I’ve already mentioned that Jesus had had a busy week. Palm Sunday’s triumphant entrance, into Jerusalem, was the beginning of the end. From Monday through Wednesday he boldly cleansed the temple, stood up to the religious crowd when they questioned his authority, told the parable of the tenants, reminded them about paying taxes, and the Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times. There was much more, but these controversial actions were separating the true believers from the mere Jesus “followers”.
We have reached the point, in Holy Week, where Jesus and his disciples have gathered for the Passover meal, and I want to invite you to participate. The significance of this Holy festival should not be over looked. Jesus, and every Jewish person was required to participate, and hopefully to do so in the City of David. It recalled the God’s sparing of the Jews, in Egypt, from the Death Angel when they applied the blood of the lamb over their doors. (Be sure to watch this short attached video.) The city was crowded with throngs of worshippers, and yet Jesus had not told his friends where the meal would be held. You couldn’t just pop in somewhere, reservations would have been made a year in advance. We can be sure that they wondered what to do when Jesus told Peter and John to go make ready. “But where?” they asked. Jesus had it all under control, and he gave them the details of how to locate the room.
Let’s go in with the others. The meal was spread out on the floor, not in DaVinci style at a table, and we are invited to recline with the others. We know the rest of the story, but the disciples don’t. They only know that this a familiar celebration one that they have participated in all their lives. Jesus begins by telling them how happy he is to share this meal with them, but the bad news follows quickly. “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” Luke 22:15. “Suffer, did he just say suffer? What does that mean?” they all wondered. He then breaks from tradition, and offers them wine and bread that he has blessed. Jesus tells them that they represent his body and blood, which is soon to be sacrificed for them, ushering in a new covenant. He instructs them that each time they participate, in this meal, they are to remember him. In addition, Jesus acknowledges the one who is to betray him. We’ve heard this story many times, as Christians, but to those at that sacred meal it must have been devastating. Their Rabbi, the one they had put all their trust in was leaving, say it’s not so. But it was so. After the meal, and the departure of Judas, they leave to pray on the Mt. of Olives until Jesus is arrested.
When I retired, at the end of 2013, my friends and co-workers held a party for me as a way of saying goodbye. I wasn’t going anywhere, merely leaving my position in the company, and I knew that they would remember me, because they I was still around. Jesus was leaving his earthly position permanently, and He wanted to be sure they would remember him. And by remembering I don’t mean simple recollections, but literally putting Jesus back together. At death, his Spirit departed, his blood flowed and the “members” of human life, as we know them, ceased. He asks us to “re-member him”, to put those pieces back together, because is alive and fully membered. Please reread this account, in any of the gospels today and “Re-member” he Lives.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4XyYv991h4
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