Such a fitting time for Jesus to be having his final dinner with his friends. There are so many beautiful connections between the Passover meal and what is about to happen to Jesus in his final hours. He is our precious sacrifice indeed! Traditionally, the Passover meal or seder is done to remember and retell the story of the Israelite’s liberation from slavery in Egypt. So fitting that this meal would be Jesus’ last meal.
I love how Jesus tells the disciples exactly where to go and who to look for when they asked “where?” Don’t you wish that our life instructions were that easy, that God would just straight up tell us go here, find this person, etc. Maybe he does and we just don’t ask the right questions? Maybe we don’t believe we’ll get a straight answer? That’s when prayer comes in – we not only ask but believe.
The Last Supper has become quite the remembrance for Christians. In the tradition I grew up in, it was a sacrament called Holy Communion. Other names are Eucharist and Lord’s Supper. We use bread and wine to remember this night when Jesus told his friends to remember him. Jesus’ body is the bread and his blood, the wine.
Jesus also reminded them (and us) to be servants, and not to lord over others. We need to be humble, and Jesus modeled this for us beautifully. We have a beautiful eternal home waiting for us. But for now, we are to live as his disciples, sharing our faith, and remembering what Jesus has done for us.
In the churches where my husband served as pastor, we would have the first communion for students on Maundy Thursday (the day during Holy Week we focused on the Last Supper). Those are special memories. I pray those children have grown up to have a strong faith.
Jesus tells us that he will not drink of this cup until the kingdom of God has come. Until then, we are to keep his memory alive, as if we are sitting with him at this supper, eating his body and drinking his blood. Some may think this sounds a bit gruesome, but it is what he asked us to do. We should never take the sacrament of communion lightly. Our remembrance during communion should not only last for that moment, but should sustain us in our lives.
Let’s pray. Lord, I am reminded of your amazing love for us. You call us to remember you. I love the blessing I feel when we celebrate Holy Communion. What you have done for us is so fantastic. Don’t let my awe of you fade between times at your table. Refresh me today anew with your spirit that I can walk with my eyes looking heavenward and my heart overflowing with blessings to share with others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
