Final two days before the cross, notice Hebrews 12, by way of introduction, Hebrews 12, verses one through four. I want for us to, in particular, look at verse two to help us see what was going through Jesus' mind and how he endured these last two days, knowing that the cross was coming within a couple of days, as far as our study of the Gospels. So he's entering his last two days before the cross. Notice it says in verse one and following of Hebrews chapter 12, wherefore, seeing we also are encompassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which death so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Notice he tells us, Paul tells us here, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. As far as author, we see here that he's both the beginner and finisher of our faith. Notice there's three things in particular I want you to pay attention to here in verse two as to how he endured, how he went through the agony and the difficulties of the cross and even the anticipation of doing that. First of all, notice the joy that was set before him. Where does it say in the Bible that Jesus enjoyed the cross? There's nothing there that says he enjoyed the cross. It says he was looking at the joy beyond the cross. Notice he endured the cross. He simply endured it, as we understand this on Luke 22 and following, in various places in the Gospels. So he endured the cross. And then third notice here, he despised the shame. So he was despising the shame of hanging on the cross. And finally, as he's looking forward to this, is set down on the right hand of the throne of God. I believe that's ultimately the joy that he saw, that he experienced, the joy that was set before him as he went through these agonizing times in the last couple days of his earthly ministry. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your mind. So notice we are to consider the example of the Lord Jesus in the fact that he endured contradiction, the contradiction of sinners against himself. As you think about the Jewish leaders, they on purpose, they knew what they were doing. They were not ignorant as far as what they were planning and and doing this, but of course, God the Father had this in mind. He used that as part of his divine purpose. But notice it says in verse four, for ye have not yet resisted unto blood striving against sin. So when we have been enduring and struggling with trials and persecution and so on in our lives, I want you to consider that the example of Jesus Christ shows us that we have not yet gotten to that point of shedding blood and taking a stand for the Lord Jesus. Now, I want you to notice with me Matthew 26. We're gonna actually go to several places in the gospel accounts here tonight. Lord willing, as we take a look at this. So in our study of the gospels, as I've said, Jesus is now entering his last two days before the cross. Now, when you think about as far as the Lord Jesus, Right from the start, Jesus knew exactly what he was going to endure. I believe there's an element of that probably even at 12 years old, as he said, I must be about my father's business. But I want you to understand throughout his earthly ministry, he knew where this was heading, where he would end up on a cross. Now, as far as Jesus being omniscient God, he knew before the trials that he would endure. And again, he did not enjoy the cross, he endured the cross. What I think is very interesting in comparison I'm so thankful that the Lord does not give us the ability to foresee the trials that are coming our way. When we think about what Jesus had to endure, knowing what he was going to endure, the Lord does not tell us, he does not reveal to us what we are going to suffer for his namesake, health-wise or whatever. I really believe that that is an act of the Lord's mercy, because we would not want to go where we're going as far as sometimes these trials that we know are coming. You know, for example, somebody learning that they have cancer, you know, bad case of cancer, whatever. God does, God as his mercy does not show us or reveal to us what we are going to experience. Now notice it says in Matthew 26, verses one and two, it came to pass when Jesus had finished all these sayings. All right, so what sayings does that refer to? The study that we've had in Matthew 24 and 25, again, an answer to the questions that the disciples had in relation to not one stone, being left upon another and of course was fulfilled in 70 A.D. as we've seen. Notice it says, when he had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, ye know that after two days is the feast of the Passover, and the Son of Man is betrayed to be crucified. And of course we'll look at the chief priests and so on here in a moment. Now as far as this feast of the Passover, Exodus 12 of course is the institution of the Lord's Passover while Israel was still in Egypt. 