Today we witness something amazing. Jesus, a faithful Jew, celebrating the Passover on the wrong day. How did he miss that fact? The Passover is not celebrated on Thursday, it is celebrated on Friday night. So what happened? Let us explain this mystery. First how Jesus could have been so confused and we will actually find out the amazing, awe-inspiring, perfect timing of God, rather than error on the part of Jesus.
In the time of Jesus, there were two calendars: an old Jewish one and the Roman one. Many strict Jews, including the Essene community, followed the old calendar which was one day before the Roman calendar. The Essenes were the people who gave us the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Essenes were a celibate community and there is evidence in the Gospel that Jesus celebrated the Last Supper in their part of the city. How do we know? From one small fact that speaks volumes: go into the city and you will find a man carrying a pitcher of water. The Apostles knew who to look for because men didn’t carry water, unless you were a celibate community of men.
So, first problem solved. Now the amazing part. Jesus first celebrates the Passover correctly according to the Jewish calendar and then He becomes the Passover according to the Roman calendar. Consider this point: what do you need to do to have a Passover lamb? You need to buy it. Jesus is bought. The lamb must be without blemish so you have to inspect it. Jesus was inspected and found without blemish. They looked hard but found nothing. When someone tries to blemish him by striking Him, He even corrects them. Jesus has to open His mouth so He can be slaughtered. What do you do with the blood of the lamb? You sprinkle it on the doorpost. Jesus’ blood is sprinkled by the flogging. The blood protects the children and they said in the Crucifixion, “His blood be on us and on our children.” You see, Jesus celebrates the Passover and then becomes our Passover.
The one verse that stood out to me in this account was when Jesus said to the Apostles, “Do you know what I have done for you?” Do we know what God has done for us? God washed our feet. He is so humble. We might think humility is weakness but it is the greatest strength. How is it that we are so proud when God has given us such an example of service? How can our hearts be so hard to God? We must repent of our haughty ways when God is reaching so far.
Why did He wash our feet? Because that is our contact with the world, that is our contact with greed and lust and sin and pride so God stooped down to allow you and I to live life new. He is calling to us as He called out to Judas. I counted seven times of Jesus calling out to Judas to repent. First in John 6 where he declares, “one of you will betray me because you don’t believe in the Eucharist”, to the woman who pours perfume on Jesus, to the washing of feet, to the, “do what you are doing quickly”, to handing Judas bread, to plainly telling, “one of you will betray me.” Jesus even reaches out to each one of Judas’ senses. To the hearing: He rebuked him about the woman, told him twice that one will betray. To the sight: He watched Jesus wash His feet, he looked at Jesus in the eye when He kissed Him. To the touch: Judas at the Last Supper was close enough to touch him. Speaking: out of his own month, “Not I, Rabbi.” And even the smell: the perfume would have reminded him of the love he should have had. It was expensive perfume. When we like or dislike something, the smell brings you joy or displeasure. I am sure the smell was there as a reminder.
Jesus reached out to Judas as He is reaching out to you and I. “Do you know what I have done for you?” As we journey through this Triduum, three days one Liturgy, I invite you to meditate on the phrase, “Do you know what I have done for you?” Spend time with the Scriptures that the Church is offering each day and ask what Jesus is trying to say to you. If we understand what He has done, our lives will change and we will live as disciples of Christ. Jesus asks you and I today, “Do you know what I have done for you?”