LUKE 22 (PART 2): THE SECOND CUP

The Last Supper in Luke 22
is the perfect representation
of what happens with Christians
when they are pursued.

Listen,
In the past,
when reading this passage,
I only paid attention
to the cup and the bread -
but today I zoned in,
and saw the preparation,
the second cup, and difficult discussion
that turned into an argument about who was best.

What helps me pay attention
when reading scripture,
is to focus in on the direct quotes
and the exclamation marks!

Jesus sent Peter and John to
“Go and prepare the Passover meal,
so we can eat it together.”
And they asked Him,
Where do you want us to prepare it?”
Jesus replied,
“As soon as you enter Jerusalem,
a man carrying a pitcher of water
will meet you. Follow him.
At the house he enters,
say to the owner, “
The Teacher asks:
Where is the guest room
where I can eat the Passover meal
with my disciples?’
He will take you upstairs
to a large room
that is already set up.
That is where
you should prepare our meal.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:8-12‬ ‭
When I read this,
I immediately thought
the man carrying the pitcher
could be the Holy Spirit leading us.
And the room that is prepared could be our mind and our hearts, where the Temple of the Lord
brings Heaven to earth.
Isn’t this the concept
of the living stones,
who are being built up
as a spiritual house
for a holy priesthood,
found in 1 Peter 2:5?
Isn’t this the place
where we offer up
spiritual sacrifices
that are acceptable to God -
A room predestined to partake
in the feast of the Lord?
The disciples, Peter and John,
went off to the city
and found everything
just as Jesus had said.
They prepared the Passover meal
and when the time came,
Jesus and the apostles
came to the table and sat down.
Jesus said, “I have been very eager
to eat this Passover meal with you
before my suffering begins.
For I tell you now
that I won’t eat this meal again
until its meaning is fulfilled
in the Kingdom of God.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:13-16‬ ‭
Isn’t it amazing
that Jesus gave His promise
that He will return
when the meaning of
the Passover meal is fulfilled?
Then Jesus took a cup of wine
and gave thanks to God for it.
Then he said, “Take this
and share it among yourselves.
For I will not drink wine again
until the Kingdom of God has come.”
Then He took some bread
and gave thanks to God for it.
Then he broke it in pieces
and gave it to the disciples, and said,
“This is my body,
which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.”
This reminds me
of the communion we receive
when the pastor or the priest gives remembrance over the blood
and the bread.
But it’s the next verse,
that came out of Jesus’s mouth,
that I never noticed before.
And it’s this verse
that makes all the difference
to our spiritual inheritance.
After supper,
Jesus took another cup
of wine and said,
“This cup is the new covenant
between God and his people -
an agreement confirmed
with my blood,
which is poured out as a sacrifice
for you.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:17-20‬
I wonder why I never noticed
the second cup?
It was not the old container,
but a new one!
There is so much more,
that I learned in this passage,
but I will wait until tomorrow
to share the discussion
and the arguments that broke out among the disciples,
the followers of Christ.
For now, let us dwell
in the house of the Lord;
let us mediate
on what Jesus just said.
“This cup is the New covenant
between God and his people -
an agreement confirmed
with my blood,
which is poured out
as a sacrifice for you.”