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It’s Thursday and Jesus has made preparations to celebrate Passover with His disciples in the upper room.

The “Day of Preparation” has begun: the roasted lamb, the bitter herbs, the unleavened bread, the fruit sauce and the four cups of wine are in the center of the table. Jesus and His disciples are reclined, resting on their left arm, eating with their right, with their feet extending away from the table. None of the disciples offer to wash one another’s feet, so Jesus uses the moment to teach them by doing it Himself, even though He is the “Guest of Honor.” Jesus says, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14).

Judas leaves to betray Jesus. When He had dipped the morsel, He gave it to Judas Iscariot. After Judas had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him in John 13:27, “What you are 
going to do, do quickly." Jesus, knowing that the end is near, spends his final hours instructing His disciples, the representatives of his new messianic community. He is preparing His disciples for what is ahead. They are to continue the mission of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. They are to love and sacrificially serve one another as they witness for Jesus.

After wrapping things up in the upper room, Jesus says that they will all fall away. “You will all fall away because of Me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ [Zech. 13: 7] But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter answered Him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter said to Him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny You!” And all the disciples said the same” (Matt. 26:31-35).

They travel east of the city to the Mt. of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane (Olive Press). Their path is marked by numerous olive trees. Jesus’ disciples fall asleep while He prays in the garden in Matt. 26:39: “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

Jesus can see the torch lights and Roman troops coming up the Mt. of Olives to arrest Him and He wakes His disciples and tells them, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt. 26: 41).

The very next day Jesus will be tried illegally and crucified by the Romans.