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Jesus Eats with His Disciples
(Matthew 26.17-25; Mark 14.12-21; John 13.21-30)
7The day had come for the Festival of Thin Bread, and it was time to kill the Passover lambs. 8So Jesus said to Peter and John, “Go and prepare the Passover meal for us to eat.”
9But they asked, “Where do you want us to prepare it?”
10Jesus told them, “As you go into the city, you will meet a man carrying a jar of water. Follow him into the house 11and say to the owner, ‘Our teacher wants to know where he can eat the Passover meal with his disciples.’ 12The owner will take you upstairs and show you a large room ready for you to use. Prepare the meal there.”
13Peter and John left. They found everything just as Jesus had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal.
The Lord's Supper
(Matthew 26.26-30; Mark 14.22-26; 1 Corinthians 11.23-25)
14When the time came for Jesus and the apostles to eat, 15he said to them, “I have very much wanted to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer. 16I tell you I will not eat another Passover meal until it is finally eaten in God's kingdom.”
17Jesus took a cup of wine in his hands and gave thanks to God. Then he told the apostles, “Take this wine and share it with each other. 18I tell you that I will not drink any more wine until God's kingdom comes.”
19Jesus took some bread in his hands and gave thanks for it. He broke the bread and handed it to his apostles. Then he said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Eat this as a way of remembering me!”
20 After the meal he took another cup of wine in his hands. Then he said, “This is my blood. It is poured out for you, and with it God makes his new agreement. 21 The one who will betray me is here at the table with me! 22The Son of Man will die in the way that has been decided for him, but it will be terrible for the one who betrays him!”
23Then the apostles started arguing about who would ever do such a thing.
Reflect
The short period of time beginning with Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem provides us with some of the most exciting and momentous occasions associated with our faith. Judas’ agreement with the religious leaders, the scenes in the garden, the carrying of the cross, the crucifixion and the resurrection all provide us with important chapters in the plan for providing us with redemption and restoring our place with God. As incredible as it seems, God made this provision for us before time began! Revelation 13:8 refers to the Lamb being slain even before the foundation of the world.
Christ’s celebration of the Passover was another of these incredible events brought together in the fullness of time. This celebration tied together God’s provision of escape for the children of Israel and the new covenant God was making with man. We are given the sacrament of communion to remember the provision that was made at this pivotal moment in our history.
This remembrance was introduced to make us forever mindful of how God has fulfilled his plan. But it wasn’t a sermon and it wasn’t presented in the way of a simple formula. God patterned a remembrance that was meant to be an intimate setting involving himself, ourselves and fellow believers. Breaking bread and passing it, sharing the wine and even the conversation about the betrayal gives us a window into God’s desire for personal relationship. In John 13 we are given further evidence of this through his vivid description of how Christ washed the disciple’s feet!
The demonstration of overwhelming grace and provision by the sacrificial lamb is the pivotal point in our relationship with God. When this is all brought together in the sacrament of remembrance at the Lord’s Supper we are invited into unobstructed communion with God and his people.
Respond
Lord, we commit ourselves to remembrance and celebration of the sacrifice you made in order for us to be redeemed. And we are so very grateful that communion is not simply an event but is also an invitation for us to enter into communion with you.
Laurie Cook
Laurie has had a successful career in retail management and consulting. He has served on the Board of World Relief Canada and later became President. He was a founding Chair of the Integral Alliance, an international alliance of Christian Relief and Development agencies and has served on the Board of Canadian Council of Christian Charities. Laurie is an avid cyclist and is married with three adult boys.