His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. John 12:16
As we approach Resurrection Sunday, I felt that it might be appropriate to take a look at the Last Supper. But not necessarily from it’s usual perspective.
In Matthew 26, we see Jesus explain to His disciples that the Passover is coming and that He is about to be crucified. When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, 2 “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” Matthew 26:1-2. Notice that there is no mention of any reaction at all from the disciples.
Then, in verses 6-13, we see the account of the woman who washes Jesus’ feet with very expensive oil (much to the dismay of Judas). And, Jesus reminds the disciples again that He is about to die. “In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial” Matthew 26:12. Again, no reaction from the disciples.
Then in verses 14-16, we find Judas set out to betray Jesus. “and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. Matthew 26:15.
Finally, verses 17-35, tell us about the last supper. In verse 17 the disciples inquire of Jesus as to where they should begin to prepare the Passover meal and He instructs them. Once the meal is prepared, as Jesus reclines at the table, He explains to them that one of them will betray Him. “And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” Matthew 26:22. At least here we see that their reaction is sorrow, but I am not sure whether their sorrow is because Jesus is going to be betrayed or that it may be them, personally, that will do it.
In verses 26-28 Jesus lays out the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. “Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Matthew 26:26-29.
In verse 29, we see Jesus predict His death again as He explains that He will not drink the fruit of the vine again, until He drinks it with them, in His Father’s Kingdom. He is telling them that He is departing from them and again, there is no reaction from the disciples.
In verses 30-39 Jesus not only tells of Peter’s denial, but He says that they will all fall away. “Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ Matthew 26:31.
In verse 35, we finally get a response from the disciples. “Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same”. Matthew 26:35. They don’t realize it, but their response is a lie. They will all fall away.
Through out this whole section we have almost no reaction from the disciples and what we do have is mostly self-focused and even a lie.
They have walked with Jesus, talked with Jesus and been discipled by Jesus, and yet, they are clueless. It is clear, by their responses (and lack there of), that they simply didn’t understand what was about to take place.
They have been closer than anyone to the one true God — the Lamb of God, the Savior of the world, their Messiah — and, they have no clue what He is about to do for them and all mankind.
Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? Yet, here we are, approximately 2,000 years later, guilty of the same. We have the Holy Scriptures… they did not. We have Pastors and churches who teach and spread the gospel… they did not. And, once we accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, we have His very Holy Spirit living inside us… they did not. Yet, I am not sure we have any better understanding of what Jesus was doing than they did.
The Son of God left His throne in paradise to be born a human and live out a human life. And, once He had grown into a man, the plan was for Him to be betrayed, suffer, beaten and crucified. And He would do all of this so that a bunch of people who would reject Him could be rescued from the penalty of their sin and rejection.
To try and fathom that with our human minds is impossible. It doesn’t make sense… apart from God’s love. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16.
Those disciples couldn’t comprehend it and neither can we, fully.
But, I understand enough to know that I am grateful. And, I understand enough to know that God loves me. I understand enough to know that I owe Him EVERYTHING! And I understand enough to know that I will praise Him all of my days.
I pray that, with every passing day, we would delve into and understand more and more of God’s Holy word. And, I pray that we would understand more, the magnitude of His love for us. I also pray that as we contemplate the magnitude of what Jesus has done for us, we would be humbled, broken and drawn to Him like moths to a flame. Father, I pray that we would live out these fleeting lives with a new and deeper fire to glorify you and be used by you to glorify yourself so that others might be rescued from the penalty of their sin.
Church, we owe Jesus EVERYTHING. He paid a debt that we couldn’t pay. He promised us eternity in Heaven. Can’t we use these fleeting earthly lives to serve and glorify Him? The eternal lives of those around us, hang in the balance. Will you tell them about Jesus?
If you do not know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, I pray that you would go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/) and pray the prayer that is outlined there. God wants to forgive your sin and pour out His incredible love on you. I don’t expect you to understand, because I don’t. But I promise you that it is the most important and gratifying decision you will ever make.
Once you have prayed that prayer, please reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com and let me know. I’d love to be in prayer for you.
Luv Ya!
