The seven days after Palm Sunday leading to Easter are sometimes called “Holy Week,” and each day presents scene or episodes that I think over and contemplate and I would like to invite readers to do that with me. Yesterday was Wednesday. Holy Thursday is often called “Maundy Thursday.” The term
In John 18, it is clearly given who draws the sword in the protection of Christ. It is Peter. Yet, Christ makes this very enigmatic remark:
10 Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus. 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?”
What this means is that this mysterious "cup" that Jesus prayed three times to remove, under the not so watchful eye of Peter, along with James and John, did, in fact, take place. That is why Christ is able to be seized and taken easily into custody. He now bears the "cup", or container of all the seven miracles that are described in the Gospel of John. This is why Peter has the vision of a young man following Christ who slips away when this youth is also to be captured:
51 A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they seized him. 52 But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked. Mark 14
Interesting, this is reported only in the Gospel of Mark, which is said to be the testimony of Peter, who had heard these words of Christ after cutting the ear of the slave in John 18. Only to Peter was it made known that the transaction involving the "cup" had actually succeeded, and was about to take effect.
Holy Thursday is given its most elaborate and complex description in the Gospel of John. In chapter 13, we hear of the event of "the washing of the feet", which is later asserted as being the first stage of the specifically Christian Initiation, which is given good account here:
Yet, following the account of the Lord's Supper, which effectively concludes with these words:
31 Therefore when he [Judas] had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; 32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately. 33 Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Then, before departing to the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ feels the need to elaborate as fully as possible His Gospel to the Disciples in the next four chapters. This is the heart and soul of His ministry. He explains in every way possible what it means to be loved, and to have faith, and how they will not be abandoned, but receive the Holy Spirit for their strengthening in conscious remembering for the further mission in bringing about a Christian World.
This has been the uphill battle ever since. Assessing Holy Week is a wonderful meditation. Thanks.
In John 18, it is clearly given who draws the sword in the protection of Christ. It is Peter. Yet, Christ makes this very enigmatic remark:
10 Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus. 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?”
What this means is that this mysterious "cup" that Jesus prayed three times to remove, under the not so watchful eye of Peter, along with James and John, did, in fact, take place. That is why Christ is able to be seized and taken easily into custody. He now bears the "cup", or container of all the seven miracles that are described in the Gospel of John. This is why Peter has the vision of a young man following Christ who slips away when this youth is also to be captured:
51 A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they seized him. 52 But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked. Mark 14
Interesting, this is reported only in the Gospel of Mark, which is said to be the testimony of Peter, who had heard these words of Christ after cutting the ear of the slave in John 18. Only to Peter was it made known that the transaction involving the "cup" had actually succeeded, and was about to take effect.
Holy Thursday is given its most elaborate and complex description in the Gospel of John. In chapter 13, we hear of the event of "the washing of the feet", which is later asserted as being the first stage of the specifically Christian Initiation, which is given good account here:
https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/GA095/English/RSPAP1986/19060903p01.html
Yet, following the account of the Lord's Supper, which effectively concludes with these words:
31 Therefore when he [Judas] had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; 32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately. 33 Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Then, before departing to the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ feels the need to elaborate as fully as possible His Gospel to the Disciples in the next four chapters. This is the heart and soul of His ministry. He explains in every way possible what it means to be loved, and to have faith, and how they will not be abandoned, but receive the Holy Spirit for their strengthening in conscious remembering for the further mission in bringing about a Christian World.
This has been the uphill battle ever since. Assessing Holy Week is a wonderful meditation. Thanks.
I am watching Deep space Nine, Star trek, while reading and contemplating your very interesting commentary. Thank youq