I believe the son of the one Father of all that ever was, is, or will be is alive and well. He sits at the right hand of His Father. All Authority on earth is his—given by the Father. Jesus, name above all other names, help us search, study, and learn how understanding the mysteries of Your last supper might feed a starving world.
He will make it known.
In the stillness—and only to those who lean in to hear.
Oh, brother. What if we lean in to hear (like me sometimes), but unless we jot it in a bedside notebook or phone note app, we forget everything we heard when we wake?
Each voice, way, and name God knows. Still, we whom He calls above all creatures on earth seldom care to learn about the power of his son Jesus’s name or how demons flee at the mention of it. This makes me wonder. Do I truly believe in that power? Do we truly believe? If so, let us not forget, Lord.
There’s power in believing. . .
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all I have heard from my father I have made known to you. ~ John 15:15
Jesus revealed
Jesus opened His heart to his closest followers. He wanted them to be fruitful. While the Bible’s holy scriptures state He gave instructions, warnings, and callings, we don’t always envision the vulnerability or patience of the man who walked with them, laughed and cried with them, and called them friends.
All I have heard from my father?
This means He told them more than we’ll ever know. I like to read further in John 15 to gain a bit more insight: John 15:15-21
With reckless abandon
I love the visual of Jesus reaching out to His disciples. With outstretched arms, He called them one by one. “Come, follow Me,” he said.
This voice I imagine is tender and powerful.
They left their homes, families, and jobs to follow with reckless abandon. Many thought they were crazy.
I hope to keep that snapshot scene in mind until I die. It inspires me with great hope. I pray God always reminds me how they felt and how my spirit also soared whenever I stepped out on a ledge or walked into a lion’s den and wasn’t afraid. No lie. (Well, it was a full-grown cougar). Talk about crazy.
More questions than answers
Today as I write, I ask myself how it’s possible that I who have witnessed many miracles in my lifetime might retreat, fall like prey or give in to fears after such awesome and miraculous encounters?
We know God hasn’t changed. He forever stays the same. He renews and fills my spirit with compassion, hope, love, and trust in His inspiring word. And yet, like Peter, Thomas, or God forbid—Judas, I sometimes lean on my own understanding and not His.
Hunger and thirst
In the quietest morning hours, I’m reminded to search for answers in God’s Word. And now, as we approach Holy Week, I’ll hold on to the hope I found many years ago. It keeps me tethered and hungry to learn—but not just about customs, culture, or historical events to boost my middle-aged IQ (more on that another time—if I remember).
My heart longs to grasp the meaning of things that matter to God. And sure, He knows I’ve walked ahead in my understanding, mingled with a few pharisaic crowds, or screwed up a few (hundred) times in my over-zealousness in what I thought He had planned for me, but evidently, I’ve been in somewhat good company.
The hope of all the world?
I’ve imagined Peter boasting to all he met that Jesus was the hope of all the world. But still, fear overtook him when Roman guards questioned him.
Honestly, Pete?
Peter and Thomas—and Judas? Oh, my!
Jesus predicted that this boldest disciple and friend would deny Him. Peter objected. Then later, he denied Jesus—Three times. A rooster’s morning crowing was the alarm, as if to remind the man of this and several other times he overpromised in his own zealous faith. Like us, Peter struggled and prayed for help with all he tried to understand from Jesus’s teachings.
The same evening after partaking the bread and wine Jesus offered his twelve closest disciples, Judas betrayed Him for a few measly coins.
Did anyone hear a word Jesus said?
Facing life’s challenges
And still today (believer or not), we face life’s challenges independently, with or without some measure of grace. Remembering Peter’s initial sincere hunger for revival and how he turned away from his old ways to walk exuberantly toward Jesus—leading many on the same road, still stings.
Surely he heard and understood some of the parables Jesus taught. Right?
Evidence
Scripture also notes how after Jesus’s resurrection, Thomas—another of Jesus’s faithful followers who had walked with Him throughout His ministry and witnessed many miracles before Jesus’s death on the cross—doubted his Savior’s resurrection. He wanted evidence.
What??? I mean, it’s not like these guys had 2025 distractions like iPhones or internet. . .
Jesus’s sacrifice gave hope a name
Our remembering how Jesus had offered his disciples bread and wine at His Last Supper, and said, “This is my body and my blood…” established the symbolism for forgiveness of sin to come. He freely gave, and they received.
