251
See also: Covenants 44–47 ■ The Passover 72–73 ■ The Baptism of Jesus
194 –97 ■ The Crucifixion 258–65 ■ The Day of Pentecost 282–83THE GOSPELS
Herod’s Jerusalem
Seeking to establish his
reputation as Israel’s ruler
despite his association
with the Roman overlords,
Herod the Great, King of
Judea (37–4 bce), decided to
refurbish the Second Temple.
He aimed to nearly double
its overall footprint with a
vast paved court, and this
work was still ongoing during
the time of Jesus. According
to historian Flavius Josephus
(c.37–100 ce), the Temple was
“like a snow-clad mountain
for all that was not gold was
gleaming white.” Situated
alongside the Temple walls
was the Antonia Fortress,
which Herod built to house
the occupying armies. Other
major sites included his palace,
the Praetorium, and the home
of the Roman governor.
Jerusalem’s population
around this time is estimated
at 40,000, though at festival
times, pilgrims coming into
the city to worship could
increase that number to about
250,000. However, many of
these visitors would not find
accommodation in the city;
instead, they would look for
rooms in nearby villages—
such as Bethany, where Jesus
and His disciples stayed.A model of Herod’s Temple
shows what it might have looked
like. The Temple was 164 feet
(50m) high and stood on the
highest hill in Jerusalem.their ancestors’ escape from
Egypt: unleavened bread, roasted
lamb, bitter herbs, and wine.The table is set
Later that day, Jesus and the rest
of the disciples arrive at the room
to share the meal. A low table is set,
and Jesus and the disciples recline
around it, in the customary way.
Stone jars filled with water stand
by the door, so that guests can wash
their dusty feet before sitting down.
Usually, this task is done for them by
a servant, but to their surprise, the
disciples watch as Jesus strips off
His robe, ties a towel around His
waist, and begins to wash their feet.
Peter is horrified: “Lord, are you
going to wash my feet?” he asks
(John 13:6). In answer, Jesus tells
the disciple that unless he allows
his feet to be washed by Him, Peter
will not be able to share the meal
with Jesus, or all it symbolizes.
Jesus is setting His disciples an
example here, turning the usual
expectations of greatness on their
head. Jesus, their honored leader,
is humbly serving them by washing
their feet, an act that symbolizesa spiritual cleansing. All that Jesus
is about to face in the next 24 hours
can be understood as Him serving
them in the ultimate way—His
sacrifice will cleanse the stain of
sin from their lives.Preparing the disciples
As they eat bitter herbs and
roasted lamb and remember
God’s deliverance of the Israelites
from Egypt, Jesus alludes to the
significance of the occasion. “I have
eagerly desired to eat the Passover
with you before I suffer,” He says
(Luke 22:15), knowing that this will
be the last meal with His disciples
before His opponents lay hands
on Him. As they share one of the
traditional cups of wine around the
table, Jesus notes with foreboding
that He will not eat this meal with
them again “until the kingdom of
God comes” (Luke 22:18). Just as
the Israelites have shared a last
meal in Egypt before their divinely
ordained rescue and journey to
freedom, so this is Jesus’s last
meal before the events that will
bring about a new freedom for the
world in the kingdom of God. ❯❯For whenever you eat
this bread and drink
this cup, you proclaim
the Lord’s death until
He comes.
1 Corinthians 11:26Very truly I tell you,
no servant is greater
than his master, nor is a
messenger greater than
the one who sent him.
John 13:16US_248-253_The_Last_Supper.indd 251 27/09/17 10:17 am