During the six Sundays in Lent I am going to be focused on some significant moments in the last 24 hours of Jesus' life. The main question I want to wrestle with is what it would have been like to be a follower of Jesus during those final hours? And I think there are two ways to look at this question. First you could look for what that moment was like as it actually occurred. However, you could also think about how that event would have changed in your mind looking back, after Jesus was raised from the dead.
The first event that the final 24 hours of Jesus' life was the Last Supper (Mark 14:12-25). Jesus and his disciples were celebrating the Passover. This was a tradition of remembering the deliverance from slavery in Egypt for the people of Israel. They celebrated this meal every year. The disciples may have just been going through the motions until Jesus changed the tradition and took bread, blessed it and broke it. He gave it to them saying it represented his body. Next he took a cup and blessed it and gave it to each of them. He said this wine represented his blood of the covenant. At this meal we also know Jesus washed his disciples feet as a symbol of his servanthood to them. He also informed them that he would be betrayed by one of them and Peter would deny him.
For me this would have been a lot to take in. I think in the moment I would have been trying to figure things out. I do not think it would have made a lot of sense to me, but I also would have thought it was meaningful. I enjoy it when people take something I think I have figured out and then they make me think a little more. By changing what the disciples were used to Jesus challenged them to open their hearts and minds and to look past what they already thought they knew.
If I were looking back after Jesus' resurrection, I think I would have really treasured the Last Supper. I would have felt like Jesus was drawing strength from having his closest friends surround him as he faced his final hours. And I would probably have never have let that sacred time escape my memory.
What about you? What would you have thought or felt if you were present for the Last Supper?
2 comments:
Sunday was so emotional... I loved gathering around the table to give each other communion! Then when you told us to look around... OMGosh, my eyes got all teared up! I love and every memeber of our congregation!!! James, you did an amazing job putting that into perspective for us! Thank you! I will cherish that moment just as the disciples did!
Love you all!
Jamie
I think I would have been skeptical that these things Christ foretold would actually take place. At that time, even with the dangers in place with his ministry, what he saw in the future would have been too horrific to comprehend. Especially with his closest friends nearby. And at Passover, no less! Yes, I would have been the one to say, "Oh come on. Let's have some wine and not make such a big deal out of this." And how wrong I would have been.
I agree with Jamie that the "community" communion service was wonderful. Good job to Billie for getting the table prepared. Thank you so much.
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