A Christian Passover Service
PrintPart I
Prelude:
By Randy Vild
Death Angel |
Part II
Introduction:
Putting the Passover in Perspective
Good evening everyone
Brethren, tonight thousands of God’s people around the world are coming together to commemorate what is undeniably the most selfless act in human history. It is called the Passover and is a memorial of the death of our Savior—a death that was envisioned by God before creation itself. Consider the words of the apostle Peter.
I Peter 1:19-20
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you... (1Pe. 1:19-20)
The Expositors Bible Commentary offers a very interesting observation about Peter’s words relating to when God planned to offer up His Son as a ransom for mankind. It examines the word “foreordained.”
The Greek word for “foreordained” is poregnosmenou, and is often translated “known before.” The meaning, however, must be more than “foresight.” For why would Peter at this point make the obvious statement that God knew before about Jesus and His death? The word connotes purpose and has been translated as “predestined before the foundation of the world.” The redemption was in the plan of God before Creation occurred. In other words, the salvation in Christ was purposed from eternity and is now made plain. (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 12 p. 225)
It is hard to fathom the depth of a Plan so dedicated to success that God the Father would commit His most priceless resource to ensure its achievement. But that is exactly what He did. At some point in the vastness of eternity, the Greatest Being in existence consciously planned to offer the unblemished life of His own Son in order that man could be spared the effects of sin (1Jn. 3:4).
The apostle Paul wrote that our part in that sacrifice was also envisioned before the universe was formed.
Ephesians 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will...
When giving ancient Israel His instructions regarding the Passover God explained that they would honor this time in perpetuity. Furthermore, so important is this particular observance that individuals missing it due to illness or travel are commanded by God to keep it one month later.
Numbers 9:9-13
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the Passover unto the LORD. The fourteenth day of the second month at even he shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
…But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbears to keep the Passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people:
In the New Testament, the apostle Paul emphasized that God’s people are to show great deference to the solemnity of this service and even warned against taking it unworthily.
I Corinthians 11:27-29
Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.For he that eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
Today God’s Church keeps the Passover in accordance with the example set by Jesus Christ on the night He was betrayed. What follows is a chronicle of what occurred that evening. It begins as the sun is setting on Tuesday evening the 14th day of Nisan 30 A.D.
Today God’s Church keeps the Passover in accordance with the example set by Jesus Christ on the night He was betrayed. What follows is a chronicle of what occurred that evening. It begins as the sun is setting on Tuesday evening the 14th day of Nisan 30 A.D.
At that time Jesus and His disciples arrive at a home prepared for them to partake of the Passover in accordance with the command. They will keep this feast in an upper room. Although the name of the homeowner is not mentioned in any of the gospels, many authorities believe he may have been the father of John Mark. (Mt. 26:20)
Part III
Foot Washing
A Lesson in Greatness
As they enter the upper room, the disciples are arguing over power and status as well as who will be the greatest in the Kingdom. Regrettably, this was not the first time they engaged in such a dispute. A few weeks earlier, the mother of James and John actually lobbied for her sons to sit at Jesus’ right and left side in the Kingdom (Mt. 20:20-28). Although their arguing is clearly a distraction, Jesus addresses this issue.
Luke 22:24-27
And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And he (Jesus) said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But it shall not be so with you: therefore, he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? Is not he that sitteth at meat? But I am among you as he that serves.
Sadly, in the church today we see the same ego raising its ugly head. But it should not be so with us. Our example of true greatness should come from the true leader of the church. Here is how the apostle Paul described that leader.
Philippians 2:3-8
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem the other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the stake.
The Messiah’s remarkable attitude of service was actually demonstrated in the upper room. After correcting His disciples because of their bickering over personal status, Jesus provided a tangible example of how a true King in God’s service conducts himself.
To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endures for ever:
John 13:3-17
Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He rose from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter said unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou know not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter said unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus said to him, He that is washed need not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
In truth, EVERY stanza of this passage declares God’s mercy toward His people—NOT their enemies. For any true believer to employ them as proof that mercy belongs to everyone—including the DEVIL, constitutes a reproach to God’s word and is an insult to mercy itself.
Once again, here is how God the Merciful expresses this truth. Notice who receives His mercy and who receives His vengeance.
Foot Washing Instructions
At this point in accordance with our Savior’s personal example as well as His instructions to us, we will participate in the foot washing portion of the service.
Betrayal and Desertion
As the meal progresses, Jesus indicates that He will be betrayed by one of His disciples (Mt. 26:21-23). He later identifies that disciple by saying, “He it is for whom I shall dip the sop and give it to him.”
NOTE
Given the eating styles of the day, everyone present may have dipped their hands in the dish with Jesus. Therefore, His words may have been of little use to the disciples in determining who the betrayer was. The point the Messiah may very well have been making was that His betrayal would come from a friend, with whom He had shared His food just as it was prophesied (Psa. 41:9).