55 talks about the Jews' Passover. John 2.13, I believe there's another place too, I did not look that up, but two or three different places in the Gospel of John, the Passover is referred to as the Jews' Passover instead of in the Old Testament, the Lord's Passover. This is like the Old Testament sacrifices when Israel had totally turned away from God and what the Lord said was that though He instituted these these patterns, these types, these shadows of the fulfillment of Lord Jesus, what is very interesting is he says, I've had it. I've had enough of your sacrifices. I've had enough of your worship. So when we think about the fact that ultimately, when somebody has rejected the Lord Jesus Christ, when somebody has rejected the God of heaven, even though God commands certain types of worship, he actually despises those things when they're not done from a right heart. So we have the feast of the Passover. In fact, notice with me on John chapter 18, verse 28, then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment. And it was early, so it was early in the morning because they had an illegal trial at night as they tried Jesus and found him guilty of blasphemy and all that. It says, they themselves went not into the judgment hall, notice, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. They're heading into the Passover, the week of unleavened bread, and they're not wanting to defile themselves so that they can partake of the Passover, but yet they're having a part in crucifying the Lord of glory. When you think about the fact that the Passover was supposed to picture the Lord Jesus Christ and His sacrifice, this had become totally meaningless to them as far as their Messiah. They totally missed the fact that the Lord Jesus was the Messiah that had been promised, and even as we understand in 1 Corinthians 5, 7, that He was our Passover. 1 Corinthians 5, 7 reminds you of the wording here, purge out therefore the old leaven. This was in the midst of 1 Corinthians 5 in relation to the church discipline matter with the man who had his father's wife. Purge out therefore the old leaven that ye may be a new lump as ye are unleavened. Of course, this goes back to the Old Testament feast of unleavened bread. So as we understand all of the factors of Jesus Christ, he fulfilled all of these pictures. For even Christ, our Passover is sacrificed for us. So again, Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Testament Passover. And the Jewish leaders totally, totally missed what God was doing in providing their Savior, their Messiah to them. In fact, what I think is very interesting also is Revelation 13, eight says that Jesus Christ is the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. God's plan from creation was the cross. And again, it was pictured in the sacrificial lamb in Exodus 12. So we see that the cross did not take God by surprise. God the Father had predetermined this and had planned it. Then I want you to notice verses three through five, the conspiracy of the religious leaders. It says, then assembled together the chief priests and the scribes and the elders of the people unto the palace of the high priest. Pause there just a moment. So we see here that the chief priest actually lived in a palace by this time. And we also have to understand that the chief priest was actually selected and chosen by Rome, or at least approved by the Roman officials. So I want you to understand that this has become a very political position to the palace of the high priest who was called Caiaphas, and we'll see more here about Caiaphas in a moment, and consulted that they might take Jesus by subtlety and kill him. But they said, not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people. see constantly the Jewish leaders feared the people. Now, I want you to notice something about Caiaphas here in John chapter 11. I want for us to see here what this Caiaphas was really like. He was a very wicked man, and he actually gave a prophecy as we see here in this passage. John chapter 11, notice verses 45 through 53. So this is after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Verse 43, he cried out with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. He that was dead came forth bound hand and foot with grave clothes. and his face was bound with a napkin, Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done." Now, I want you to notice here that the Jewish leaders, be reminded that the Jewish leaders did not deny the raising of Lazarus. In fact, they're going to try to kill Lazarus here, as we see in chapter 12, because they're trying to kill the evidence of this miracle that was leading people to believe in the Lord Jesus. But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees and told them what things Jesus had done. Then gather the chief priests. Notice the chief priests, plural there, Caiaphas being the leader. And I guess from what I remember, they were chosen yearly by Rome or approved of that selection. It says in the Pharisees, a council and said, what do we? For this man doeth many miracles. They did not deny the miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him. And notice their fear here, and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. And one of them named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, you know nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient for us. Notice the self-centeredness here, the selfishness here. It is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, that the whole nation perish not. What I think is very interesting is Ben Shapiro, of course, an admitted Ashkenazi Jew. He actually calls Jesus a revolutionary that died for his cause. That's the common understanding of the Jews today of the Lord Jesus. They still do not believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and was their Messiah. They're still looking for a Messiah. Notice again, it says, he emphasizes that one man should die for the people. So this prophecy here, he says, and this fake he not of himself. So John gives a commentary of what happens here with Caiaphas. But being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation and not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together and won the children of God that were scattered abroad. I want to pause there before we look at the last couple of