The Last Supper

Reading: Luke 22:14,15, Matthew 26:26-29, John 13:18-38,

Tonight is the night we remember the Last Supper that Jesus shared with His disciples. This supper was to celebrate the Feast of Passover. "...Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table. Jesus said, 'I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before My suffering begins...' Luke 22:14,15 NLT "As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then He broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples saying, 'Take this and eat it, for this is My body.' And He took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, 'Each of you drink from it, for this is My blood, which confirms the covenant between God and His people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.'" Matthew 26:26-29 NLT

Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world and wanted to be with His disciples to share His final words and demonstrate His love for them. He humbly washed their feet. (See The Full Extent of His Love).

Last Supper - Carl Bloch

After Jesus had washed their feet, He became deeply troubled, and said, "'I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!' the disciples looked at each other, wondering who He could mean." John was sitting near Jesus. He leaned over and  asked Him who He was talking about. Jesus answered, "' It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.' And when He had dipped it, He gave it to Judas... When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into Him. Then Jesus told him 'Hurry and do what you're going to do.'... So Judas left at once, going out into the (darkness of) night."

You are Invited

Resurrection of Lazarus by Bonnat

Readings: Matthew 22:1-14, John 11

Sometime just before the Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem, Jesus' friend Lazarus was sick and then died. Jesus came to Bethany 4 days later to a family and a town mourning in grief for the loss of their brother and friend. It was here that Jesus did His greatest miracle and the one that showed people that He had power over death.  After being in the tomb for four days, Jesus shouted, "Lazarus, come out!" John 11:43 NLT And the dead man came out, bound in his grave clothes! Wow! When the people saw this, many of them believed in Jesus. Some of them went and told the Pharisees what Jesus had done. Feeling threatened by Jesus' miracles and popularity with the people;  the leaders called a high council meeting, asking one another "What are we going to do?... If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy our temple and our nation... So from that time on, the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus' death. " John 11: 47-53 NLT

Hind sight is always 20/20. For us to look back, we can see that what they did in that week did not prevent the Romans from destroying their temple and their nation. Rather their actions resulted in God judging their nation and allowing the Romans to destroy the temple and lovely Jerusalem, as well as scatter the Jews all over the world. Look at this quote in yesterdays post as Jesus looked over the city and wept: