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.”
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