Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
Since the One Step Ministry meets in person every Thursday, each year during Holy Week I get drawn to the gospel accounts of what took place on what’s referred to as Maundy Thursday. It’s on Thursday that things begin to pick up speed in terms of Jesus’ final hours. Thursday night is when the Last Supper takes place and that event, almost as much as what transpires on Good Friday and Easter Sunday impacts our lives as Christians to this day.
The Last Supper was nothing like what we see depicted in DaVinci’s masterpiece. Jesus and the apostles back in those days didn’t sit at a banquet table, they reclined on the floor. Food was passed hand to hand with everyone pretty much digging in together. It was not an elite dining experience by any means. But as it applied specifically to this Passover meal, this dinner had it all – drama, chaos, betrayal, sorrow and ultimately a promise from Jesus that although pain and suffering was in His immediate future, on the other side of it all His chosen people, those who chose to believe in Him would experience the forgiveness of their sins and the joy of eternal life with Him.
The word “maundy” is derived from an old Latin word meaning, the washing of feet. Let’s start there. John’s Gospel differs greatly from the other three in that John makes no mention of the Lord’s Supper – what we today call communion – and instead makes Jesus’ washing of the apostle’s feet the centerpiece of His account of what took place that night. Why…Bible scholars believe that John was deeply affected by the way Jesus humbles Himself here. When Jesus is finished washing their feet He says to them, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”
It occurred to John in that moment that the most important facet of Jesus’ Gospel was this. To serve one another in selfless love without complaint or hesitation. And rest assured that washing the apostle’s stanky feet set a lofty standard. We are to serve others with joy, always giving credit for the opportunity to be walk in obedience to Jesus. We want Him glorified so that we may be blessed and so that those we serve may develop a hunger to know Him too.
The next big moment to come during dinner was Jesus revealing to the apostles that one of them seated there with them was about to betray Him. In Matthew’s Gospel we learn that to a man every apostle asks Jesus, “Lord is it I?” This may seem strange, that each apostle would have a worry as to their desire to betray Jesus, but it makes sense if you consider what’s happening in the world around them. The Jews are expecting Jesus to take on the role of earthly king, a leader who can liberate them from under Roman rule.
The political powers in Jerusalem from Herod on down to the chief priests are scared to death over losing their grip on power to Jesus. Both groups pose potentially significant risks to both Jesus and presumably, His apostles.
Fear can be a great motivator. Given that, setting Judas aside I’m sure each apostle is wondering if things were to come down to a life-or-death situation, would I betray Jesus to save myself? To make matters worse, when Jesus reveals openly to all of them that it is in fact Judas who will turn Him over to the authorities, rather than stopping him, the apostles basically watch Judas leave and they begin to argue over which of them is the greatest.
At this point in the meal, Satan is having a field day.
The other great – and lasting – moment to take place during the Last Supper is Jesus’ initiation of the Lord’s Supper again, what we refer to today as communion. It takes place just before Judas’ departure. Jesus stands before His friends and again somewhat cryptically alludes to the fact that He will soon be separated from them. He takes bread and wine and compares them to His flesh and blood, His point being that faith in Him must be consumed like food – a necessity for living. In doing so, those who believe will know the forgiveness of their sins and, in time, eternal life with Jesus in Heaven.
Jesus tells the apostles to repeat this sacred rite in remembrance of Him, until His return at which time there will be a joyful celebration beyond anything we can imagine. To this day, as Christians we, by Jesus’ command, continue to partake in both communion and baptism through immersion.
But let me go back to what John presents as the key message that comes from the Last Supper. That is that first and foremost Jesus came to serve mankind. He came to redeem even the most hopeless sinner. And He calls on those of us who call Him Lord to keep that mission alive. Think of it this way. If the Son of God could bring Himself to wash the filthy feet of twelve weak in the flesh, under educated fishermen, who are we to deny His love to anyone seeking it?
Easter Sunday brings with it the joy of the resurrection and the realization that not a one of us will die a death of condemnation. That’s the greatest gift we’ll ever know. But with it, let’s never lose sight of the fact that Jesus also calls on each of us to show His love to others as it was shown to us.
I pray all of us enjoy a blessed, life changing Easter!