Psalm 41:9
Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
At this point Satan enters into Judas Iscariot (Jn. 13:27), causing him to leave the upper room. However, the disciples are unaware of what he is about to do. They think he is going to purchase provisions for the feast or perhaps give something to the poor. (Jn. 13:27-30)
The Messiah then makes a powerful statement regarding Judas and his act of treachery. Jesus says that although His betrayal was prophesied in the scriptures, this did not mean that the one who would betray Him would not be held responsible. Jesus actually reveals that it would have been better if Judas Iscariot had never been born. (Mt. 26:24)
After Judas leaves, Jesus presents some disappointing news regarding the loyalty of the remaining 11 disciples. Quoting from the book of Zechariah (Zech. 13:7), He informs them that they will all desert Him (Mt. 26:31-32). Peter responds by rebuking Jesus for even thinking such a thing. He even declares that he is prepared to go to prison and even face death for his Lord. (Lk. 22:33)
However, the news Jesus has for Peter is even more sobering. He informs him that despite all his protests to the contrary, he (Peter) will actually deny his Lord three times before the cock crows the following morning (Lk. 22:34). Peter must have been genuinely mystified by these words. He was totally convinced that his loyalty to the Messiah was unwavering.
Part IV
Partaking of Unleavened Bread
At this point, Jesus introduces new elements to the Passover. He institutes the symbols of the bread and wine as types of His body which would be broken (1Cor. 11:24) and His blood which would be shed (Mt. 26:26-28; 1Cor. 11:25).
He begins with the unleavened bread.
Matthew 26:26
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
The apostle Paul describes this moment as follows:
I Corinthians 11:23-24
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
Earlier in His ministry Jesus explained the significance of unleavened bread and how it related to His life and ultimate sacrifice.
John 6:33-35
For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and gives life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
John 6:48-51
I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
John 6:57-58
As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eats me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eats of this bread shall live forever.
Brethren, the bread we are about to eat pictures Christ’s broken body. He said as much. As you partake of it consider that the savagery He was subjected to was not for anything He had done. The violence He suffered was for what we have done. The great prophet Isaiah expressed it this way.
Isaiah 53:1-6
Brethren, in accordance with Jesus’ example as well as His instructions to us we will now partake of His body.
Break the bread first then Pray over it
Part V
Partaking of the Wine
The book of Hebrews teaches us that the blood of Christ accomplished what no other sacrifice ever could.
Hebrews 9:11-14
But Christ becoming a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh:
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Hebrews 9:22-25
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enterers into the holy place every year with blood of others;
Hebrews 9:28
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Ephesians 1:7
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Colossians 1:20-22
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Jesus was acutely aware of the enormity of the burden He would have to bear in order to redeem us from the consequence of our actions and it is difficult to imagine what He must have been thinking when He poured wine into the cup.
Mark 14:23-25
And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
In accordance with Jesus’ example as well as his instructions to us we will now partake of the wine.
Pray over the wine.
Pass it out to the congregation
Part VI
Jesus’ Final Instructions
After instituting the symbols of the New Covenant, Jesus teaches His disciples about their responsibilities as leaders in the New Testament Church. This is often referred to as His “Farewell Discourse” and takes place prior to leaving the upper room. At this point, Jesus promises the disciples that He will send the Holy Spirit to guide them. He also speaks of the connection between obedience and love. The point He makes is that you cannot have one without the other.
John 14:1-8
“Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were otherwise, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; so that where I am, you may be also. And where I am going you know, and the way you know.”
Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; how then can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also. But from this time forward, you know Him and have seen Him.”
Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be sufficient for us.”
John 14:9-21
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long a time, and you have not known Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father; why then do you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I speak to you, I do not speak from My own self; but the Father Himself, Who dwells in Me, does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; but if not, believe Me because of the works themselves. Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in Me shall also do the works that I do; and greater works than these shall he do because I am going to the Father. And whatever you shall ask in My name, this will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
If you love Me, keep the commandments—namely, My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that it may be with you throughout the age: Even the Spirit of the truth,* which the world cannot receive because it perceives it not, nor knows it; but you know it because it dwells with you, and shall be within you.
I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world shall see Me no longer; but you shall see Me. Because I live, you shall live also. In that day, you shall know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. The one who has My commandments and is keeping them, that is the one who loves Me; and the one who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will manifest Myself to him.”
John 14:22-31
Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, what has happened that You are about to manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. The one who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word that you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s, Who sent Me. I have spoken these things to you while I am yet present with you. But when the Comforter comes, even the Holy Spirit, which the Father will send in My name, that one shall teach you all things, and shall bring to your remembrance everything that I have told you.
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give it to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it fear. You have heard Me say to you that I am going away, and that I will come to you again. If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced that I said, ‘I am going to the Father’ because My Father is greater than I.
And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it comes to pass, you may believe. I will not speak with you much longer because the ruler of this world is coming; but he does not have a single thing in Me. Yet he comes so that the world may know that I love the Father, and that I do exactly as the Father has commanded Me. Arise, let us go out.”