verses here. I want you to notice here this prophecy is given by Caiaphas, a wicked unbeliever, a Jewish leader, basically a a pseudo high priest, as he's not really, you know, he's not a believer in the Lord. In fact, the Sadducees very much were liberals. They didn't believe in a resurrection or anything. And I want you to notice he prophesied that Jesus would die for that nation. But it's very interesting though, it says in verse 52, and not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. I want you to understand he did not realize this, but he actually was prophesying what would take place after the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. In fact, what's interesting is it's in Acts 15 that James even says that the fulfillment of the Gentiles coming into the churches was actually a fulfillment of Amos 9, as we've seen before. I want you to notice Romans 9. I want to show you here what Paul says about this, Romans 9. So he did not realize this. Well, of course, I just heard something here recently. This is like a Balaam, a soothsayer, prophesying and blessing Israel instead of cursing Israel. And it's also like Balaam's donkey. Bible calls it Balaam's ass. As he's prophesying or speaking, God can use anyone to proclaim a message. And here he uses a wicked high priest Caiaphas to prophesy something that was even beyond his understanding. Notice it says in Romans 9 verse 22 and following, what if God willing to show his wrath and to make his power known endured with much long suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction? Let me remind you also, as we've seen in Matthew 24, the Lord endured with Israel, national Israel for 40 years, four decades before he destroyed the temple, destroyed Jerusalem, and 1.1 million Jews were killed. Notice long suffering, God's long suffering. He wanted them to repent. Verse 23, that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had aforeprepared unto glory. Even us, whom he hath called not of the Jews only. Notice that, here's Paul, a Jew, says not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles. As he saith also in Hosea, I will call them my people, which were not my people, and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass that in the place where it was said unto them, ye are not my people, there shall they be called the children of the living God. So as you go back to John chapter 11, you notice again what Taif has Caiaphas said, and the interpretation of this by the Apostle John, it says, and not for that nation only, but also that he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. This was fulfilled, of course, in Jesus as the good shepherd, as we see in John chapter 10, he had more sheep than were already in the fold, more than just national Israel. Now verse 53 says, then from that day forth, they took counsel together to put him to death. Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews, but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples." As we go back to Matthew 26, notice again here, they're conspiring together, they're consulting as to how they can take Jesus by subtlety. Now, I want you to notice that word subtlety in verse four of Matthew 26. Where else do we find that word subtlety? Genesis chapter three, verse one. as we think about the fact that the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field. So as we think about the subtlety here, even as Jesus already has said in John 8, verse 44, you have your father, the devil. So we see here the spiritual motivation of Caiaphas and these Jewish leaders. Notice that they're trying to take him by subtlety, Mark 14, 1. refers to it as craft. So again, we see the subtlety of the serpent in this. But I also understand this as prophesied in Psalm 2, Psalm of David. Psalm 2, verses 1 and 2 says, Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and catch this, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His anointed. So again, we see they consulted here. They had a conspiracy together as they were trying to find a way to take Jesus away from the multitudes, lest the people cause an uproar. I want to remind you that this is in all reality premeditated murder. So if they're consulting together, if they're consulting with themselves as a group, is that not premeditated murder? Let me ask you, does that not sound like blood libel? I want you to pay attention carefully to verses six and following. As I've been following different chronological lists as far as the Gospels are concerned, I think it's very interesting how they group things together into one event that are not the same. Now, first of all, I want you to consider here in verses six through 13, I want you to show me in this passage, I want you to pay attention as we read down through verse 13, show me the person's name, the woman's name, who this is. Notice it says in verse six, the assumption is made of a particular person, and I'll talk about that here in a moment. Notice verse six, it says, now when Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, first of all, this is not the same event as Luke chapter seven, verses 36 through 50. Why? Because that was Simon the Pharisee. This is Simon the leper. Luke seven occurred well before this period of the gospels. So first of all, pay attention to that because this is not the same event, even though Simon, of course, Simon is a very common name in the Jewish culture. It says here in verse seven, there came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment and poured it on his head as he sat at feet. Now, first of all, I'll mention Luke 7 says that the