This is My Body Broken for You

The news about the resurrection of Lazarus in Bethany was swirling throughout the city of Jerusalem and all of Judea. As pilgrims made their way into Jerusalem for the spring feasts, they were met with exclamations of shock when hearing of his testimony. He had died and was raised from the grave. The immediate question was “How could such a thing happen?” The name Yeshua of Nazareth was on everyone’s lips.

Lazarus had become a celebrity of sorts as he was being sought out and questioned by many. His testimony was simple, “I died and then I came alive again.” His sisters, Mary and Martha, could only add that Yeshua did something they didn’t understand but He definitely had brought their brother back to life. The other mourners who witnessed Lazarus come from the tomb were overwhelmed and stunned as they realized that Yeshua had the power over death. They were the ones who spread the news throughout Jerusalem.

The religious leaders were perplexed and taken aback as well. The Pharisees believed in a resurrection but the Sadducees did not. Despite this, the religious leaders in the temple were not happy and were very concerned. “This is getting completely out of control,” they said. “If we do not stop Him, everyone will believe in Him. There be upheaval and the Romans will come and replace us with others. We cannot stop the testimony of Lazarus. There are too many witnesses. We must do something!”

This was the straw that broke the camel’s back. The plot to kill Yeshua was hatched within the controlling members of the council. “Let us get someone in His group to tell us where He goes and where He will be. We will pick the right time to arrest Him and then we can try him away from the crowds. We will hand Him over to the Romans saying, ‘He is against Caesar.’”

Judas was a Jew from the Jerusalem area as opposed to the Galilean disciples. Judas was the treasurer of the group, collecting the offerings and paying for their daily necessities and travel expenses. He believed Yeshua was the Messiah, but He needed to come forth to the leaders and prove He was Messiah King. Once Yeshua would set up His kingdom, Judas would be recognized as being part of His inner circle and viewed as a hero. When the temple council members offered him coin for setting up the rendezvous, it was a bonus of sorts. Thirty pieces of silver was a nice sum, but he had hoped to get more.

“I am not sure where we will be eating the Passover on the eve of the 14th, the night before you do. But I know He will want to go the garden afterwards. I will slip out during the meal and show you where He likes to go.” The Pharisees did not eat the Passover on the 14th as the Sadducees did. Instead, they ate on the 15th in conjunction with the Feast of Unleavened bread. Since they were not eating the Passover, they would be free to conduct a trial. But they still had a problem to be solved. They could not actually kill Him themselves since they were on the brink of the Passover and only King Herod or the Romans had the authority to carry out an execution.

“We will send the temple guards and arrest Him before our Passover and be done with Him before those coming to the Feast can be influenced by His words and miracles,” Caiaphas, the High Priest, and other members of the council agreed.

All the disciples gathered for the seder meal well after it was dark. The lamb had been roasting on the fire for several hours and was ready to consume. John and Peter had gone to the temple that day for the lamb to be slain and had made the preparations for the meal. In addition to the lamb roasted by fire, they also had some bitter herbs, the matzah (unleavened bread), and the green vegetable. There was plenty of wine, and the table set. They had also secured an excellent place to hold the Seder.

It was called the “upper room.” The room was built atop of King David’s tomb. The significance of this could not be overstated. The Son of David (the Messiah) was feasting over the resting place of King David. God’s Covenant to David promised that one day his son would be the King who would be set on David’s throne forever. Not only that, he was told he himself would bow to his son and refer to Him as LORD.

Yeshua and His disciples reclined around the table, ready to make this meal different from all other meals for the year. They would be drinking two cups along with Matzah and bitter herbs before they feasted on the lamb. They would have two more cups after the meal, with a special piece of matzah called the “Afikoman.” Afikoman meant “It is fulfilled or finished.” The observance began with the ceremonial washing, but Yeshua did something strange with this washing. He removed His outer garment and took the bowl of washing water with a towel with the intention of washing the feet of His disciples. What a humble thing to do! Peter objected; he did not want Yeshua to humble Himself to wash his feet. That was the task of a house servant, not the duty of the Son of God and the future King of Israel!

Peter may have been aware that “the upper room” was built over the tomb of King David in the upper part of Jerusalem. He may well have known that Yeshua had descended from King David and as the Son of David should not perform the task of washing anyone’s feet. In particular, he would not allow Him to wash his feet.

