The Last Supper
Matthew 26:17-29; Mark 14:12-31; Luke 22:1-38; John 13:1-38
Before the Passover began, Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world and return to His Father. He loved those who were His own in the world to the last and highest degree.
Then came the Passover. Jesus sent Peter and John to go and prepare the Passover meal. They asked Him where they were to go to prepare it. He said to them: “When you enter into the city, there you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him into the house he enters and say to the master of the house: The Master asks you: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover meal with my disciples, for my time is near? And he will show you a large room upstairs, furnished with carpets and couches properly spread. Make the preparations there.” And they went and found the room just as He said it would be, and they made ready the Passover.
When the hour was come (evening), Jesus sat down with His 12 disciples and said to them: “I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I say to you that I shall eat it no more until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
And He took the cup and when He had given thanks, He said: “Take this and distribute it among yourselves. For I say to you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” This was Messiah’s cup that no one had ever taken at the Passover feast before. It had remained for Messiah.
And He took the bread and gave thanks, and broke it and gave it to them saying: “Take, eat, this is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
In like manner He took the cup (this is the communion cup) after supper saying: “This cup is the New Testament or Covenant ratified in My blood which is shed, poured out for you. But behold, he who is about to betray Me is with Me on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined and appointed, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed and delivered up.”
The disciples began to inquire among themselves which of them it was who was about to do this. Then an eager contention arose among them as to who was the greatest among them. Jesus rebuked them, saying that he who is the greatest is he who serves. He talked to them of their future in the Father’s kingdom. Then He told Peter of satan’s desire to have him, but Jesus would take care of Him. Of course, Jesus was referring to Peter’s denial of Him three times.
Supper being ended, Jesus got up, laid aside His garments, took a servant’s towel, and fastened it around His waist. Then He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and wipe them with the towel. When He came to Simon Peter, Peter did not want Him to wash his feet as he thought it was too demeaning for Jesus, their leader. Jesus rebuked him and told him that unless He washed his feet, Peter would have no part in Jesus. Of course, Peter being Peter said: “Oh, then wash my whole body.”
Jesus spoke to His disciples after He had washed their feet. “Do you know what I have done to you? Let me tell you what I have done. I have given you an example. The servant is not greater than his Master. I Whom you call Lord and Master have washed your feet. You also ought to wash one another’s feet.”
Love serves because it wants to, not because it has to!