Close To Jesus

Passover is one of the most widely observed holidays and one of the most sacred to the Jewish people. It is a time of songs, family, and celebration. During this time, the Jews commemorate the bondage of the Israelites to Egypt. This weeklong celebration includes several rituals such as the meal known as the seder, removal of leavened bread and readings from the Haggadah. Passover customs between the Yemenites (Eastern Jews) and the European Jews vary in certain ways. One variation is in their musical interpretations of the Passover seder.

As Jesus and his disciples departed Jerusalem for the Garden of Gethsemane his heart was now aching with sorrow. It was at Gethsemane, which lies across the Kidron Valley that Jesus predicts that all his disciples, his closest friends, would deny him. This included Peter who would deny him, not once but three times. Although, his disciples, along with Peter, say that it will never happen, Jesus knows better.

     According to the Bible, the story of Passover runs as follows. A group of Hebrews known as the sons of Jacob came down from Canaan towards Egypt. They settled under a benevolent regime, where they were made slaves and set to work, building the cities of Pithum and Raamses. The pharaoh ordered all the

The story says that God told Moses to have each family take a lamb and to slaughter the it then and paint the door posts with the lambs blood. Then that night, the Angel of Death would “passover” the homes protected by the blood, but take the lives of the first born children unprotected by the blood of the lamb. Also in Christian religion it says “Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearer, he was silent and opened not his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7). Just like who the lamb was used in Egypt, Jesus was used when on the cross. They sacrificed his blood just like the

“When He had finished praying, Jesus left with His disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and He and His disciples went into it. Now Judas, who betrayed Him,

Later in his speech he mentioned the words, “Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly c:oncern their temporal salvation?” These are the words that ring so profoundly from the book of Mark 8:18. Henry was trying to convey to the listeners to open your eyes and see what is really happening. Even Jesus’ disciples did not see, hear, or understand Jesus clearly. Henry was sending out a warning when he said, “Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss.” He was speaking of a betrayal of death. Remember the story when Jesus was betrayed with a kiss that turned Jesus over to the hands of the chief Sanhedrin priests as a bargain exchange for a measly handful of thirty silver coins which led to Jesus’ death. Judas was right in Jesus’ face daily. He worked with Jesus, and was chose to follow Jesus and to be one of His disciples. Judas handled the money! Henry was telling the people in so many words that the truth

Jesus treated those who betrayed, mocked, persecuted and murdered Him with irrational mercy and grace. Even though Jesus knew He would be betrayed by Judas, He still washed His feet, broke bread with Him and even offered what seems to be a warning, “but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” Similarly, He knew that He would be abandoned by all of His disciples, yet He didn’t stop communing with them, “And Jesus said to them, ‘You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.” On the night of His betrayal and arrest His one of His disciples drew His sword to defend Him and cut off the ear of the high priest,

The Passover in Hebrew is known as Pesach. It begins in the Sunset of Monday, April 10, 2017, and ends at the nightfall of Tuesday, April 18, 2017. The Pesach is depicted in the book of Exodus 12:23. It describes the day when God passed over Israelites. During the Passover, the Israelites usually celebrate their Liberation from the Egyptian bondage. This is when God delivered them from slavery in Egypt. The Passover is also considered to be one of the most theologically important holidays in the Jewish calendar. It normally goes for eight days but in other communities, it lasts for only one week. The Jews are prohibited to eat any bread or leavened food. They are only allowed

Jesus knew what Judas was going to do early as indicated in the Gospel of John. What if Jesus asked him to do it? The example that the book gives is when the women pour the expense perfumed oil over Jesus and there was a rebuke form the disciples that the perfume could be sold and the money could feed the poor. Jesus rebukes the disciples that she was divinely led and was preparing his body for burial. Jesus kissed Judas and said friend do what you have to do. Jesus knew what was going to happen.

The teachings of Jesus focused primarily on the "the kingdom of God" and were usually relayed through parables drawing on familiar images from agricultural life. He rebuked the hypocrisy of some Jewish leaders and taught the importance of love and kindness, even to one's enemies. Jesus' popularity grew quickly, but so did opposition from local leaders. Roman rulers were uncomfortable with the common perception that he was the Messiah who would liberate the Jews from Roman rule, while Jewish leaders were disquieted by Jesus' shocking interpretations of Jewish law, his power with the people, and the rumor that he had been alluding to his own divinity. In the Gospels, Jesus repeatedly suggests to his disciples his end is near, but they do not fully understand or accept the idea. The clearest expression of this is at the "Last Supper," which took place on the night before his death. All four Gospels record that Jesus shared bread and wine with his disciples, asking them to "do this in remembrance of me." Christians celebrate this event in the sacrament of the Eucharist, or Communion. On this evening Jesus also predicts that one of them will betray him, which is met with astonishment and denial. But that very night, Jesus' fate was sealed when Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples and possibly the group's treasurer, led Roman soldiers to Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. As they arrested Jesus, the ever-colorful Peter defended his master with a sword, slicing off

“The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born”(Mark 14:21). Jesus chose an unusual group of men to be his special disciples. The twelve consisted of “sinners” as Pharisees at this time would label them. From fishermen to tax collectors the disciples weren't very high on societies ladder. But who knew one of them would be the one to turn Jesus in to the religious leader, who despised him? He is evil, He is Judas.

My knowledge of Judas comes only from what I read in the Bible. It is easy to jump the gun and assume he was an outsider always causing trouble. Then something grabs my attention and makes me second guess myself. Remember reading the story of the Last Supper (Matthew 26:19-25) and the way in which Jesus specifically says one within His group will betray Him? Notice when reading the story none of the disciples point to Judas as the obvious choice. In fact, they ask, “Is it me?”

The betrayal of Christ, by Judas is explained in history in the Gospels. Luke 22:47-48 says, “While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kill him, but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss (BibleGateway)?”

The Last Supper (found in gospels Matthew, Mark and Luke) is the final meal that jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion. The Last supper was presented like a passover meal, traditional hymns were sung, and traditional prayers were spoken as Jesus passed around the matzot (passover bread). Among these Jewish traditions Jesus added the words while breaking the bread “This is my Body, which will be given up for you” and while passing around the wine Jesus said “This is my blood, which will be poured out for you”. From these words and actions, stems the creation of the Eucharist that we know today. In the view of the passover, Jesus became the sacrificial lamb, his blood covered the wood of his crucifix just as the sacrificial

Jewish people celebrate Passover with a ritual dinner called Seder, which represents the meal that the Israelites ate before fleeing Egypt (Oxtoby 123). In a Passover Seder, the head of the family begins the ceremony by sanctifying the holiday with a Qiddush, or benediction, over a cup of wine (Tobias 88). While reciting a prayer, raw vegetables dipped in vinegar, a shank bone and a hard-boiled egg are presented to the family members. Then, a second cup of wine is poured and at this time, the Passover liturgy, or Haggadah, begins (Oxtoby 124). The