Yeshua sent two of His disciples … Mark 14:13b-15 Follow him (the man carrying the jar of water), and wherever he enters, tell the homeowner, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is My guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”‘ He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.

The “Upper Room Discourse” is the title given to the prophetic sermon Yeshua gave His disciples as they shared the last supper together with Him. There are many parables and prophesies related by Yeshua during this special time they had together. These utterances are expressed differently in all four of the gospel accounts. They all form a record of the last hours of Yeshua’s ministry in the first coming. In this study, we are going to review the account in John 13 – 17.

Interestingly, the upper room is not mentioned by that name in John, but only in Mark and Luke. John is known as the most Jewish of the gospel accounts. John 13:1a Now it was just before the feast of Passover. It is curious to me that no one seemed to be bothered to notice that they were celebrating Passover with a Seder a day early. The crucifixion took place just before Passover began that year, so they had to celebrate it early, but no one offered to correct Yeshua.

Yeshua gathered His disciples in the upper room on the night before Passover where they had a meal together. When they ate the afikomen (hidden piece of middle matzah) and drank the third cup (the cup of salvation); that was the first communion service. Following communion, Yeshua washed their feet. He had much to tell them.

The purpose of the upper room discourse is revealed in John 13:19 From now on I am telling you, before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I am. When Yeshua says “I am,” He is invoking the name of God, Anochi. This is not the “I am” (Ani) that everyone says every day about himself, this is the great “I am” that God uses as the first word of the first commandment.

Exodus 20:2 I am Adonai your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

With every scandal (frequently connected to those in public service) comes the ubiquitous question, “What did he know, and when did he know it?” The Bible answers that question of Yeshua before we can ask it.

John 13:1b-3 Yeshua knew that His hour had come to depart from this world to the Father … Yeshua knew that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was returning to God.

Yeshua had faith, not fear, yet what He was facing was very fearful. He knew Who He was. He came to show us the way, so that we would have faith like His. Today, it seems as if the world is crumbling around us. Take heart, walk with confidence, and do not fear. Remember, faith and fear never exist in the same place at the same time.

Isaiah 54:14 In righteousness you will be established. You will be far from oppression – for you will not fear – and from terror – for it will not come near you.

If we will receive the faith OF Yeshua (and not simply a faith about Him), He will lead us through this season of trouble to victory.