When Yeshua insisted that Peter must allow Him to wash his feet also, He stated he would have no part of Him if He didn’t wash his feet. Peter responded, “Well then wash all of me.” Yeshua answered that his feet would be sufficient. Upon completion, Yeshua announced that they were all clean. This example demonstrated that servants are not greater than their masters and, if He humbled Himself, then they were to humble themselves as they served also.

As the seder began with the cups, matzah, and blessings, Yeshua spoke to them all, “I have greatly desired to eat this Passover with you.” But then the mood shifted when He unexpectedly said that one of them would betray Him.

In a moment, everyone was glancing at one another assessing who it could possibly be. But the youngest of the disciples, John, was laying close to Yeshua and asked who it was. Yeshua answered it would be the one that would “sop” with Him. It was the part of the seder when they would dip their matzah into the bitter herbs. Judas had, up to this point, blended in with the group, keeping to himself. The moment Yeshua put His matzah into the bowl with the bitter herbs and handed it to Judas, their eyes met. That was the moment Satan entered the heart of Judas. Yeshua spoke directly to Judas and Satan, “What you are going to do, do it quickly.”

Most of the disciples thought Judas left to do his treasurer duties. Maybe he forgot to pay someone and that needed to get done right away. John was pondering how Judas would betray the Master.

Judas was now headed to where the temple council was meeting to collect his silver.

While the disciples ate the meal, Yeshua began to explain that in a short time He was going where they could not go.

Peter’s personality and ego kicked in and pledged to lay down his life for Him. Yeshua then explained that Peter would deny Him three times before he heard a morning rooster crow. Peter and the others had heard the morning crows well before dawn many days. The other disciples refrained from making bold statements. They were filled with questions.

Yeshua tried to explain further about His departure, “I go to prepare a place for you in My Father’s house.” Some began to ask how they would know the way to go. Yeshua said He was the way and abiding in Him would lead them to the Father.

Then Yeshua stressed the need to keep His commandments. That would be the way to follow and love Him. He then taught the reverse of the same truth. He who does not keep God’s commandments does not love God or Him.

He used the illustration of a vine and its branches.

“I am the vine and you are the branches. [...] You will bear much fruit, but apart from Me you will not be able to do anything.”

John 15:5

Yeshua’s love of the disciples was evident in His words, explaining that He did not see them as servants, but instead as friends. He commanded them to love one another even as He loved them.

In contrast to God’s love, He explained that the world hated Him and would hate them as well. He was hated without cause and they would be hated in the same manner. Yeshua warned them that they would become outcasts and rejected, and that it would worsen until they would be subject to death by those thinking that they were doing a service for God.

He wanted to tell them even more but said there was not enough time. Instead, He would send the Helper (the Holy Spirit) to lead them into all truth. He added that the Helper could not be sent until He departed.

The disciples were perplexed, not fully understanding what was about to happen and what would follow for them. Yeshua then prayed openly for them, asking the Father to keep them safe. (John 17)

The meal was done. They were satisfied by the roasted lamb and the rest of the meal. It was then that Yeshua set forth the last two cups of the Passover. He also brought back the special piece of matzah (the Afikoman) that was their dessert of the meal.

Taking the bread, He said to them, “This is My Body broken for you.” He distributed some of it to each. Then He took the third cup of the Passover called the Cup of Redemption and said, “The cup is My blood and My Life poured out for you. The bread and this cup are My New Covenant that I am making with you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”

They sang some songs of thanksgiving and praise to God. The time came for the last cup, the cup of Praise. But again, Yeshua did something strange with them. Each had a cup but Yeshua said He would not drink that cup with them until they would be in the kingdom together. They concluded their time in the “upper room” with one last psalm. It was the 124th psalm and they sang, “This is the day that the Lord has made, I will be glad and rejoice in it.” (Mark 14:22–26)

We can only imagine what Yeshua was thinking at this point. He knew He would be arrested and condemned. There would be no more rest or sleep for Him. They would come for Him and He would be mistreated, leading to His death by crucifixion, yet He sang that song with His disciples. This was the day of Redemption for all of mankind. This was a great day, but He would pay a great price before it would be a day of rejoicing for Him.

