The adrenaline rush of optimism and joy that they’d all felt on that previous Sunday, just four days before as their master had ridden in to Jerusalem to the shouts of: “Hosanna! Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord!” had evaporated. This was grim. This was solemn.
Jesus was saying things that made them feel most anxious! He said he was going to leave them. He said that where he went, they could not follow He was saying that they would be persecuted just as he was persecuted, and he told them that one of them would betray him to the authorities!
They did not realise it at the time, but they were listening to Jesus’ last message to them before his death. When people are about to leave you forever – and specially when they are going to die, their words are very, very important.
For John, that night was burned into his memory, and all through John’s record of Jesus’ life, from chapters 13 through to chapter 17 he records Jesus message; this last message to them.
John chapter 13 says:
“It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God...”
That night, Jesus gives his little band of disciples four important things. Four key things that will mark them and those who came after them forever. To this day, these four things are the emblem, the banner, the sign of Jesus lived out amongst his disciples.
NUMBER ONE: HE GIVES THEM AN EXAMPLE
John 13 says: “... so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. ……
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
Can you see the look of utter astonishment on the faces of these important men? They were the high officials of the once and future king! They were the guests of honour meeting with the hero of Palm Sunday! They were the closest confidantes of the Son of David; the deliverer, the Messiah!
Where were the servants; the slaves the ‘nothings’ who will wait on our every need and wash our stinking feet? Outrageous that the minions cause us to wait — how angry will the Master be with them! And yet, and yet — there he is — on his knees, towel in hand, sweat on his brow, cracked and dusty foot in hand bowed in service, washing feet.
In Jesus’ Kingdom, the greatest must become the least and the least are worthy of
service. This is the example of the upside-down kingdom. On Good Friday, the greatest humbled himself and became the least. Jesus calls us to serve each other humbly, just as he served us!
NUMBER TWO: HE GIVES THEM A COMMANDMENT
John goes on to write:
John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
This is extravagant and costly love. This is different to what Moses had said many centuries before. Moses had taught the people to love their neighbours just like they loved themselves. But Jesus says to love each other just like Jesus loved us.
After the meal, he walked out to the garden of Gesthemane, and then through Pilate’s palace to a place called Golgotha, to lay down his life for all. That means loving others MORE than loving ourselves! He gave his life for us even when we did not deserve it! Jesus puts it: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
NUMBER THREE: HE GAVE THEM A PROMISE
John then goes on to say:
“ ... And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth…..” (John 13)
Jesus was not going to leave them abandoned. His death would restore what had ended when paradise was lost. God would again dwell with women and men — those created in the image of God. The image of God would be restored, and the Spirit of creation - the same Holy Spirit of Jesus that had breathed life into the first Adam would breathe new life into them.
Take a moment together and light the candle on your table — Look at the flame and
think about the Spirit who is there in you and amongst you. Ask the Holy Spirit to be with you this week, guiding and strengthening you snd others through you.
NUMBER FOUR: HE GAVE THEM A MEAL
In Mark’s gospel it says: Chapter 14, verse 22 onwards it says:
“ ... While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. “I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.” When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. ..” (Mark 14:22)
The only regular worship practice that Jesus gave was a simple meal of bread and wine. This is what the common people ate every day. This is not complicated! This is not expensive This does not need special tables or plates or clothes! It is a meal that even the poorest believers can eat together. And for those early Christians, who met in homes at Table, this was the heart of their community - Communion.
It is to be part of every time we meet – this could be part of all our meals through the week not just reserved for a special Sunday service. In Jesus day, meals were about friendship more than ceremony. In Jesus day, meals were a place of hospitality and community At meal times families would remember that they belonged together!
Mealtime was for remembering identity. The word RE-MEMBER is the opposite of the word DIS-MEMBER. To gather around a table is to symbolically ‘put together’ the unity that a tribe or a family shares. In the faces and voices is a renewal of a shared life we re-member.
This is us! We share in the family of Jesus and we share the way of Jesus. We forgive each other and recommit to each other as we look forward to the day when the Master will return and everything will be put right.
THE BREAD
Paul writes:
“... For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (1 Cor 11:22)
Bread feeds hungry people so that they grow. In John chapter six Jesus had said: “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry…”
Bread reminds us of Jesus’ body was given and broken for us in humble servanthood. Check out what Paul writes in Philippians chapter two verse 5 onwards says:
“... Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ..”
As well as all this — The bread also reminds us that we too, are now part of his body. We are now the Body of Christ! We are his hands and feet and mouth and heart on this earth.
Paul writes:
“... For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free — and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many….” (1 Corinthians12:12)
And,
“ ... Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man [or woman] ought to examine him and herself before eating of the bread and drinking of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognising the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on themself.” (1 Corinthians 9:27)
THE CUP
“... In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:25)
Why did Jesus pass around a cup of red wine? You see, when someone makes a last Will and Testament, and puts in it what their heirs will receive — when does that last Will and Testament get opened and read and take effect?
Not until the person making that Will dies. The cup reminds us that when Jesus died, God’s Will and Testament was opened.
The Book of Hebrews says
“... In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. ..” (Hebrews 9:14)
Jesus has died and we are his heirs! What do we find written in God’s last will and testament? We have forgiveness of sins! We have eternal life! We are now his sons and daughters! We have access to God's throne of grace! We will reign with Jesus in the new kingdom.
The Lord bless us and watch over us. The Lord make his face shine upon us, and be gracious to us. The Lord look kindly on us and give us peace. In the name of the Father, and of the Son & of the Holy Spirit.