Leaving the Upper Room
Jesus and His disciples now prepare to leave the upper room. However, before they go, they sing a hymn (Mt. 26:30). The scriptures do not identify the specific song they sang; however, the one normally sung at the Passover was the last part of the “Hallel” (Psa. 114-118). During this song, the leader would sing the verses while the followers would respond with “Hallelujah.”
At some point during this period, Judas Iscariot is meeting with the chief priests and the Pharisees and plotting the capture of Jesus. Additionally, Judas has received thirty pieces of silver for his betrayal just as it was prophesied (Zech. 11:12).
On the Way to Gethsemanae
9:00 PM – 10:00 PM
After leaving the upper room, Jesus and His disciples begin to walk toward the Mount of Olives. Little did the disciples know that their time with the Messiah can now be measured in less than four hours. (Mk. 14:26).
During this journey, the Messiah provides His disciples with very specific instructions concerning their relationship with Him and His Father. He exhorts them to bear fruit and to keep His Commandments. He also warns them that they will be persecuted because of their loyalty to Him.
John 15:1- 5
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Jesus then speaks powerfully concerning the great sacrifice He will make in just a few short hours. His words are deep and very moving and reveal what is required to be the beneficiary of that sacrifice.
John 15:9-17
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another.
A Warning of Persecution
Jesus then reminds His disciples that the life they have chosen will be received by the world with contempt and disdain.
John 15:18- 21
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
Jesus Promises a Comforter
As Jesus and His disciples continue toward the mount of Olives, He informs them that after His death, He will return to the Father in Heaven. However, He will not leave his disciples alone. Jesus explains that He will send the Holy Spirit to guide and comfort them. The Messiah then emphasizes that although He will not be with them physically, He will always be connected to them and that they can count on His love and the love of the Father (Jn. 16:1-33).
John 16:1-12
"I have spoken these things to you so that you will not be offended. They shall cast you out of the synagogues; furthermore, the time is coming that everyone who kills you will think that he is rendering service to God. And they shall do these things to you because they do not know the Father, nor Me. But I have told you these things so that when the time comes, you may remember that I said them to you. However, I did not say these things to you at the beginning because I was with you.
But now I am going to Him Who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have spoken these things to you, grief has filled your hearts. But I am telling you the truth. It is profitable for you that I go away because if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you. However, if I go, I will send it to you. And when that one has come, it will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment: Concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; Concerning righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you no longer will see Me; And concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. I have yet many things to tell you, but you are not able to hear them now.
John 16:13-15
However, when that one has come, even the Spirit of the truth, it will lead you into all truth because it shall not speak from itself, but whatever it shall hear, it shall speak. And it shall disclose to you the things to come. That one shall glorify Me because it shall disclose to you the things that it receives from Me. Everything that the Father has is Mine; for this reason, I said that it shall receive from Me and shall disclose these things to you.
A little while, and you shall not see Me; and again a little while, and you shall see Me, because I am going to the Father.” Then some of His disciples said to one another, “What is this that He is saying to us, ‘A little while, and you shall not see Me; and again a little while, and you shall see Me,’ and, ‘because I am going to the Father’? ”Therefore they said, “What is this that He is saying, the ‘little while’? We do not understand what He is saying.”
Then Jesus, knowing that they desired to ask Him, said to them, “Why are you inquiring among one another about this that I said, ‘A little while, and you shall not see Me; and againa little while, and you shall see Me’? Truly, truly I tell you, you shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice; and you shall be grieved, but your grief shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is giving birth has grief because her time of travail has come; but after she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world. And likewise, you indeed have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and no one shall take your joy from you. And in that day you shall ask Me nothing. Truly, truly I tell you, whatever you shall ask the Father in My name, He will give you. Until this day, you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.
These things I have spoken to you in allegories; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in allegories, but I will plainly disclose to you the things of the Father. In that day, you shall ask in My name; and I do not tell you that I will beseech the Father for you, For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.
I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.” Then His disciples said to Him, “Behold, now You are speaking plainly and are not speaking in an allegory.
John 16:30-33
Now we know that You understand all things, and do not need to have someone ask You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.”
Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? Listen, the time is coming, and has already come, that you shall be scattered each to his own, and you shall leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation. But be courageous! I have overcome the world.”
Approaching Gethsemanae
As the Messiah and His disciples enter Gethsemanae, He offers up a very moving intercessory prayer. In it, He acknowledges that His end is near. He then appeals to the Father to restore to Him the glory he had before the world began. Additionally, Jesus asks His Father to bless the disciples as well as those who will believe because of what the disciples will teach. He concludes this prayer with words of great hope: He appeals to the Father to love the disciples as much as He loves His only begotten son.
John 17:1-13
These words spoke Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gave me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
John 17: 14-26
I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gave me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
Part VII
Conclusion and Dismissal:
Brethren, earlier this evening we learned that just prior to leaving the upper room Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn.
In deference to this act, we will hear a hymn. It is entitled “Who Will Believe?” It is performed by Mr. Martz Goetz and is from Isaiah chapter 53. I invite you to follow along.