The Thursday before. . .

“’Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.  I have set you an example that you should do as I have done.’”

“And he took the bread, gave thanks and broke it. . .’This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’”

“In the same way,. . . he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.’”

“’. . .the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.’”

“. . . ‘I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.’”

“’Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done.’”

“’Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?’”

“. . .this is your hour-when darkness reigns.’” _{(Scripture references from Luke and John)}

And so begins this evening, the “Triduum” – “Three Days” – commemorating  Jesus’ trial, death, and resurrection.  My daughter, as a Father’s Day gift, took me on a trip to Israel. We walked the “Palm Sunday Road” and spent time in the Garden of Gethsemane.  

We stood on the location believed by many to be where Jesus’ “trial” was held and placed our hands on the walls of what is known as “The Sacred Pit”, a dungeon, hewn out of solid rock, 15 feet square and 20 feet deep where Jesus was believed to be imprisoned in darkness by the High Priest Caiaphas.  

We walked the Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrows) and even descended 35 feet below the current street level to walk on rock pavement, upon which Jesus may have walked. 

We viewed two places believed to be the possible locations of Golgotha and stood within a rock-cut tomb believed by many to be Jesus’ burial and resurrection site.  The tomb was empty!

May you be blessed and encouraged during this Triduum period.  The “darkness” has been defeated.  Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Mike