Jesus and his disciples celebrated the Passover on Maundy Thursday of Holy Week. Christians refer to it as The Last Supper.
Jesus sends Peter and John into Jerusalem to secure a place where they can celebrate the Passover together:
Mark 14:12-16 (ESV):
12 And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 13 And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, 14 and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” 16 And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
This account is also found in Matthew 26:17-19 and in Luke 22:7-13.
One of the events of Maundy Thursday, recorded in John, is the foot washing of the disciples by Jesus at the beginning of the Passover meal:
John 13:2-17 (ESV):
2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet,[a] but is completely clean. And you[b] are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant[c] is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
During the Supper, Jesus informed his disciples that one of them was going to betray him. This was shocking to all, but it was not apparent to the disciples that the traitor was Judas. They all asked if they might be the one:
Matthew 26:20-25 (ESV):
20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve.[a] 21 And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”
This is also recorded in Mark 14;17-21 and in Luke 22:14, 21-23.
As they finished eating the Passover meal, Jesus instituted what has come to be known as the ‘Lord’s Supper.’which we are still commemorating nearly two thousand years later:
Matthew 26:26-29 (ESV):
Institution of the Lord’s Supper
26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the[a] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
That last night together, Jesus taught them extensively. The Gospel John records for us his teaching in John 14-16. This time the teaching of Jesus was as clear as he could make it for his followers, including us:
John 16:29-30 (ESV):
29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.”
It is important for all of his followers to study John 14-16. Included in those teachings is his proclamations about He and his Father and the Holy Spirit that he was sending to be with them and us following his death and resurrection.
Then Jesus led them out to the Mount of Olives and predicted that they would soon abandon him:
Matthew 26:30-33 (ESV):
30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 33 Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.”
See also Mark 14:28-31, and Luke 22:39
Jesus then foretells that Peter would indeed abandon him and also deny him 3 times.
Luke 22:31-34 (ESV):
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you,[d] that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter[e] said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus[f] said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”
After that, Jesus led them to a place called Gethsemane to pray. His prayers were intense. The 17th chapter of John, records what Jesus prayed for his disciples including us. An important prayer to read. In Mark, we have Jesus praying in distress, hoping that the impending death that his facing might be removed, but is willing to do His Father’s will:
Mark 14:32-36 (ESV):
32 And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. 34 And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.”[a] 35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36
And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
In Luke, the prayers of Jesus were so intense that a angel came to strengthen him. Not only that but in the midst of his prayers he was sweating was like drops of blood:
Luke 22:43-44 (ESV):
43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.[a]
But when Jesus came back to his disciples, he found them sleeping:
37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. 41 And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest?
It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
Now prayer time was over with the traitor Judas and the temple army upon them:
Mark 14:43-46 (ESV):
43 And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.” 45 And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him. 46 And they laid hands on him and seized him.
The Holy Week story continues tomorrow with the capture, trial, and death of Jesus on Good Friday.