Do this in rememberance of me… Read more about the institution of the Lord’s supper: 1Corinthians 11:23-25 ESV, Luke 22:19-21, Matthew 26:26-29 ESV, Mark 14:22-25 ESV
Since that day, Christianity has taught how The Last Supper serves as a symbolic reminder of Jesus’s love and sacrifice. His sacrificial love has inspired Jews and Gentiles. Christians and Messianic believers want to live a life of service and love, too.
Tomorrow evening, as our family gathers for another Passover meal, I pray we linger in the remembrance (I believe all Christians should) and search for the true meaning beyond what we see or hear about the significance of the lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs.
The internet is brimming with mysterious theories
Posture studies and explanations regarding hidden messages or symbols within the famous Last Supper painting abound. Historical controversies and published theories regarding who was sitting next to who (and especially Jesus) continue to fascinate.
While the disciples’ reactions to Jesus’s words or actions are the subject of ongoing interpretations from art experts and scholars, I choose to stick with biblical facts, allegories and birds here.
Jesus unraveled the greatest mysteries of all
In spiritual valleys where we search for water at the bottom of an empty well or when darkness and pain linger like dog days of summer, I look to spring’s once stormy sky where sparrows roam without worry or fear. They rely on the Giver of sustenance as if they know hope has a name.
Birds, unlike you and me, listen to each whisper on the wind. Every morning, they beckon me to stop focusing on the worries of this world if only for a few minutes. Priceless moments. Precious days. Time meant for me to savor, live deliberately, and remember so I too might uncover clues about the greatest mysteries of all: Faith, hope, and love.
Jesus, the new covenant, and faith
For God so loved the world His old testament’s covenant is renewed…
In the Bible’s Old Testament, God offered His people freedom from slavery. We see Moses lead a great exodus and learn about faith and trust. And sin and loss.
Faith is unlike fate or destiny or karma. It’s an unwavering belief in what is not seen. And sometimes, regarding believing, we’re a lot like Thomas. Faith calls us to do more than see and touch. We can leap to trust with blind abandon and watch Him part the seas.
The thought of total assurance of a Father in heaven who loves us so much more than the best earthly father ever could can overwhelm the most faithful believer. Jesus knew that when He passed His dearest friends a piece of bread and sip of wine. “Do this in remembrance of me.”
For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten son… John 3:16 ESV
Remembering the sacrifice and enduring
When I think of how God’s gift of abundant life came from such sacrifice, I’m reminded of how Jesus led by example from day one. He served, loved unconditionally, suffered death on Calvary’s hill. And forgave. He was and is the promise of everlasting life.
Father God endured the fall of man and angels and the death of his son who became flesh and bone and blood only to carry our sins to a terrible cross—All this, so we could live.
Enduring versus endurance?
Athletes
Will we know how to survive in the real wilderness? We expect a life of plenty and think joy is the absence of sorrow. I can testify that some of my life’s greatest joys have followed sorrows or vice versa.
It’s true, some days are harder than others and I remember a brief season years ago when I ran in desolate places for relevance, acceptance, and happiness. Starving. Withering. Deaf and blind. Drifting further away from truth with each dawning day.
Then one day (even though I thought I knew God’s way from birth), I decided to believe. “I believe, Lord. Help me with my unbelief.” And He did.
Why believe in miracles and such? Here’s another Biblical example on that topic: Mark 9:14-29 ESV
The bread and the wine
Today, Christians take the bread and wine (Communion or Eucharist) as a physical representation of nourishing our spiritual relationship in Jesus. Hopefully, non-believers and Christians alike will try to grasp the magnitude of all Jesus gave during his time on earth and especially at His Last Supper.
Why did He go on about enduring, sacrifice, or the supernatural power released by believing when it all seemed to go over their heads like a hot air balloon?
After all was said and done that evening, Jesus left more than crumbs on the table.
Communion and grace
You may ask, “Is this what grace looks like? How can it be so ugly?”
God’s answer hasn’t changed: “Grace isn’t the absence of sorrow. It’s the gift of unending tomorrows.”
If you’re still with me and wondering how all these unlikely comparisons could relate to how understanding the mysteries of The Last Supper might feed a starving world, maybe the fact that you’re still reading this message is one of the most important clues.
Wishing you joy on your journey and the most miraculous Resurrection Sunday ever,
JC
Special thanks to Pixabay for use of all free images: Feature Image by Chil Vera from Pixabay (CharlVera), #1 Image by Jan Vašek from Pixabay , #2 Repeat Image by Chil Vera from Pixabay (CharlVera), #3 Image by Susann Mielke from Pixabay .
Easter blessings, Joann. Thank you.
Thanks for a fresh look at the Last Supper