SCRIPTURE: Luke 22:14-16 NKJV When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
THOUGHT: It is Passover, and as Luke notes earlier, the exact day in which the lamb must be sacrificed (v. 7). It is Jesus’ final Passover, and his last supper with his disciples. It is his last chance as their friend and teacher to show them hospitality, and he makes careful, even supernatural preparations for the evening, telling them where to go, who to talk to, and precisely what they’ll find (vs. 8-13). Once they are gathered, he tells them how much he has anticipated these moments.
Jesus uses the Greek word, epithumia twice here – and it sounds like it is: epic enthusiasm. With epic enthusiasm he has enthusiastically looked forward to this meal. But why? Here he will watch his betrayer leave the room, listen to bickering about who is greatest, correct the disciple who says he will never deny, and break bread and offer cup to explain his coming suffering (after giving thanks!!!). He knows what will happen in the garden later, and he knows about the fickleness of the crowds, the abandonment of friends, and the excruciating pain of crucifixion that awaits.
And yet…and yet. And yet Jesus finds the time and space for hospitality, carefully planning this gathering of close friends, the eating, the relaxed visiting, the cherishing of companionship, even some singing together as they walk across the valley to the garden.
Jesus doesn’t skip past what is good in life in anticipation of what is not. He doesn’t skimp on mercy, grace, patience, peace, kindness, goodness, love, and faith when facing the worst moments of his earthly life. Could we be a little more like that?
SONG: Less Like Me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkYL1b7MCEw
PRAYER: Jesus, you loved your companions to the end (Jn. 13:1). You didn’t skip past care and hospitality toward them on the way to the cross. I want this ability to face trials and pain and even the worst without losing sight of the joy of what is right before me: friends, family, the joy of rich relationships and your beautifully created world.
Amy released a full-length book in early 2021, Walking When You’d Rather Fly: Meditations on Faith After the Fall. Maybe you’d like to check it out here.
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