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Pastor Rob's April 2010 Message |
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Jesus instituted Holy Communion after eating the Passover meal with His disciples. THIS final Passover meal is OVERSHADOWED BY ONE THING – JUDAS BETRAYING JESUS. Jesus says “the one who eats bread with me has lifted his heel against me.” The betrayal from one of Jesus’ closest friends indicates clearly that God’s power is made perfect in weakness.
We read about the terrible night of the betrayal of Jesus beginning in John 13. Jesus speaks of love during this final time with His disciples. Maundy Thursday comes from the words new ‘mandatum.’ This new mandatum is that ‘Jesus’ followers should love one another as He has loved them.’ Love for one another will be the sign that they are indeed His disciples and living under this ‘ new way, the way of love.’
THE LOVE THAT JESUS IS SPEAKING OF IS ALWAYS DEEPLY VULNERABLE. Love can be taken advantage of- love can be betrayed. IF LOVE CANNOT BE BETRAYED THEN IT IS NOT LOVE, FOR LOVE IS A CHOICE - THAT IS THE PRICE AND THE PRECIOUSNESS OF LOVE. Jesus told His disciples that all of them would abandon Him on the night of his betrayal, therefore none of them were any better than any of the others.
Jesus chose an interesting assortment of men to be His closest followers. Although the scriptures do tell US that Judas Iscariot was the one who betrayed Jesus, the disciples themselves did not foresee who the betrayer would be. And we still, to this day, do not know the workings of Judas’ mind at the time of betrayal. Maybe Judas thought that if he pushed Jesus into having to defend Himself that Jesus would announce who He really was and would take charge of the kingdom movement – that Jesus would show His POWER and not have to go through this crucifixion stuff. Maybe Judas thought he was protecting Jesus from harm. Just maybe.
Would we feel that? Would we want to protect Jesus from harm if we did not know the ending to the Easter story – if all we could see coming was the arrest, torture, and crucifixion? Would we be so sure of ourselves in all of that turmoil of that evening after the Last Supper that we wouldn’t betray Jesus just to save our own selves if we were put in that situation? All of the disciples pondered this. For the Scriptures tell us that when Jesus said to His disciples, “one of you will betray me,” they didn’t all turn around with a knowing self-righteous look and say, “Ah, that will be Judas.” No. They ALL said, “ Lord, is it I?” Everything in the Last Supper points forward to Calvary, providing interlocking ways of explanation and interpretation for Jesus’ death. The bread and the wine represented His body and blood being sacrificed for our sins - taking the place of all future sacrifices.
But the Last Supper also is one of the most important features of the whole story of Holy Week because it is an evening of love. WHEN JESUS WANTED TO GIVE HIS FOLLOWERS THE MOST ACCURATE UNDERSTANDING POSSIBLE FOR WHAT HE WAS ABOUT TO DO, He didn’t give them a theory. He gave them an action: a meal, a Passover meal interpreted in a new way.
The meal was a moment of friendship and of family. It was love at the table.
And because of His love for us, Jesus was willing to go to the cross. His death and resurrection would defeat the power of evil once and for all - AND SO ESTABLISH God’s kingdom in a new way - A WAY FROM WHICH WE ALL CAN BENEFIT JUST THE WAY WE BENEFIT FROM A GOOD MEAL. Jesus’ death, the great act of love, will provide - at last - THE MESSIANIC BANQUET TO WHICH ALL ARE INVITED.
I pray that you will join us during our interpretation of the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday. I believe that through the offerings of the worship of ordinary men (and women) like ourselves, that you will be blessed. Our prayer is that we would all grow closer to our Lord and Savior during this Easter Season. Invite friends to come with you to our Last Supper and Easter Services.
God bless you all. Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed! In His Love, Pastor Rob
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 04 April 2010 )
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