Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Hebrews 4:15f For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with out weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
WEDNESDAY: INSTRUCTING FOR HIS FATHER'S CHILDREN
The Bible doesn't say exactly what Jesus did on Wednesday, but we do know that Jesus spent Tuesday night into Wednesday on the Mount of Olives instructing His disciples. So it seems likely that the last day before the beginning of His Passion, Jesus spent the day in intimate instruction with His disciples -- instruction which continued on Maundy Thursday at the Last Supper.
Jesus demonstrates not only His loving compassion for His disciples, but His understanding of them as well. We see this in His warnings to Simon Peter concerning his three-fold denial (Lk 22:31f), and His warning to all the disciples that they would fall away during His Passion (Mt 26:31). Consider that Jesus even reached out with heart-felt concern to Judas, that he might repent of his plans to betray the Lord and turn back from sin (John 13:21-32). We see His concern for His disciples' every need as He washes their feet and offers prayer on their behalf. So it is in keeping with our Lord's love for His followers that He would spend one last day with them, a day devoted entirely to the needs of His disciples.
Jesus does the same for us as well. He understands our weaknesses, He has compassion for our needs. He offers prayer on our behalf, just as He did for His first disciples (John 18:20f). He comes to us in His Word and He speaks to us words of strength, that we may stand through the dark times in this world. He speaks to us words of comfort, that when we do fall prey to our sinful weakness, we are not afraid to come to Him with penitent hearts, for He assures us with His own Word that we will find mercy and grace in the forgiveness of our sins.
