THE TABLE OF THE LORD "THIS PASSOVER!" Every Passover was significant because of the event it memorialized. But this Passover was special. It would induct an era of remembrance that would dwarf the recollection of Israel's deliverance from Egypt. The heart of Jesus was tender, and He conveyed that to His disciples. "And He said to them, 'I have earnestly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer'" (Luke 22:15, NRSV). This was not an evening to be with the multitudes, or even the synagogue with its judges and critics. It was not the time to confront the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Lawyers. This was a prelude to His suffering, and His heart yearned to be with His disciples--those who saw and appreciated Him more clearly than others. He "earnestly desired" to eat this passover with kindred spirits. He also desired to do so because He would institute a memorial to be proclaimed by these very men. "This passover" would induct the end of one era and the beginning of another. It would herald a remembrance of the Savior transcendent to Moses and Joshua, and a deliverance that would dwarf that of Israel from Egypt. THE WASHING OF FEET On the evening of His betrayal, and in anticipation of suffering and death, Jesus thought of His disciples. He sought to open their understanding to the nature of His kingdom and salvation. The kings and rulers of this world know nothing of the spirit our blessed Lord exhibited that night. "After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded" (John 13:5). They could not comprehend a serving Master, as He lived this concept out before them. Because His death would be for them, He began that very night to minister to them in a sensitive way. REVEALING IMMINENT BETRAYAL It was a bitter night! Sitting at the table with Him was one who would lift up his heel against the Lord (Psa 421:9; John 13:18). As grievous as this was, it did not turn Jesus from His mission. He saw the betrayal as it was to be seen; the appointed means of accomplishing the will of God. "And as they did eat, He said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray Me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto Him, Lord, is it I? And He answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with Me in the dish, the same shall betray Me. The Son of man goeth as it is written of Him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed Him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said [you have said it yourself, NASB]" (Matt 26:21-25). -- Tomorrow:
"Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils" -- 1 Corinthians 10:21
It was the night of the Passover feast; an evening during which faithful Jews would remember their deliverance from 430 years of Egyptian bondage. It was a glorious deliverance, wrought by the mighty hand of God. As it is written, " . . . and the children of Israel went out with a high hand" (Exo 14:8). That night was unparalleled in the history of Israel. It was preceded by the most awesome plagues ever poured out upon a nation. During the time of cursing, the people of God were totally protected, excluded from Divine judgment (Ex 8:22; 9:26; 10:23). They did not leave a "hoof" behind when they made their Divinely planned exodus (Ex 10:26). All of the people were delivered! All of the
people crossed the threatening Red Sea. All of the people ate miraculous manna. All of the people drank water from a rock. Deliverance from bondage! Deliverance from oppression! Deliverance that could never have been accomplished independently of God Himself! Even the angels of God were involved in the exodus of the children of Israel (Ex 14:19; 23:20,23). The night Israel left Egypt, they observed a Passover, and they continued to remember their deliverance in the Passover feast (Ex 12-13). How fitting that the Deliverer establish a memorial to Himself during this Divinely ordained feast!
Our Lord was faithful in the observance of Divine appointments. In a thoughtful and orderly manner, He directed His disciples to prepare for their observance of the Passover. "Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat" (Luke 22:7-8). On this eventful night, preparations would be made for the slaying of God's Lamb--a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the world!
The institution of this ordinance was not made against an academic background. A lengthy historical perspective was not provided, nor a dissertation on the place of remembrance in spiritual life. Instead, our Lord demonstrated the nature of salvation. It is the Savior meeting the need of the lost; the Washer cleansing the unclean; the Master using His power to serve a helpless race. To this day, theologians haggle about the meaning of this remarkable act. You will note, however, that no Apostle ever alluded to this occasion as mysterious. No one of Scriptural record argued over it, or divided into warring factions because of it.
Because the Lord's Supper is a sensitive activity, it was ordained in a sensitive environment. Because it commemorates what Jesus does for us, it was swathed in a recollection of receiving from Jesus something that was not deserved. A serving Savior instituted this memorial feast!
The grief of that moment cannot be comprehended with the finite mind! To be betrayed inculcates sorrow enough; for that betrayal to come from your "own familiar friend" is the greatest of all insults. On the very evening this was to occur--the ultimate act of inconsideration-- Jesus instituted an ordinance that memorialized the greatest act of consideration!
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for the Lord's table, the Savior who instituted it, the occasion of its institution, and the manner in which it was done.