March 30th, 2021
By Tina Yerkes
Passover was a meal that Jewish people have celebrated for hundreds of years. It was always the same. Reciting the ancient texts, the symbolism in the food, the décor, and the fervent prayers. Jesus invited His disciples to a Passover dinner. This dinner was different.
Luke 22:7-23 shares this account. “Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked. He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.” They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.”
His disciples were not expecting the words that Jesus spoke. They were completely caught off guard. The men who walked with Him daily had no idea what was to come over the next couple of days. So many times, we will say to ourselves, ‘I wish I could HEAR Jesus tell me what to do’. These men did HEAR His words and they still didn’t get it. But, the next couple of hours will be eye-opening for them all.
Jesus would be betrayed, denied, arrested, and crucified. His disciples would be scared, embarrassed, grief-strickened, and heart-broken. They didn’t know what was coming in the next couple of days. We have the benefit of having God’s Word to tell us of the incredible joy that was to come on Easter morning. The disciples were in a time of their lives where they couldn’t see a way out. They didn’t have the whole picture.
God’s big picture for your life is not revealed to you in a text that can be picked up and read to know the ending. But God is still in it. God is not physically walking next to us to show us which road to take. But His Holy Spirit speaks into our hearts. When those days come, that just didn’t turn out the way you expected, God is there. And joy will come.
Read the rest of the Easter story and put yourself into the narrative. How would you have reacted to the events leading up to the Resurrection? Like Mike talked about on Sunday, would you have stayed? Would you have been distracted? Or would you have left? If you haven’t heard the message from this past Sunday, please take some time to listen and reflect.
Passover was a meal that Jewish people have celebrated for hundreds of years. It was always the same. Reciting the ancient texts, the symbolism in the food, the décor, and the fervent prayers. Jesus invited His disciples to a Passover dinner. This dinner was different.
Luke 22:7-23 shares this account. “Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked. He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.” They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.”
His disciples were not expecting the words that Jesus spoke. They were completely caught off guard. The men who walked with Him daily had no idea what was to come over the next couple of days. So many times, we will say to ourselves, ‘I wish I could HEAR Jesus tell me what to do’. These men did HEAR His words and they still didn’t get it. But, the next couple of hours will be eye-opening for them all.
Jesus would be betrayed, denied, arrested, and crucified. His disciples would be scared, embarrassed, grief-strickened, and heart-broken. They didn’t know what was coming in the next couple of days. We have the benefit of having God’s Word to tell us of the incredible joy that was to come on Easter morning. The disciples were in a time of their lives where they couldn’t see a way out. They didn’t have the whole picture.
God’s big picture for your life is not revealed to you in a text that can be picked up and read to know the ending. But God is still in it. God is not physically walking next to us to show us which road to take. But His Holy Spirit speaks into our hearts. When those days come, that just didn’t turn out the way you expected, God is there. And joy will come.
Read the rest of the Easter story and put yourself into the narrative. How would you have reacted to the events leading up to the Resurrection? Like Mike talked about on Sunday, would you have stayed? Would you have been distracted? Or would you have left? If you haven’t heard the message from this past Sunday, please take some time to listen and reflect.
No Comments