Before leaving, He spoke His last words to His disciples. They took note that He was speaking plainly and not in figurative language. “I was sent by My Father into the world. I am now going back to My Father.” Some of the disciples responded, “We know that you know all things and came from God.” (John 16:25–30)

Yeshua then asked, “Do you now believe?” Before they could offer their agreement, He told them they were about to be scattered to their own homes and leave Him to His enemies. He told them not to worry; He had overcome the world.

Walking one after another, they left the upper part of Jerusalem and descended into the Kidron Valley, crossing over a small stream at the bottom of the valley before ascending the Mount of Olives to the garden of Gethsemane. That small stream was bright red. The blood of the Passover Lambs offered that day in the temple drained from the temple into that stream. As they stepped over the stream, they “passed over” the blood of the Passover Lambs.

The garden was only part way up the mount. It was the place where the olive harvest was brought to be crushed and squeezed. There were several olive presses there. In squeezing the olives, the first squeeze was the virgin olive oil. It was the best. It was used in the temple service for the lamp and for anointing, whereas the other pressings were used for cooking, fuel for lamps, and to make soap. The olives were pressed up to five times. Just as the upper room was very significant for Yeshua and Passover, so was this garden. As the Messiah, Yeshua was the Anointed One, the who had been anointed by His Father with anointing oil. As with the olive that must be crushed and squeezed to produce the oil, it was time for Yeshua to be pressed, for His life to be squeezed out of Him to provide redemption as the Anointed Lamb of God.

All of Israel was awake that night because traditionally Passover was a “watchnight.” It was said that the greatest joy of Passover was to speak of God’s redemption until the dawn of the day. Yeshua knew this was going to be an “all–nighter.” The disciples, however, as young men, found it difficult to pray quietly as they had consumed four glasses of wine and a very satisfying meal. They nodded off into the bliss of sleep in a short time.

At some point, Yeshua came to the disciples asking why they could not remain awake for one hour with Him. It is clear at this point that Yeshua was experiencing great stress, wanting the company of others, and was focused on what was to happen. (Luke 22:45–46)

In the midst of His stress and “squeezing” He asked the Father if there was any other way for this cup to pass. Was there another way? His Father’s silence resulted in Yeshua affirming His commitment to do whatever the Father’s will was.

Then everyone stirred out of their slumber as they heard men with torches coming from the Kidron to the garden. It was Judas, some of the High Priest’s guard, Temple guards, and some of the Roman soldiers stationed at Jerusalem. It was an overwhelming number as Judas had warned the chief priests that there would be twelve of them.

Yeshua, standing above them, called out, “Whom are you seeking?”

One of the guards answered, “We are looking for Yeshua of Nazareth.”

Yeshua answered, “I am He!”

Suddenly at those words, they all fell backwards. It was sheer chaos and calamity with guards falling into each other as they were being knocked off their feet and rolling down the path. It was embarrassing for them as they gathered their shields, swords and spears. They finally made their way up to where Yeshua and the disciples stood.

Judas stepped forward, kissed Yeshua, and greeted Him. This was the signal he had arranged to reveal which one of them was Yeshua. John saw the betrayal of Judas with a kiss. Yeshua then requested that the disciples be sent away since the mob was only seeking Him.

As the guards seized Yeshua, Peter wielded his own sword and struck one of the servants of the High Priest. It was a glancing blow to his head, taking off his ear. A few inches further would have killed the servant outright. As soldiers brought their weapons to bear, Yeshua picked up his ear and miraculously stuck it back on the servant’s head. Turning to Peter, Yeshua stopped any further assault saying, “If I needed to be defended, I could have called for a dozen legions (approximately 60 thousand) angels to come to My defense.” (Matthew 26:47–53) Yeshua knew that the prophecies could not be fulfilled unless He was delivered into the hands of sinners.

The disciples scattered just as Yeshua had said. But Peter was left standing there as Yeshua was led away. A bit later, Peter and John began following the procession as Yeshua was led to the house of Annas, who was the Sagan Priest (the deputy high priest) under Caiaphas, the High Priest. He was the High Priest set up by the Romans.

If there was to be any business done with the High Priest, you would have to be first examined by the Deputy Priest. At the house of Annas, Yeshua was taken inside. Outside in the courtyard, there was a small fire with the servants, guards, and some of the Roman soldiers warming themselves.

