The Last Supper

The Last Supper was the Passover Seder meal (Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-25, Luke 22:7-23) when Jesus chose to tell His twelve disciples about the betrayal that was to happen (Matthew 26:20-25) – how they would abandon Him, and in particular, Peter would deny Him altogether (Matthew 26:34-35). Sharing the bread and wine, He explained His coming death which would be the very next day.

The disciples didn’t understand. Up until this point they had seen Jesus perform hundreds of miracles, they had heard His teachings and sermons, and they had traveled with Him and knew He was without sin, yet they still didn’t understand it all (Luke 18:34).

Note: In other parts of the gospels you find them questioning Jesus or not understanding such as Mark 7:21-23 and John 14:1-11.

Upon telling them about being betrayed, they wanted to know who would betray Jesus. “Is it I?” they asked Him (Matthew 26:22). All the while Jesus knowingly shared food with Judas, the betrayer. Going back to an old argument (Matthew 18:1-6, Luke 9:46-48), they started to dispute about which of them Jesus loves most. Who is the greatest? Instead, they should have been asking who was the greatest sinner, but the blinding power of pride had taken over their senses.

Jesus quietened their arguing by humbling Himself as He washed the feet of the disciples. He also washed Judas’ feet. This is a picture of the love Jesus has for you and me. He loves all no matter what we have done or will do.

It is hard to understand how He could love Judas this way – the very one who would betray Him. But how many times do we act as Judas betraying our Lord? We knowingly sin, we don’t share His love with others, we make time for watching TV, but we cannot spend a few minutes each day reading His Word and praying to the One Who loves us so very much.

At times I find myself wanting to roll my eyes at some of the characters in Bible stories. I think how *I* wouldn’t have responded that way or that I would have understood or I wouldn’t have failed Jesus…but in reality, most likely I would have been making the same unwise choices.

Having the whole story in our hands makes it easier to understand. We may feel disdain for their weak faith and ignorance, but we are no different. How often do we not understand what God is trying to do in our lives? The Bible is full of promises, and yet we worry and doubt and fear.

God created our world with order. He also orchestrated the events of His Son’s time on earth with order. Jesus chose the Passover which had great symbolic significance. The Passover was a time when Israelites celebrated when God delivered them out of slavery in Egypt. Jesus was trying to explain to His twelve that His death was the complete, true Passover – how God was delivering us from slavery once and for all. He was to conquer sin and have victory over death. Our part? Accept. Accept that Jesus paid the price for our sins so we could ultimately be passed over.

We need not wonder that so much importance is attached to our Lord’s resurrection. It is the seal and headstone of the great work of redemption, which He came to do. It is the crowning proof that He has paid the debt which He undertook to pay on our behalf, won the battle which He fought to deliver us from hell, and is accepted as our Surety and our Substitute by our Father in heaven.

J. C. Ryle

And then serve as Jesus demonstrated by washing His disciples’ feet. We may struggle with serving those we love already; we do tend to be a selfish people. But what about those we don’t know or may even be considered “enemies”? Jesus commands us to wash one another’s feet (John 13:14-15) and even to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44).

As present day followers of Jesus, Easter is a good time to meditate on all the events that makes Resurrection Sunday such a crucial part of our faith. But don’t stop there! Act on what you learn. If you haven’t accepted the free gift Jesus made available because of Easter, then please read here. And as believers, show the love of Christ to everyone! Live your portion in the life for Jesus. 💕