worth it’, ‘isn’t there someone else’? Also he knew the disciples weren’t completely ready. Would they be able to carry on? If you knew you were going to die, wouldn’t you worry about those you left behind? 2. A particular failure for him was the Jews would not accept his sovereignty and he knew what was in their future, destruction of their city. 3. There was the human aspect, his mother was human. *After spending time alone, he stopped to join his 3 friends. He found them asleep at their post, they were to keep watch for him. After awaking them, they were remorseful. An oft quoted verse from the dialogue is as follows: “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak”. *Jesus was betrayed with a kiss. Why Judas? Judas had to be horribly conflicted as well. He was one of the ‘chosen 12’. He resented, was frustrated, and had sold Jesus out but Judas still loved Jesus greatly. To this day, to be called a “Judas” still means to be a traitor. #How does our self doubt in God’s will apply today? #Recall a time when you experienced anxiety over responding to God’s call to do something you did not want to do. Could you say “Not what I want, but what you want”? Week 3: Condemned by the Righteous *God walked on the earth – like the king who walked unrecognized by his subjects through his kingdom, with a desire to get to know his subjects. Jesus held the jobs of preacher, teacher, carpenter, healer, and a pauper while he was here on earth. He came as one of us. *The pious religious leaders could not see Jesus for who he was. Why? FEAR 1. They loved the power. 2. They had authority. 3. They enjoyed a higher social status. 4. They were insecure. The fear consumed them with hate. They had a fear of resisting the majority. They went along with their pious peers. As a result, they were secretive, unorthodox, and were urgent in protecting their way of life. *Jesus was not just a teacher or a wonderworker. He was the I AM, The Messiah. He was NOT a political messiah. #In what way is Jesus still a threat to peoples way of life today? #Do you think people’s resistance to Jesus is related to fear? *Fear is a poison at work. Sin is its brother. The religious Sanhedrin: they convicted Jesus based upon their fear of his ability to ursurp their authority. It was an unanimous decision according to the Scripture. Not one questioned the validity of their actions? #The question is: do we allow fear to make us do what we know is wrong? #Another question: has there been a time where you have chosen to remain silent rather than speak up for the truth? Peter denying Jesus: originally Peter had drawn his sword and sliced off a servant’s ear. He didn’t deny Jesus when there were many gathered. He followed after they had taken Jesus, clinging to the shadows. When he was singled out though, his courage left him. We who have answered the call to follow Jesus are just as tempted today to deny him. And we will. And we will always be taken back. #The question is: do we feel we deserve the same assurances even when we have denied Jesus? #Another question: all 4 gospels tell the story of Peter’s denial. Was it embarrassing? Why repeat so often? How did that end? Week 4: Barabbas, Pilate, and the Crowd The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? Can you hear Jesus silently [a] The LORD is the stronghold of my life; reciting the words to this of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1-3, 11-14? 2 When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh— my adversaries and foes— they shall stumble and fall. 3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident. Teach me your way, O LORD, Doctrine of Atonement: and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. The at-one-ment of 12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, God and humankind. for false witnesses have risen against me, and they are breathing out violence. 13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! Barabbas: was an armed rebel who murdered innocents trying to overthrow the current government – he was the example of the path to strength through military actions. He wasn’t a random serial killer, he believed the only way to restore the government he wanted was by force. In today’s terms, it’s comparing Malcolm X to Martin Luther King Jr.. One believed in confrontation with force, the latter believed in confrontation in peace. The same comparison can be used with the Islamic Muslims and the general population of Muslims. Most everyday Muslims believe the way of peace is preferential to violence. There is a clear choice: military like Barabbas Or loving like Jesus Pilate: government appointed leader, he wanted to wash his hands of all the proceedings, and literally tried. He wanted to satisfy the crowd. Pilate had killed Jews before, but he knew the crowd was wrong. They had brought Jesus before him not because of a rebellion or resistance, but due to the fact they were envious. We need to ask ourselves if we are a Pilate? Do we desire acceptance? Do we fear ridicule and/or rejection? Does the inability to think for ourselves leave us silent, or are we drawn into the fray? Do we find the situation hard to resist? What would we choose? Who do you identify with: *Pilate: wants no part, tries to appease by releasing another *Crowd: demanding action with no proof *Barabbas: a forceful man with an agenda that only regards what he wants? Jesus was a servant. Does this term seem important? Are we willing to face peer pressure to be counted as a follower? Are we willing to choose Jesus’ way or do we feel Barabbas’ methods are the best? Can you not hear Martin Luther King reciting the same Psalm listed at the beginning of this lesson? .