Peter was able to enter the courtyard and he also stood at the fire. John apparently left, seeking the mother of Yeshua and Mary Magdalene who also were in Jerusalem for the Passover and Feast.

One of the servant girls saw Peter and declared that he was one of Yeshua’s disciples. Peter quickly responded, “I am not!” But one of guards who had gone to the garden asked, “Didn’t I see you at the garden with Him?” Peter immediately denied it. And again, several of the Priest’s servants said, “You are one of them. You even talk like one of those Galileans.” Peter denied it the third time, even cursing and being profane. A rooster then crowed. Peter remembered what Yeshua said earlier in the night. “You will deny Me three times before the cock crows.” In deep shame and regret, Peter fled into the night.

Inside, Annas was questioning Yeshua as to what He had taught. But Yeshua said that He had taught openly in the synagogues and the Temple. He could ask any number of persons about His teachings. One of guards slapped Yeshua, chastising Him for the manner in which He had spoken to Annas. It was clear at that point they wanted Yeshua to be intimidated, but He did not oblige them. They then bound Him and sent Him to Caiaphas.

Caiaphas was waiting for Him with many of the other priests and other leaders. Caiaphas’s house had to serve as prison cell and Yeshua was kept there in the darkness while Caiaphas and the others plotted to find Him guilty of something. Yeshua’s despair and fears in the pit are given in a prophetic Psalm. The 88th Psalm says, “You have put me in the lowest pit, in dark places, in the depths. Your wrath has rested upon Me and you have afflicted me with all your waves. You have removed all my acquaintances far from me. You have made Me an object of loathing to them. I am shut up and cannot go out.”

After they prepared themselves, they brought Him out of the pit and began to question Him, seeking to find any evidence to condemn Him. They even put forth false witnesses who could not get their stories straight in front of the Temple Council. Finally, two witnesses came saying they had heard Him call for destruction of the Temple itself, claiming He could rebuild it in three days. Caiaphas demanded that Yeshua answer the claim but Yeshua just kept silent. Then Caiaphas rose and demanded, “Tell us plainly, are You the Messiah?”

Yeshua answered his question, “You yourselves have said it.” Caiaphas ripped his outer garment, screaming that no more witnesses were necessary because He was guilty of blasphemy. Those with Caiaphas began spitting in Yeshua’s face and striking Him with their fists and slapping His face. (Matthew 26:67)

Now the next problem was getting someone to carry out the deed of executing Yeshua. Caiaphas sent Yeshua to Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor for Judea, who sent Him to King Herod who was king of the Jews in the northern parts of Israel, the areas around the sea of Galilee. Pilate saw Yeshua as the problem for the Jews, not the Romans. King Herod was glad to have Yeshua brought to him. He had heard about the various miracles He had done and was hoping that Yeshua would do a miracle that he could witness. (Luke 23:8–11)

When Yeshua did not entertain him, He was sent back. Caiaphas and the Council took Yeshua back to Pilate. He was in the Roman quarters called the Praetorium. The priests could not enter that place with Yeshua as they considered it unclean, despoiling their “clean state” to keep their Passover.

Pilate asked what the charge was against Yeshua. They said “He claims to be the Messiah and therefore the King of the Jews.” As Pilate questioned Yeshua, Yeshua answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world.” Pilate could not find fault with Him; He had broken no Roman law.

Pilate was also considering the political implications of the judgment he had made. This Yeshua was a popular fellow and he did not want to stir up trouble with the masses, especially for someone from King Herod’s area. Besides, King Herod had not condemned Him. Then there were the religious leaders here in Jerusalem; they were demanding that he condemn Him.

Then Pilate thought of a way to keep everyone happy. It was a Roman custom to pardon one prisoner at a festival time. Pilate brought forth a known criminal condemned by all named “Barabbas.” His name meant “Son of the Father.” The irony was clearly there. Yeshua, the Son of the Heavenly Father; or Barabbas, the son of an earthly father. He thought the people would surely call for the release of Yeshua.

To his shock and at the urging of the High Priests, the people before Pilate cried out for Barabbas to be released. Pilate then turned Him over to his soldiers to be whipped and scourged. Maybe that would satisfy the priests for a punishment.

The punishment given to Yeshua according to Roman custom was 40 lashes save one, meaning 39 lashes. The Romans had learned that the average man died at 40 lashes so they gave the prisoner 39 to keep him alive to suffer.

