Tuesday, April 15—Day 42

Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. As they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” And He answered, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself.”

While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Matthew 26:20-30

The Last Supper
The night Jesus was betrayed he reclined at a table with his closest friends, one of whom would betray him. He was aware of this reality, yet he sat and ate and drank with his enemy.

What vulnerability and openness Jesus displayed in the midst of knowing one of his most trusted followers would turn him over to those who hated him! Take a few moments to look at the emotions that Jesus and the disciples are expressing in Mamedov’s The Last Supper (Down Syndrome). Can you see the expression on the faces of the disciples? Can you see their shock and dismay that one of them will sell out their teacher, leader and friend? Surely Jesus’ announcement of a betrayer among them met with a ripple of emotions: hurt that he would say such a thing against one of them; anger at the one of whom this was true; disgust towards Judas and his betrayal; utter disbelief that after all they had been through, one of them would do such a thing. This isn’t a night of relaxation and decompression from long days of weary travel. The shock of Judas’ betrayal would not be the last surprise for the disciples that night. Yet Jesus would not allow this betrayal to rule the moment. There were more important things at hand.

It the midst of the whispered conversations about an impending revolution and outrage at Judas’ betrayal came Jesus’ appeal to remember what he was about to do. He called them to unity through breaking bread and sharing wine. He called them to himself by remembering his sacrifice.

In the disciples’ faces we see no cohesion or peace, but in Christ we find an invitation. Jesus beckons the disciples to this table and to this ritual act of not just remembering, but remembering together. The table of Christ is about reminding ourselves and those around us of the vulnerability and sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. The Brilliance sings beautifully of “God’s love poured open to make us new/ Lord make us new…Make us all one / to love like your Son.”
Kevin Bennie, Graduate Student, Institute of Spiritual Formation

Prayer
Lord, in the midst of all that we are experiencing in this season of Lent – anger, sadness, joy, gladness, disbelief, peace - may we see and experience the beauty of coming to your table in unity. Amen.