CSSA 1-4-20 - THE LAST SUPPER

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95. THE LAST SUPPER

"This do in remembrance of me"

Aim

To show how Jesus spent his last night with his disciples

It was the day before Passover and Jesus knew that his time was near, for this year he was to be slain as the Passover lamb. Remember how John the Baptist had pointed him out three and a half years earlier, saying, "Behold the lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). Now his time had come to be offered, but first he must share a meal with his disciples. He must show them how they should remember him.

Matthew 26:14-30; John 13:4-17. See also Mark 14:10-26; Luke 22:1-20

JUDAS AGREES TO BETRAY JESUS

The chief priests had made up their minds to kill Jesus. The only problem was € how could they do it without looking like murderers? This had always been their problem - how to make themselves appear righteous to men. There was no thought of God in their hearts. Yet Jesus had committed no crime. In fact, no matter how hard they tried to find fault with him, the people followed him to hear his words and to see his miracles. They had to find something to accuse him of that was worthy of death. If they could arrange it before Passover, it would be very convenient, for then everyone who travelled home after the feast, would take the news with them that Jesus was not the Messiah.

Sadly, it was one of the twelve close friends of Jesus who made it easy for the priests to carry out their plan. It was Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, who offered to betray him. He went to them and said, "What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you?" (Matt. 26:15). They said they would give him thirty pieces of silver. So Judas agreed, for thirty pieces of silver, to watch for a convenient time, when there were no crowds gathering around him, and he would betray him to them.

GO AND PREPARE

Meanwhile, the other disciples wondered where they would eat the Passover meal with Jesus. So he sent Peter and John to make the necessary preparations. "Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him", Jesus said. They were to follow him into the house and say to the owner of the house, "The Master saith, Where is the guest chamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?" They would then be shown a large upstairs room, already furnished, where they could make their preparations for the meal (Mark 14:13-15).

THE LAST MEAL TOGETHER

That night, the twelve assembled with Jesus in the upper room for supper. It was the Lord's very last opportunity to speak to them all together. In a little while he would be taken from them. He knew they would be shocked and frightened later. Now however, they did not seem to understand although he had told them plainly (Luke 9:22).

The events of the last few days had made them hope he might proclaim himself as King. As they thought about the kingdom, they began arguing as to which of them would be the greatest. Jesus promised them that they should sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Luke 22:30), because they had continued faithfully with him for three and a half years. But that would be later, much later than they realised. Now they must learn to be servants, to serve him and to serve one another. This was the best way to prepare them for being kings and judges in God's kingdom.

"I HAVE GIVEN YOU AN EXAMPLE": John 13:4-15

Pride had made them argue about who should be the greatest. They still had to learn to be humble, as Jesus himself was humble. Knowing what their thoughts were, Jesus got up from the table, took off his outer clothes and tied a towel around him as a slave would do. Then he poured some water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to dry them on the towel he wore. It was what a slave would do for his master's guests and here was the Lord himself washing their feet. They must have felt very embarrassed. Jesus knew that they did not understand why he was doing this. However, they would remember later and then they would understand. When it was Peter's turn he felt ashamed and said, "Thou shalt never wash my feet". Jesus replied, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me" (v8). This was too much for Peter. If the Lord was determined to wash him, then let him wash his hands and his head as well, for he loved him greatly. Then Jesus explained, "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet" (v14). That was how they would show their love for him, by humbling themselves and serving each other.

THE LORD'S SUPPER: Matthew 26:26-29

At the meal table as they were eating, Jesus took the bread in his hands and gave thanks to God. Then he broke it, giving some to each of his disciples. "Take, eat; this is my body," Jesus said (v26). Then he took the cup of wine and gave thanks. It was passed to each in turn, so that they might all drink of the wine. "This is my blood," Jesus said (v28).

It was a solemn feast, but they did not yet understand that he was soon to give his body as a sacrifice, and that his blood would be poured out for the forgiveness of sins. The bread and the wine represented his body and his blood.

So it is that even today, brethren and sisters of Christ throughout the world come together, on the first day of the week, to eat bread and drink wine in remembrance of him. The apostle Paul told the followers of Christ in Corinth that "as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come" (1 Cor. 11:26).

TO THE MOUNT OF OLIVES: Matthew 26:30-36

When supper was finished, they sang a hymn and went out through the city to the Mount of Olives.

Judas had already gone to tell the chief priests where Jesus could be found.

The Lord's heart was heavy as he went across the Kedron Valley to the Mount of Olives. He knew it would be that very night when these friends, who loved him so much, would flee for their lives and he would be left alone. Realising how sad his master was, Peter protested: "Lord, lam ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death" (Luke 22:33).

Jesus replied, */ tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me" (v34). Peter was horrified that the Lord should even think such a thing of him. "Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee", he said, and "likewise also said all the disciples". (v35).

It was here, in the garden of Gethsemane, where he often went with his disciples, that Judas came and found him.

LESSON FOR US

At the last supper Jesus said, "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you" (John 13:34). This love which Jesus has shown to us was so great that he gave his life in sacrifice for all who believe in him. We must therefore love one another in the same way. As Jesus washed his disciples' feet, so we must learn to serve each other. This means always thinking of others and helping them, sometimes giving up our own pleasure to make others happy. If we value our friends in the Truth, we will always be glad to sacrifice for them. God does not ask us to die as Jesus did, but to show by our actions that we are his disciples.

QUESTIONS

Short Answers

Who had agreed to betray Jesus?
How much did the chief priests agree to pay?
How were the disciples able to find the house where Jesus wanted them to prepare the last supper?
What did the disciples argue about?
What did Jesus do to show them that they must serve one another?