Posts by John Longmire

After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. (Mark 14:26) As Jesus and the disciples left the Upper Room, they sang a hymn. I wish we knew what song they sang, what the words were, and what the melody was. Their singing was a sweet interlude between the Upper Room and the Garden of Gethsemane, a moment to pause and worship God together. The singing of hymns may become a lost practice if we are not…

As they were eating, he took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I tell you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I…

When evening came, he arrived with the Twelve. While they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.” They began to be distressed and to say to him one by one, “Surely not I?” He said to them, “It is one of the Twelve—the one who is dipping bread in the bowl with me. For the Son of Man will go just as it is written about…

On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrifice the Passover lamb, his disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare the Passover so that you may eat it?” So he sent two of his disciples and told them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Wherever he enters, tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I…

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. And when they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him money. So he started looking for a good opportunity to betray him. (Mark 14:10-11) Why did Judas betray Jesus? The answer is shockingly simple: Judas loved money more than he loved Jesus. Jesus had put Judas in charge of the money bag so that he was treasurer of the small…