Perhaps it would be well to go back and review this account as found in Exodus chapter 12 beginning with verse 3: “Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel saying, in the 10th day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house; and if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year; ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: and ye shall keep it up until the 14th day of the same month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, where in they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.” Exodus 12: 3-7.
We have the account where Moses had the children of Israel keep the Passover at Sinai: (Numbers 9:4-5) “And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the Passover. And they kept the Passover on the 14th day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.”
The Passover day that was established when the Jews left Egypt and being kept in all faithfulness reached the climax of performance on the night of the 14th day of the first month when Jesus celebrated it with his apostles for the last time. For at or about midnight of this day a multitude led by Judas captured Jesus in Gethsemane.
Going back to Luke chapter 22, as Jesus had unfolded the true purpose of his death, it would seem that the apostles paid little attention until Jesus said: “But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!” Luke 22:21-22.
Now the apostles come to life suddenly, and they “looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.” John 13:22
It seemed inconceivable to the apostles that one of their number could do such a treacherous thing.
“And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto Jesus, Lord is it I? And he answered and said, ‘He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? Jesus said, Thou hast said.” Matt. 26:22-25.
There was so much confusion that it would seem that the words of Jesus were not clear to the rest of the apostles. This though is clear: Judas left the little assembly and as he went out Jesus said: “That thou doest, do quickly.” John 13: 27.
There is every likelihood that there were two reasons for these words. First Jesus wanted to get his capture behind him and secondly time was passing quickly by and the midnight hour would soon be at hand.
There may be a question advanced here: why did Jesus select a person to be an apostle that was so grasping or vile that he would betray his master? All things about men were known to Jesus for we have this statement: “Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man for he knew what was in man John 2:25
According to plan then there was need for a man of unscrupulous nature To prove that God makes use of such per sons see how God used Pharaoh of Egypt
And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power, and that my name may be de dared throughout all the earth Exodus 9:16
With God there is a man to perform every duty whether for good or for evil to make the plan of life work out the way God planned from the beginning
After Judas leaves the little group, Jesus, knowing where he was going and for what intent, says to the remaining eleven Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him Little children, yet a little while I am with you Ye shall seek me and as I said unto the Jews, whither I go, ye cannot come, so now I say to you John 13:31-33
Peter still did not grasp the true meaning of what Jesus meant and being ever so confident of himself, says Lord why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake Jesus answered him Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice John 13 37 38 Luke 22 34
The apostles seemed to be downcast after this statement, so Jesus encourages them by stating Let not your heart be troubled ye believe in God, believe also in me This is another quotation that is often quoted out of context, which changes the meaning altogether Jesus only could give the gift of life
Jesus then offers much advice and explanations as recorded in John chapters 14 through 17 And on finishing this long discourse, Jesus takes his followers over the brook Cedron where was a gar den, into which he entered, and his disciples
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One