The Last Supper
December 21, 2022
Commentary
Jesus eats His last meal with His disciples. This was the Passover meal (vv. 14-20). As it was drawing to a close, He instituted the ordinance that the church calls"Communion” or “The Lord’s Supper.” The bread and wine represented Christ’s broken body and His blood that would soon be shed on the cross of Calvary. The bread remained bread and the wine (grape juice that was not intoxicating) remained wine. When we partake in “The Lord’s Supper“ today, we simply identify ourselves with His body and blood (I Cor. 10:16). There is no suggestion that we receive His body and blood as some teach today. Following the “The Lord’s Supper,” Jesus reveals two basic character flaws in the individual disciples:
He reveals a traitor in their midst (vv. 21-23). The fact that the disciples were puzzled by this strange announcement shows that they did not know Judas’ true character. Neither did they remember the Lord’s statements that He would be betrayed (Matt. 17:22).He reveals how selfish they are (vv. 24-30). It seems that as soon as “The Lord’s Supper“ was over, an argument broke out among the disciples as to who was the greatest. When a person is interested in promoting himself, it doesn’t take much to start an argument. What are your concerns today?
Application
What are my major concerns today? Twenty years from now as I look back, will these things look petty and minor? I am encouraged to know that Christ is as concerned for me as He was for Peter.
Luke 22:14– 30 (NET)
14 Now when the hour came, Jesus took his place at the table and the apostles joined him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 Then he took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And in the same way he took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
21 “But look, the hand of the one who betrays me is with me on the table. 22 For the Son of Man is to go just as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” 23 So they began to question one another as to which of them it could possibly be who would do this.
24 A dispute also started among them over which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 So Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ 26 Not so with you; instead the one who is greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is seated at the table, or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is seated at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
28 “You are the ones who have remained with me in my trials. 29 Thus I grant to you a kingdom, just as my Father granted to me, 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Illustration: Man Who Had Communion With His Father’s Killer
On the Lord’s day a group of missionaries and believers in New Guinea were gathered together to observe the Lord’s Supper. After one young man sat down, a missionary recognized that a sudden tremor had passed through the young man’s body. That indicated he was under a great nervous strain. Then in a moment all was quiet again. The missionary whispered, “What was it that troubled you?” “Ah,” he said, “But the man who just came in killed and ate the body of my father. And now he has come in to remember the Lord with us. At first I didn’t know whether I could endure it. But it is all right now. He is washed in the same precious blood.” And so together they had Communion. It is a marvelous thing, the work of the Holy Spirit of God. Does the world know anything of this? (H.A. Ironside, Source Unknown).