The soldiers were vicious. Their job was to break a man down until he did not want to live anymore. Since He was charged with being a king and was known to be a prophet, they used His testimony against Him. They threw a cloth over His head and struck Him asking Him to identify the one who struck Him. After they were tired of working Him over, they made a crown out of some thorny branches. They put a ceremonial robe on Him. He was stood up to look like a king with a crown and robe.

The thorny branches that formed His crown were probably from an acacia tree. The thorns are several inches long on a narrow branch that bends easily. With several branches they were able to weave a wreath to put on His head. The wood of acacia was the same wood used by Moses to build the Ark of the Covenant and the Table of Shewbread in the Tabernacle.

One of the greatest prophecies of the Messiah came from Abraham. When Abraham took Isaac to be offered back to the Lord, he answered Isaac’s question as to what was happening with, “The Lord will provide the Lamb Himself in that place.” The actual sacrifice that Abraham and Isaac offered was a ram whose head was caught in thorns. (Genesis 22:8). Here was Yeshua, whose head is in thorns, about to be offered up in that same place.

Pilate presented Yeshua in His crown and robe to the people again. Still, Pilate found no fault in Him. But the High Priests demanded His death, telling Pilate that Yeshua as a king was against Caesar. If word got back to Rome that there was man against Caesar that he had not condemned, Pilate’s own life would be in danger.

Finally, the crowd was worked up crying out, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate washed his hands of the whole matter. Yeshua was given to a Centurion and his men to carry out the penalty of death by crucifixion.

John, Mary Magdalene, and Mary, the mother of Yeshua, followed the procession of Yeshua and two other condemned prisoners up to the Mount of Olives. (Because of the washed–out white limestone on that mount as compared with salmon–colored limestone around Jerusalem it was called “Golgotha,” the place of the skull. The smooth mount reminded many of a skull with the white cranium shape.)

It was the third hour of the day (about 9 o’clock in the morning). Each prisoner carried a cross beam to be affixed to an execution stake. Pilate made a sign to be mounted above Yeshua that read “Yeshua of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” It declared His name and the charge against Him.

Yeshua hung on the cross until about the ninth hour (about 3 o’clock in the afternoon). Yeshua uttered His final words “It is finished.” (John 19:30) He truly was the Afikoman of the Passover. In the temple at that time, a ceremonial Passover sacrifice was being laid on the altar.

When the soldiers saw that Yeshua appeared to be dead, one of the soldiers took his spear and pierced His side. John the Apostle declared in His Gospel that he witnessed a stream of water and separate stream of blood come forth. This replicated the water libation ceremony in the temple on the final day of Tabernacles. It is the highest altar ceremony in the Temple. Yeshua’s blood was also spilled to the earth just as the Passover Lamb’s blood is returned (poured) to earth next to the altar.

Suddenly, while all of this was happening, the sky went dark and there was a great earthquake. The Centurion witnessing these things looked across the Kidron Valley, over the wall of Jerusalem and its Golden Gate, into the inner court over the altar, past the porch, and through the open door to the Temple Sanctuary. He witnessed the earthquake and the veil in the Temple ripped from the top to the bottom. Symbolically, Yeshua’s Father in the Holy of Holies tore His garment upon seeing His Son die. From the perspective of the Father, Yeshua had been lifted up and presented above the altar in the Temple as the Lamb of God sacrifice on the Passover.

The Centurion was overwhelmed and exclaimed that Yeshua was the SON OF GOD. (Matthew 28:54–55)

Yeshua was then lowered from the cross by two of the men in the Temple Council – Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. He was placed in a rich man’s tomb. They buried Him before sundown because at sundown it was the High Sabbath of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. According to Temple tradition, only the members of the Temple Council could present and handle the ceremonial Passover sacrifice. It was the Temple Council that handled Yeshua.

That was a special Passover in the history of Israel. The blood of the Passover Lamb redeemed us from the slavery of sin and passed us from death to life.

As Yeshua had said to His disciples He would go where they couldn’t go but He would be back soon. Three days and three nights later, Yeshua did return. That was during the Feast of Unleavened Bread and on the day of the Feast of Fruits.

But that is another story about Yeshua that will follow soon… (Next month’s Yavoh)

Shalom

Article written by Monte Judah.

* Scripture references from the NASB95