The Last Supper - Matthew 26:17-30
The Last Supper
17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. 20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”
23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” 25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.” 26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Reflection:
In this account in Matthew, we have two important things going on. One, Jesus observes the Passover. Note that despite all that is going on and his impending journey to the cross, he is obedient to the scriptures from the Old Testament. This feast was primarily for the Israelites to remember the great deliverance from the Egyptians to whom they were in slavery. Part of the feast was the slaughtering, then the eating of the innocent lamb which was brought forth from the community. Also, they had salt water and bitter herbs symbolic of their bitter time in Egypt. The unleavened bread reminded them of their hasty departure. Now Jesus uses this setting to fulfill the Old Testament prophecy that one of his own would betray him. Psalm 41.
And around the table the disciples began to ask themselves, "Is it I Lord?" And Judas chimes in too, perhaps not wanting to draw attention to himself, though knowing what was really in his own heart. Despite knowing that one would betray him, Jesus proceeds to the meal and introduces the words of institution that we use to this very day to remember the last supper and what Jesus did for us. And Jesus brought deeper meaning into this custom as he says, the bread is his body, and the blood represents the new covenant sealed in His own blood for the forgiveness of sins.
Then, Jesus says that he will not drink from the fruit of the vine again until he drinks it "new" with them in His Father's kingdom. As we often say before receiving communion in our church, this meal is a foretaste of the meal to come, when we will eat it with Jesus in heaven. Therefore, every time we receive holy communion, we remember what Jesus did for us by dying on the cross to forgive our sins as the innocent lamb of God. And we also look forward to the day when we will drink it with him in his kingdom.
Practically speaking, Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians to examine ourselves before we partake in this meal. Judas though knowing he would betray him, partakes in the meal. We offer holy communion weekly because our tradition feels strongly that Jesus is truly present, and at least weekly as a community we need to remember what He did for us on the cross. And also examine ourselves before we partake of this great gift. This is not to say we shouldn't receive communion if we are feeling guilty, but it is a time to confess our sin, and make things right with others we have offended. Finally, as we partake in the great feast we are united with Christians around the world as we anticipate that day when we will all partake of this meal together with Christ. That will be a glorious day indeed! Amen.
17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. 20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”
23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” 25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.” 26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Reflection:
In this account in Matthew, we have two important things going on. One, Jesus observes the Passover. Note that despite all that is going on and his impending journey to the cross, he is obedient to the scriptures from the Old Testament. This feast was primarily for the Israelites to remember the great deliverance from the Egyptians to whom they were in slavery. Part of the feast was the slaughtering, then the eating of the innocent lamb which was brought forth from the community. Also, they had salt water and bitter herbs symbolic of their bitter time in Egypt. The unleavened bread reminded them of their hasty departure. Now Jesus uses this setting to fulfill the Old Testament prophecy that one of his own would betray him. Psalm 41.
And around the table the disciples began to ask themselves, "Is it I Lord?" And Judas chimes in too, perhaps not wanting to draw attention to himself, though knowing what was really in his own heart. Despite knowing that one would betray him, Jesus proceeds to the meal and introduces the words of institution that we use to this very day to remember the last supper and what Jesus did for us. And Jesus brought deeper meaning into this custom as he says, the bread is his body, and the blood represents the new covenant sealed in His own blood for the forgiveness of sins.
Then, Jesus says that he will not drink from the fruit of the vine again until he drinks it "new" with them in His Father's kingdom. As we often say before receiving communion in our church, this meal is a foretaste of the meal to come, when we will eat it with Jesus in heaven. Therefore, every time we receive holy communion, we remember what Jesus did for us by dying on the cross to forgive our sins as the innocent lamb of God. And we also look forward to the day when we will drink it with him in his kingdom.
Practically speaking, Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians to examine ourselves before we partake in this meal. Judas though knowing he would betray him, partakes in the meal. We offer holy communion weekly because our tradition feels strongly that Jesus is truly present, and at least weekly as a community we need to remember what He did for us on the cross. And also examine ourselves before we partake of this great gift. This is not to say we shouldn't receive communion if we are feeling guilty, but it is a time to confess our sin, and make things right with others we have offended. Finally, as we partake in the great feast we are united with Christians around the world as we anticipate that day when we will all partake of this meal together with Christ. That will be a glorious day indeed! Amen.
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