The Farmer Winnowing Wheat, Wind separates the chaff from the seed.
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”
Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.”
But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus – Sift me… my heart, my mind, my spirit. Keep what pleases you… and remove all else. And strengthen me… to keep me faithful to the end. For your name’s sake. Amen.
Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them. Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’
“Divine Servant” Max Griener Jr, 1986-1989
But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.
“You have stayed with me in my time of trial. And just as my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I now grant you the right to eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel….”
Prayer: Lord Jesus – The disciples seem silly arguing about who is the greatest among them. And yet – not so silly at all – when I begin to compare my life and work with that of others. Fill me with godly contentment. Give me a servant’s heart, that I might be with you in Kingdom come. And by your grace, reserve a place for me at your table. To God be the glory. Amen.
Hymn:“Servant Song” – Donna Marie McGargill, OSM
What do you want of me, Lord? Where do you want me to serve you? Where can I sing your praises. I am your song. Jesus, Jesus, you are the Lord. Jesus, Jesus, you are the way.
I hear you call my name, Lord, and I am moved within me. Your Spirit stirs my deepest self. Sing your songs in me. Jesus, Jesus, you are my Lord. Jesus, Jesus, you are the way.
Above, below, and around me. Before, behind and all through me, your Spirit burns deep within me. Fire my life with your love. Jesus, Jesus, be warmth of my heart. Jesus, Jesus, you are the way.
You are the light in my darkness. You are my strength when I’m weary. You give me sight when I’m blinded. Come see for me. Jesus, Jesus, you are my light. Jesus, Jesus, you are the way.
Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, “Go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together.”
“Where do you want us to prepare it?” they asked him.
He replied, “As soon as you enter Jerusalem, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. At the house he enters, say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal.” They went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover meal there.
When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table. Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.”
“Last Supper” Simon Ushakov, 1685
Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”
He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.”
After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.
“But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me. For it has been determined that the Son of Man must die. But what sorrow awaits the one who betrays him.” The disciples began to ask each other which of them would ever do such a thing.
Dear Heavenly Father, we lower our heads before you and we confess that we have too often forgotten that we are yours. Sometimes we carry on our lives as if there was no God and we fall short of being a credible witness to You. For these things we ask your forgiveness and we also ask for your strength. Give us clear minds and open hearts so we may witness to You in our world. Remind us to be who You would have us to be regardless of what we are doing or who we are with. Hold us to You and build our relationship with You and with those You have given us on earth.
Almighty God, who does freely pardon all who repent and turn to Him, now fulfill in every contrite heart the promise of redeeming grace; forgiving all our sins, and cleansing us from an evil conscience; through the perfect sacrifice of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Refrain: Take and eat; take and eat: this is my body given up for you. Take and drink; take and drink: this is my blood given up for you.
I am the Word that spoke and light was made; I am the seed that died to be re-born; I am the bread that comes from heaven above; I am the vine that fills your cup with joy.
I am the way that leads the exile home; I am the truth that sets the captive free; I am the life that raises up the dead; I am your peace, true peace my gift to you.
I am the Lamb that takes away your sin; I am the gate that guards you night and day; You are my flock; you know the shepherd’s voice; You are my own; your ransom is my blood.
Judas receiving thirty pieces of silver for betraying Jesus by Mattia Preti, c. 1640.
The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is also called Passover, was approaching. The leading priests and teachers of religious law were plotting how to kill Jesus, but they were afraid of the people’s reaction.
Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, and he went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted, and they promised to give him money. So he agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus so they could arrest him when the crowds weren’t around.
Prayer: Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me. Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil. And lead me in the way everlasting! I ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Some of his disciples began talking about the majestic stonework of the Temple and the memorial decorations on the walls. But Jesus said, “The time is coming when all these things will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”
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Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.
“Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”
Every day Jesus went to the Temple to teach, and each evening he returned to spend the night on the Mount of Olives. The crowds gathered at the Temple early each morning to hear him.
Prayer: Lord Jesus – Place your Word on my heart and mind… when I go to bed, when I wake up, in all my comings and goings throughout the day. And make me a doer of your Word and not a hearer only… that I may be alert and find strength to meet the challenges of the day. To the glory of God alone. Amen.
The Peanut Gallery 