April 6th, 2023
by Jon Welch
by Jon Welch
One final Meal
The final Meal of Christ with His disciples was multifaceted: In this upper room, we receive two pictures of what Jesus will do. First, Jesus washes his disciples’ feet and then institutes what we now call “The Lords Supper.”
Read Mark 14:12-16, John 13:1-20
Wow- Did you catch John 13:1?
Most translations say, “Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” One translation says, “All throughout his time with his disciples, Jesus had demonstrated a deep and tender love for them. And now he longed to show them the full measure of his love.” (emphasis mine).
Wow. What a thought! Of course, Jesus had demonstrated his love to the disciples, but now, it is highlighted that his love is to its full extent. Demonstrated how? By washing dirty, stinky feet. By lowering himself to a role of a servant. By humiliating himself.
It’s a picture of what is to come.
But watch this- There is a surprise factor that can easily be overlooked...
Look back at vs. 2.
“During super...”
Do you know what that means? Jesus had predicted his death three times. There was growing opposition against Jesus, and people wanted him dead. That night, as everyone arrived for dinner, they’d walk into the room’s threshold, pause, see the dinner table filling up, and grab a seat. No one wants to sit in the worst position- that is- furthest from the Rabbi.
I wonder if the first drops of bloodshed that night were in the mouth of Jesus as he watched and wondered, “Do any of my men get it? Tell me that now, after three years, they’ll get it”.
But they didn’t.
Every disciple who had entered that room knew what to expect. In that culture, you wouldn’t dare walk into a house without washing your feet. So there would have been a servant boy at the entrance who would wash the feet of the guests as they entered. This would have been the lowest on the hierarchy of servants. No one signs up for foot duty.
But not this night. I guess the owner had removed the servant boy to provide Jesus with complete secrecy. And so, as the disciples entered, they would have seen the bowl but no servant.
One after one would say to himself, “Not it.”
But Jesus. Jesus says, “I’ll be it.” Can you imagine the chill that must have gone up the spine of the disciples when the knees of the Son of God hit the ground and began to untie the sandals of the disciples?
While that is a humiliating picture, it’s nothing compared to the humiliation that Jesus will endure shortly. The sin of the will be placed upon his shoulders.
“For God made the only one who did not know sin to become sin for us, so that we who did not know righteousness might become the righteousness of God through our union with him.”
2 Co 5:21.
Read Mark 14:22-25 and 1 Cor 11:23-26
Believers remember, celebrate, and proclaim this final Meal in the Lord’s Supper, which is to be observed regularly and with care so that during a worship gathering, Jesus’ actions and words will be recalled by His followers until His return.
The weight of the Lord’s Supper also can’t be understated. So spend a few moments looking up these following verses, considering the significance of this last Supper…
Salvation is through Jesus, and the Lord’s Supper clearly points to this theological truth.
The Lord’s Supper, or communion, is one of two “sacraments” in the church today, the other being baptism.
A Sacrament could be defined as ritual actions undertaken by the church that are understood to be visible signs of invisible Divine Grace.
When we take the Lord’s Supper or communion, we are reminded of Jesus’ sacrifice. As Jesus said,
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” Jn 6:51.
Today, examine yourself. Consider the sacrifice and humility that Jesus displays in bringing about our salvation.
Spend some time in thankful praise for Jesus today.
Read Mark 14:12-16, John 13:1-20
Wow- Did you catch John 13:1?
Most translations say, “Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” One translation says, “All throughout his time with his disciples, Jesus had demonstrated a deep and tender love for them. And now he longed to show them the full measure of his love.” (emphasis mine).
Wow. What a thought! Of course, Jesus had demonstrated his love to the disciples, but now, it is highlighted that his love is to its full extent. Demonstrated how? By washing dirty, stinky feet. By lowering himself to a role of a servant. By humiliating himself.
It’s a picture of what is to come.
But watch this- There is a surprise factor that can easily be overlooked...
Look back at vs. 2.
“During super...”
Do you know what that means? Jesus had predicted his death three times. There was growing opposition against Jesus, and people wanted him dead. That night, as everyone arrived for dinner, they’d walk into the room’s threshold, pause, see the dinner table filling up, and grab a seat. No one wants to sit in the worst position- that is- furthest from the Rabbi.
I wonder if the first drops of bloodshed that night were in the mouth of Jesus as he watched and wondered, “Do any of my men get it? Tell me that now, after three years, they’ll get it”.
But they didn’t.
Every disciple who had entered that room knew what to expect. In that culture, you wouldn’t dare walk into a house without washing your feet. So there would have been a servant boy at the entrance who would wash the feet of the guests as they entered. This would have been the lowest on the hierarchy of servants. No one signs up for foot duty.
But not this night. I guess the owner had removed the servant boy to provide Jesus with complete secrecy. And so, as the disciples entered, they would have seen the bowl but no servant.
One after one would say to himself, “Not it.”
But Jesus. Jesus says, “I’ll be it.” Can you imagine the chill that must have gone up the spine of the disciples when the knees of the Son of God hit the ground and began to untie the sandals of the disciples?
While that is a humiliating picture, it’s nothing compared to the humiliation that Jesus will endure shortly. The sin of the will be placed upon his shoulders.
“For God made the only one who did not know sin to become sin for us, so that we who did not know righteousness might become the righteousness of God through our union with him.”
2 Co 5:21.
Read Mark 14:22-25 and 1 Cor 11:23-26
Believers remember, celebrate, and proclaim this final Meal in the Lord’s Supper, which is to be observed regularly and with care so that during a worship gathering, Jesus’ actions and words will be recalled by His followers until His return.
The weight of the Lord’s Supper also can’t be understated. So spend a few moments looking up these following verses, considering the significance of this last Supper…
- Jesus is the Sacrificial Lamb, with His body beaten and His blood poured out for all (1 John 2:2).
- In Christ, we have the Great High Priest and the Great High Sacrifice (Heb. 9:11-12).
- Forgiveness is through the Lamb of God, who takes away the world’s sins (John 1:29).
- In Him, we are redeemed by His blood, the forgiveness of sins (Eph. 1:7).
Salvation is through Jesus, and the Lord’s Supper clearly points to this theological truth.
The Lord’s Supper, or communion, is one of two “sacraments” in the church today, the other being baptism.
A Sacrament could be defined as ritual actions undertaken by the church that are understood to be visible signs of invisible Divine Grace.
When we take the Lord’s Supper or communion, we are reminded of Jesus’ sacrifice. As Jesus said,
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” Jn 6:51.
Today, examine yourself. Consider the sacrifice and humility that Jesus displays in bringing about our salvation.
Spend some time in thankful praise for Jesus today.
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