woman who came in Simon the Pharisee's house It says, she anointed his feet, not his head. Again, pay attention to the details because similarities does not mean that they are the same events. Verse eight, it says, but when his disciples saw it, they had indignation saying, to what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, why trouble ye the woman For she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you, but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman, this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. Hold your place there, I want you to notice Mark 14. Sometimes one gospel account mentions different details. And I want you to notice here, Mark 14, verses three and following. And I want you to see here, again, look for the person's name. Look for the woman's name in this passage. So we're gonna compare scripture to scripture and see what it says. Verse three of Mark 14. And being in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper. Now the question I have is, was this a leper that Jesus cleansed? But notice Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came, notice, a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard, very precious. And she break the box and poured it on his head. So obviously, again, different than Luke 7, the anointing of the feet. And there were some that had indignation within themselves and said, why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than 300 pence four years for a common laborer, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. And Jesus said, let her alone. Why trouble ye her? She hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will, ye may do them good. But me ye have not always. She hath done what she could." I love that statement. She hath done what she could. That's what God asks of us, doing what we can for his work. She has come aforehand, before this, aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. So what's her name? Now, I want you to notice John chapter 12. I showed you this earlier in our study chronologically. I want you to notice, similarities do not mean it's the same event. In fact, as I've compared all of this, there's actually three times that Jesus was anointed. Notice it says here in John 12, verse one, now, Jesus, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. Now, how many days did we see at the beginning of Matthew 26? How many days until Passover? Two, not six. There's absolutely no way this is the same event. John chapter 12 is six days before the Passover. Again, we emphasize this when we were looking chronologically and we saw John chapter 12. Now Matthew 26 is saying it's two days before Passover. Notice there they made him a supper and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Notice, then took Mary, a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot." Notice, Judas is the one who's speaking up here, and it's very possible that Judas led the way and inspired the other disciples to murmur against the woman in Matthew 26 and Mark 14. Notice, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for 300 pence and given to the poor? So it's very interesting, the disciples four days later, the other disciples are repeating what Judas said here in this account. Then said he, not that he cared for, this said he, I should say, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief and had the bag and bare what was put therein. Then said Jesus, let her alone, against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always she hath with you, but me have not always. Now I want you to notice again here it says in verse three, then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly and anointed the head of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. Is that what the Bible says? It says feet. So why is it that so many so-called Bible scholars like to group all of these things into one event when there are very clear differences. I believe John 12 and Matthew 26 are totally two different events. That's why I believe that the gospel accounts do not mention the name of the person in Matthew 26 and Mark 14. So when we think about Bethany, it's automatically assumed that Matthew 26 and Mark 14 are Mary, because Mary also was from Bethany. So was Mary and Martha the only two women living in Bethany at this time. Why is it not accepted the fact that there was another woman who actually anointed the head of Jesus, not the feet? So again, we see the differences tell us very clearly that there was more than one time that Jesus was anointed. These are not grouped together as we are commonly told. Now, what I think is very interesting, it says, Jesus said that she has done this to anoint my body to the burying. Now, when we realize and remember that even the disciples did not understand that Jesus was going to die, be buried, and rise again. Even the disciples, after they had been with Jesus for three years, three and a half years, even they did not fully understand, and even before Jesus was ascended, are you going to reestablish the kingdom of Israel at this time? They totally missed it until the Holy Spirit, of course, was given to them. What I think is very interesting is, apparently, this woman, unnamed woman, actually understood that Jesus was going to be a suffering Messiah, probably based on the Scriptures. But we see very clearly that very few, very few understood that. As you go back to Matthew 26, I want you to notice the next aspect of this, this time here, these two days. leading up to the cross. Matthew 26, notice verses 14 through 16. Then one of the 12 called Judas Iscariot