Where did that weekend go? It seemed to fly by at the speed of light. I just poured a hot cup of Door County Pumpkin Spice Coffee into a cup full of memories.
Part of my ancestry comes from Italy and I used to hear my dad and my aunt talk about family dinners and how good they were. My grandmother, and her sister kept up the tradition and it still goes on. I often wondered what it would have been like to be there and observe my great grand parents and my dad and aunt as children. It must have been some wonderful dinners and I heard some pretty good wine was served. I can see the gnocchi, lasagna and ravioli now.
There is one more meal I would have wanted to witness. It is called "The Last Supper".
The last supper took place on the first day of Passover, or the Festival of Unleavened Bread. Jesus sent his disciples ahead into the city to prepare a meal to celebrate Passover. Passover is the remembrance of Israel being freed from slavery to Egypt and specifically when the angel of death passed over the homes of the Israelites that had lambs blood over the doors.
As the disciples reclined and ate dinner with Jesus, he explained to them that one of the twelve of them would soon betray him. One by one the disciplines denied that it would be them, including Judas who would be the betrayer. Jesus responded that the person who betrays him will have a terrible fate and that indeed, it was Judas.
Jesus prayed and thanked God for the meal. He then broke the bread and shared the wine with the disciples and explained to them how the bread was a symbol of his body, broken for them, and the wine a symbol of his blood which would be poured out for their sins to be forgiven. This is where the churches tradition of communion comes from.
After the meal, Jesus became like a servant and washed the feet of the disciples. Peter did not feel right having Jesus wash his feet but Jesus said that He was doing it to be an example to them. Now the disciples would be able to wash each others feet, meaning they could be servants to all.
Matthew 26:17-30New International Version (NIV)
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[a] 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.
That meal must have been intense. We eat a meal now and are hungry a few hours later. But the meaning of this meal lasts for eternity. Jesus explains the meaning of His upcoming suffering. But what is amazing is that Jesus knew who would betray him and that person was in the room. Jesus was so intent on obeying the Father that He literally dined with His betrayer.
How many people won't go to a wedding, or church or a graduation because someone who has offended them is going to be there? Jesus set the example for tolerance and obediance. Nothing or no one was going to stop Him from completeing Hos mission. This, once again shows his love for the Father and us. He dined with His back stabber. Oh what a meal that had to be!
Have a great Monday.
Marty
Great food for thought. Thank you! Praying for your day. :)
ReplyDeleteAmen brother. Thanks.
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