KNOWING GOD – THE GOD OF LOVE || Lesson 1 

KNOWING GOD – THE GOD OF LOVE

[With Reference to the Events Concerning Jesus’ “Passion,” note how Jesus’ love is amazingly displayed throughout and therefore ‘stand in awe of God, the Most High.’]

Lesson One

AT THE ‘COENACULUM,” name of traditional place of Last Supper.

Text:  (NIV) Matthew 26:17-35 (Mark 14:12-31; Luke 22:7-38; John 13 & 14)

Events Relating to the Coenaculum:

Passover Supper – Matthew 26:17-20 (Mark 14:12-17; Luke 22:7-18; John 13:1-17)

Matthew 26:17 – On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

The Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover) – Exodus 23:15 – “Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread; for seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in that month you came out of Egypt. “No one is to appear before me empty-handed.

On the first day – When it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb – Mark 14:12  – On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

Luke 22:7 – Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.

Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover? – Manners and Customs of the Bible by Rev. James M. Freeman, A.M. (BM&C) states: “714.  The Israelites who came to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover were received by the inhabitants as brothers, and apartments were gratuitously furnished them where they might eat the feast.  In return, the guests gave their hosts the skins of the paschal lambs and the vessels they had used in the ceremonies.  According to this custom the disciples, wishing to make arrangements for the Passover, inquired of the Lord if he had any special house in view where he desired to go.”

Matthew 26:18-19 – ¹⁸He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, `The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.'”  ¹⁹So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

See Mark 14:13-16 & Luke 22:8-13.

V.19 – the disciples – BM&C “715 … The two disciples, Peter and John, who represented the company who, with Jesus, were to celebrate the Passover together, went, as was customary to the temple with the paschal lamb.  There, taking their turn with others who thronged the temple on the same errand, they killed the lamb, the nearest priest catching the blood in a gold or silver bowl, and passing it to the next in the row of priests until it reached the priest nearest the altar, who instantly sprinkled it towards the altar’s base.  The lamb was then flayed and the entrails removed, to be burnt with incense on the altar.  All this was done in the afternoon.  As soon as it was dark the lamb was roasted with great care.  Thus the two “made ready the Passover.”  They likewise provided unleavened bread, wine, bitter herbs, and sauce.  …”

The Temple – Herod’s.  This was the third temple, replacing Zerubbabel’s which had replaced Solomon’s.  All three temples have been destroyed.  Re Solomon’s – Note the following:

2 Kings 25:8-17 – ⁸On the seventh day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard, an official of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.  ⁹He set fire to the temple of the LORD, the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every important building he burned down.   ¹⁰The whole Babylonian army, under the commander of the imperial guard, broke down the walls around Jerusalem.  ¹¹Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard carried into exile the people who remained in the city, along with the rest of the populace and those who had gone over to the king of Babylon.  ¹²But the commander left behind some of the poorest people of the land to work the vineyards and fields.

¹³The Babylonians broke up the bronze pillars, the movable stands and the bronze Sea that were at the temple of the LORD and they carried the bronze to Babylon.  ¹⁴They also took away the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, dishes and all the bronze articles used in the temple service.  ¹⁵The commander of the imperial guard took away the censers and sprinkling bowls–all that were made of pure gold or silver.

¹⁶The bronze from the two pillars, the Sea and the movable stands, which Solomon had made for the temple of the LORD, was more than could be weighed.  ¹⁷Each pillar was twenty-seven feet high. The bronze capital on top of one pillar was four and a half feet high and was decorated with a network and pomegranates of bronze all around. The other pillar, with its network, was similar.

Note: The Lord allowed the temples, though magnificent, to be destroyed because of the disobedience of His people.  Therefore, as “spiritual temples,” let us desire to be eternally preserved. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – ¹⁹Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.)

Galatians 6:7-10 – ⁷Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. ⁸The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. ⁹Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  ¹⁰Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Matthew 26:20 – When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.

Reclining – CEV notes:  “On special occasions the Jewish people followed the Greek and Roman custom of lying down on their left side and leaning on their left elbow, while eating with their right hand.”

Let us thank the Lord for the blessing of 1 Corinthians 1:9, God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.