went unto the chief priests and said unto them, what will ye give me? And I will deliver him unto you. And they covenanted with him for 30 pieces of silver. And from that time, he sought opportunity to betray him. The 11 disciples besides Judas in scripture are called what? They are called from what area? Galileans, right? So the 11 are Galileans, and this is why I keep saying the one Jewish disciple that Jesus had was the one who betrayed Jesus to the Jewish leaders. Now, I want you to notice, Judas is conspiring with the Jewish leaders, the chief priests. I think we start seeing in this passage and in others, what was the motive for Satan? I'm getting ahead of myself. What was the motive for Judas doing this? First of all, we see here greed. We've already seen in John chapter 12, he had the bag and he was a thief. And notice it says here in verse 15 again of Matthew 26, what will ye give me? And I will deliver him unto you. Now he wants some payment for this. I mean, this is treachery. So he wants some compensation for this. But I believe it's very possible that he's also motivated by resentment. Notice in John chapter six, John chapter six, And this is in the context of one of the times when Peter declared that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. In fact, let's look at the context leading up to the two verses I want for us to see, verse 66. From that time, many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the 12, will ye also go away? Notice he's speaking to all 12 of his disciples. Then Simon Peter answered him. And so he's answering on behalf of the of the 12, or to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe," so he's making this statement on behalf of Judas also, we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the son of the living God. Jesus answered them, have not I chosen you 12? And notice how he says this again. And one of you is, not will be a devil, Before his betrayal, he already was described by Jesus as a devil. And I'll remind you that this is at the time of the feeding of the 5,000. He spake of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. Now, of course, the disciples, the 11 disciples did not fully understand this until after the betrayal, after the crucifixion and all that. But he spake of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for he it was that should betray him, being one of the 12. So it's very possible that there's some resentment there, but I want you to notice with me Luke 22, Luke chapter 22. I also want you to notice this motivation. There's a spiritual motivation here as well, not only greed and resentment possibly, but I also want you to notice here the spiritual motivation of this in Luke 22 verses three through six. Then entered Satan into Judas, surnamed Iscariot. Notice, Satan entered into him. It's not just that Judas is being influenced by Satan. It says, Satan entered into Judas, being of the number of the 12. And he went his way and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. And they were glad and covenanted to give him money. and he promised and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude." Again, somebody inside to be able to help deliver them over. Now, as far as this 30 pieces of silver, Zechariah 11, 12, of course, it mentions the 30 pieces of silver. So as we understand this, much of Zechariah has already been fulfilled, but John 11, 57 says, now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given commandment that if any man knew where he were, Jesus was, he should show it that they might take him. In fact, they even threatened people that if you know where Jesus is and do not turn him over to us, of course there'll be a penalty, be put out of the synagogue and so on. What I think is very interesting in this whole aspect of Judas going to the chief priests, we see that Judas was more loyal to the Jewish leaders than to the Messiah. I want for us to think as far as an application for us. Who are we more loyal to in our lives? To our family? I wonder how many times God's word has been disobeyed because of loyalty to a family instead of loyalty to the Lord. Faithfulness to the Lord God. Friends. So many times people are afraid to speak up for the Lord Jesus because they might lose some friends. It might be a religious teacher. some favorite teacher that they have that ends up teaching heresy, false doctrine, but yet they're more loyal to that teacher than they are to the Lord Jesus, or might be a political leader. So are we more loyal to a person somewhere than to Jesus and the Word of God? You think about this, Judas has spent three and a half years with the Son of God, three and a half years with his Messiah, And he, in the end, ended up selling Jesus over, selling him out to the chief priests, the Pharisees, and the Jewish leaders. Then we have the preparation for the Passover meal. It's mentioned in all of the Gospels. Passover lamb was chosen four days before. I remind you of the timing of this in relation to the Old Testament, in relation to Jesus. And what was commonly called Palm Sunday today was the time that Jesus was presented as the Lamb of God to the nation of Israel into Jerusalem. Also reminds you that as far as the Jewish culture, when does the day begin? As far as the Jewish culture, The evening and the morning were the first day. The evening and the morning were the second day. The Passover, the feast of unleavened bread and so on began, started Wednesday evening at sunset. And the first day of unleavened bread in the Passover would have been sunset Wednesday to sunset Thursday. So this would be