14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with 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 until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given 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 And he took bread, and when he had given 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 likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21 But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22 For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” 23 And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.
24 A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
28 “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, 29 and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
Jesus reclined at the table with His apostles to eat the Passover meal (culturally they didn’t sit at a table). Jesus expressed a deep desire to have spent this final time with His disciples easting the Passover meal together before His time of suffering. Jesus explained that this was the last time He would eat and drink in celebration until the kingdom finally arrives when He returns. Jesus took the bread and gave it a new symbolism. It represented His body which He gave for us. In this meal, Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper or Communion as celebrated by Christians today. He also took the cup and said that it now symbolised the new covenant in His blood. Jesus explained how His body and His blood were given for all at the table while Judas, who would betray Him, was still there. If Jesus gave His life for Judas, His betrayer, then His death is clearly for every sinner. Then Jesus spoke of His imminent betrayal. Judas was clearly trusted by all the disciples because no one suspected who the betrayer might be. While God had planned that Jesus would suffer at the hands of a betrayer, Judas was not innocent of his own sinful choice. While God, in His sovereignty, may choose to use the sinful actions of men to accomplish His will, that does not mean they are not guilty of their sin. Sometimes our sinful actions by God’s grace lead to positive outcomes. Let’s be careful not to confuse God’s grace with acceptance of our actions.
Did Jesus’ suggestion that one of the disciples was a betrayer lead them to start comparing each other and that to an argument of who was the greatest? Jesus interrupted their argument and pointed out that the Gentiles exercised lordship over them but they were not to act that way. Instead of wanting to be the greatest, followers of Jesus should seek to serve one another. Jesus had been an example to them as one who serves. Let us all follow Jesus’ example of service.
The apostles didn’t need to argue. They would have positions of honour in the coming kingdom because they were with Jesus through His trials (except Judas who had left at this point). Those who remain with Jesus and persevere in their faith will also be rewarded. We will not be rewarded because we are great but because we serve greatly (and gratefully).
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
Nebuchadnezzar’s Vegetarian Period: Daniel 4