by Sharla Guenther
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples asked Jesus,"Where would you like us to plan for you to eat the Passoverfeast?"
Jesus replied to them, "Go into the city and you will find a man. Tell him that we would like to come to his house for Passover."
First of all, what is the Feast of Unleavened Bread? What is thePassover? These are actually the same things. The Jews celebratedthe Passover ever since the time of Moses, when the Lord saved all the Israelitebabies. This was when the Lord 'passed over' their houses, and they werekept safe. This is another big story your teacher will have to tell youanother time.
During the time of the Passover celebrations, the people didn't eat or haveany bread in their homes with yeast in it. Yeast is what makes the breadall big and puffy. Without yeast, the bread is flat and that is calledunleavened bread. Now back to the story.
The disciples did just as Jesus asked, and they found a place and got readyfor the Passover.
The evening came, and Jesus and the twelve disciples sat to eat themeal. The disciples were eating quietly because they had a lot on theirminds. They were worried. Some people wanted to kill Jesus sincehe was getting so popular.
Jesus could see the disciples were worried. He said to them quietly,"I tell you the truth, one of you here will betray me."
The disciples looked at each other in shock, and some of them asked Jesus, "It isn't me, is it Lord?"
Jesus replied, "The one who dips his bread into the bowl with me willbetray me. I will die, just as it is written, but the man who betrays mewill feel sorry forever.
Then Judas, with his head down spoke quietly to Jesus, "It isn't me, isit?"
Jesus answered, "Yes, you are the one."
Judas' head went down even lower; he had hoped that the other disciples had not heard what Jesus said. Luckily, they were paying more attention to Jesus breaking apart some bread.
He thanked God for the bread and shared it with the disciples and said,"Take this and eat it. This is my body which is given foryou". Then He took a full cup, thanked God for it and said,"This is my blood, which will be poured out for many peopleso their sins may be forgiven." They all took a sip from thecup.
The meal continued after this; it was a long celebration. The disciplestook their time because they enjoyed talking with Jesus and asking Himquestions. (Just like when you go out to eat with your parents and their friends, sometimes they seem to talk forever, and you just want to gohome...).
After some time, Jesus got up from the table and went to a different part ofthe room. He took off his everyday clothes and put a large towel aroundhimself to look like a servant. After that, he poured water intoa large bowl and began to wash the disciples' feet. Then dried them withthe towel that was wrapped around Him.
First of all, Jesus is like a King - but even greater than a king: He's theKing of Kings! By washing the disciples feet, He was doing something thatonly a servant would do. This would be like if someone famous came to your house and started to clean your room -- even getting down ontheir hands and knees to clean under your bed! It probably would neverhappen.
When it was Peter's turn to get his feet cleaned he said to Jesus, "Lord,are you going to wash my feet?"
Jesus replied, "You don't understand what I am doing, but you will later."
"No," said Peter, "you will never wash my feet." Hesaid this because he didn't feel right having Jesus wash his feet. He knewJesus was very special.
Jesus replied back to him, "If I don't wash your feet, you cannot bewith me."
"Then, Lord," Peter replied, "don't just wash my feetbut my hands and head too." Jesus then explained that He only neededto wash his feet; and that, this would make his whole body clean.
When Jesus had finished washing all of the disciples' feet, he put hiseveryday clothes back on and returned to the table. "Do youunderstand what I have done for you?" Jesus asked them."You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and that is who I am. And now thatI have washed your feet, you can also wash one another's feet."
This is an example of how you should treat others. You don't have toactually wash other people's feet, but doing nice things for others andacting like a servant for Jesus, that is what He wants you to do. If youdo these things, Jesus will bless you.
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