the first day of the feast. I'm going to point some of this out here, why that's important in a moment. So where's the location? Where did Jesus send his two disciples, Peter and John? It's very possibly the home of John Mark, as we see in the scriptures that Jesus told his two disciples that were sent to make preparation that you would find a man carrying a picture, ask him where the room that's prepared. Now, I want you to catch why this is important as far as the day. Matthew 26, 17 says here, now the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus saying unto him, where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the Passover? So you notice again, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Also want you to consider here what Exodus 12, 18 says, in the first month, on the 14th day of the month, that even, ye shall eat the Unleavened Bread until the one and 20th day of the month of even. So we're talking about eight days total. I'll remind you that the Passover feast and the feast of unleavened bread are actually the same event. It begins with the Passover, but there's seven days of unleavened bread following the first day. So it's all together as one event, one feast, a time of feasting. Mark 14, 12 says the first day of unleavened bread when they killed Passover. Luke 22, seven, then came the day of unleavened bread when the Passover must be killed. I want you to think about why this is important, because I believe very strongly as you look at scripture, that the lamb was chosen on the 10th day of the month, according to the Jewish calendar, when Jesus presented himself to the city of Jerusalem, riding on a colt full of an ass, all right? So he's presented on the 10th day, according to the Jewish calendar. On the 14th day, after the lamb has been watched for four days, they notice, make sure there's no blemishes and all that. Then on the 14th day, according to the Jewish calendar, the 14th day of the year, then that's when the Passover lamb was sacrificed. I remind you again, Wednesday evening, sunset to Thursday evening, sunset. That would be the fourth day. So when Jesus was on the cross on Thursday afternoon, That was when the Passover lamb was sacrificed throughout the city of Jerusalem. It had to be according to that Jewish schedule calendar because Jesus was the lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. I believe it's amazing at all the timing that that the Lord went through. All of these Old Testament pictures were fulfilled in a moment of time. It had to be Jesus, the lamb of God was killed before sunset Thursday, on the first day of Unleavened Bread, Wednesday evening to Thursday evening sunset. Two disciples, Peter and John, were sent to make arrangements. In Matthew 26, 20, in fact, let's read down to verse 20. Verse 18, it says, he said, go into the city to such a man, said unto him, the master saith, my time is at hand, I will keep the Passover at thy house with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them, and they made ready the Passover. Now, when the even was come, he sat down with the 12. Notice the evening. So Judas would be leaving later. Now, we're not gonna take time to look at this for the sake of time. I don't wanna just start this, but notice John chapter 13. I want you to notice a couple of statements here at the beginning of this to show us the timing of this. Again, it's amazing the timing that all of these things fell into place. It's just a coincidence, right? Now, this has been planned by God since the foundation of the world. That's why so many details and prophecies came together in this short two, three days, as far as the Lord Jesus is concerned. Notice it says in verse one, now, before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come, John 17 says the very thing as he's praying to his heavenly father, come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end." And notice now, supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, this is Luke 22, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he was come from God and went to God, again, John 17, is gonna explain some more of this. He riseth from supper and laid aside his garments and took a towel and, notice, girded himself. Where does it say in any of these gospel accounts that Jesus ate of the Passover lamb? I remind you that there's a Passover meal as well as the Passover lamb. And again, on the 14th day of the month, that's when the Passover lamb would be sacrificed. So this was the evening meal, the beginning, the start of this first day of unleavened bread. As we see in this passage, of course, Judas would eventually leave after Jesus washes their feet. But I want you to think about this as far as what we see in relation to the details of this. First of all, I think it's very interesting that the Lord is concerned about details in relation to prophecy. Jesus knew all of this, and yet he still went through these days. Now, John 13 through 17 will be the very last things he says to his disciples before he goes to the cross, before he's arrested. Again, when I think about all this, in fact, Acts 2 even says that Jesus was delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. Thank you for the opportunity to be reminded of how the Lord Jesus endured these two days knowing exactly what he was going to experience. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for going through all of this suffering, this agony, even the betrayal of one of your own followers. Thank you, Lord, for all that you suffered for us. Provide salvation for each and everyone who believes, in Jesus' name, amen.