Read: Luke 22:1-38

By: Pastor Jarren Rogers

“(The Lord’s Supper) is the grand channel whereby the grace of his Spirit was conveyed to the souls of all the children of God.” – John Wesley

It is the day of Passover and the cross stalks dangerously on the horizon.

Peter and John enter the city. Just inside the front fate is a man, in his 30’s or 40’s, carrying a jar of water.

Peter points at him, “There he is,” he whispers to John.

The man hauls his jar across the courtyard and weaves through the city streets like a seasoned street rat. Peter and John follow the man, keeping their distance. The man darts around a corner. Peter and John jog after him. They come around the side of a building, but the man is nowhere to be found.

“Where’d he go?” asks John. Peter’s head reels on his shoulders, “Beats me.” “Jesus said if we followed the man with the jar we’d find a place to have supper. Maybe we followed the wrong guy. Let’s go back to the courtyard.”

They turn around to go the way they had come when a welcoming sound flutters through the air. The sound of pouring water.

Following the sound like bloodhounds with their floppy ears raised, Peter and John come upon a humble two-story house. They opened the front door to find the man with the water jar, pouring it out into a basin. Another man, taller and darker than the first, sits in a chair to their right.

“Can I help you gentleman?” he asks, rising from his chair. He looks to the man with the water jar, “Thank you, brother. I will see you later tonight.” The man with the jar nods and exits.

“Do you own this house?” Peter asked. The man nods. John stepped up, “Do you happen to have a guest room that we may have Passover supper tonight? We have eleven other people coming.” The man’s face lights up like a candle. “Follow me.”

Later that evening, the disciples lounge around the table. They eat, laugh, and celebrate. They do not comprehend the events that are soon to take place.

The Savior raises His hands, prompting silence and attention. A smile breaks across His face for the first time that day as He says to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you . . .,” He pauses. The smile dissipates like a mist as He says, “. . . before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

The Savior takes some bread from the center of the table. As He brings it closer, crumbs scattered over the tablecloth like ants. He prays a short prayer of thanksgiving and grasps the loaf on both sides, breaking it in half. “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” He passes it around the table. In the same way, after the  bread, He takes the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”

This is the Last Supper of our Lord.

It is the day of Passover and the cross stalks dangerously on the horizon.