Holy Week: A Dinner Party to Remember

I wrote a blog in November about the Eucharist itself and what Jesus’ actions of giving thanks and the Last Supper means according to Ann Voskamp. But there were 12 other people at that supper.

Instead of boring you with the passage you hear every Communion Sunday, let me put it in simple terms:

Preface:  Let me start with this note going into the story of the Last Supper:  Jesus came to reform God’s people - the Jews, not to start a new “religion” (Christianity).  He came to reform the list of rules Jews followed to get to Heaven into the belief that Christ is the way to Heaven.  When I read Paul’s letters to the Galations and Colossions (just to name a few), he talks a lot to those churches about reverting back to the old Jewish laws and encourages them to look at the reformation that happened. This is my point of view going into this story.

Scene 1 (The Preparation):  It was the first day of celebrating Passover.  It wasn’t that long ago that the Jewish people smeared the blood of lambs above their doors that were “passed over” sparing their first born children from the plague.  This was a party.  These people were celebrating something that God had done.  Jesus sent his disciples out for all the party preparations and we all know how fun it is to shop for a party (#pinterest).

Scene 2 (A Different Kind of Preparation):  As the disciples came back with all the supplies, their feet were gross.  Think about it….animals were transportation (have you seen the damage the horses do in Central Park?  Think about it as the only mode of transportation besides walking), they didn’t have work boots (heck closed-toed shoes period), and hygiene wasn’t part of a daily routine.  The disciples’ feet were NASTY!  And the Lord of the universe invited them to sit down, dip their feet in some water, and the HIM wash them.

During Advent I talked about the ordinary birth of Christ foreshadowing to the Upper Room.  He humbly came as an infant in a gross (maybe grosser than the disciples’ feet) manger that animals have slopped around in, and here He is again humbly washing gross feet.

And after He was done washing their feet the gang of best friends...actually hold up, let’s stop there.  These 13 people traveled the globe (to an extent) together for three years!  They slept together, ate together, taught together, walked together, sang, fished, cried, and loved the world together.  They knew each other inside and out.  I picture the Army Wives (Seasons 1-6, because what was Season 7?) sitting around the table laughing together giving each other “that” look.  Let’s keep that concept in mind.

Scene 3 (The Prediction):  So Jesus just got done 1 of 2 beautiful moments of the night.  The disciples are all cleaned up and ready to celebrate God’s amazing miracle of Passover, but Jesus drops this bombshell - one of them will betray Him. Their friendship was so deep, and Jesus (who knows everything) says, “I know were are here to party and I only want my best of friends here at this celebration, but one of you is going to kill me tonight.  That is all.”  Of course the disciples start playing a Clue like game - Matthew in the library with a candlestick - trying to figure it all out.  But as all parties….it must go on.

Scene 4 (The Invitation):  They were there for a purpose...to celebrate.  And Jesus had just one more beautiful moment in store.  Let’s pause and hit the rewind button.

Three years earlier, Jesus called 12 hooligans to be His disciples.  Disciples of a Rabbi (the capital “R” Rabbi) - to walk as He walks, talk as He talks, love what He loves, eat, pray, and sleep when He eats, prays, and sleeps.  And three years ago, Jesus went to another party...a wedding actually.  A wedding without wine (kind of like a party without cake is a meeting...a wedding without wine is_______).  And that is where Jesus performed His first miracle...turning water into wine. Fast-forward again.

Now here they are at another celebration.  This time the disciples didn’t underestimate the wine supply needed for this party.  Looking back at the past three crazy, life-transforming years, Jesus knows it’s all coming to an end.  Instead of tears, Jesus has this Dr. Suess moment of “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happens,” and He takes a moment to pause in this party to thank God (cue eucharisteo obsession).

And then He tells them that this bread is His body, and the wine in His blood and they are to eat, drink, and remember (not to be confused with Eat, Pray, Love) as often as they eat and drink wine and bread.  I’ve said it before and I say it again.  The disciples weren’t eating a chicken bowl with guac and a drinking a venti skinny vanilla latte with an extra shot (that was me, not them) - NO - they ate bread and drank wine every day.  Water and soda weren’t a readily available nor ordinarily consumed things.  They drank wine daily because that was culture.  And they ate bread daily because Chipotle wasn’t invented yet and because that was the culture.

Jesus took ordinary elements, yet again, and said eat and drink these and remember the as often as you consume them (daily).  Remember every day who I am - the true Rabbi, the Messiah, the Lord, the Way, the Truth, the Light, the Prince of Peace, and even the Bread of Life.  And Jesus extends that invitation to all of His disciples...to come to the table, to give thanks to God, to eat the Bread of Life and drink the blood of the Lamb, and to remember Him daily (“give us today our daily Bread").