His Last Weekናሙና

The Last Supper was the final meal that Jesus ever had. His last evening was spent having dinner with his friends. Jesus cared deeply for this connection, and that night he told them it was possible to stay connected even after his death! He explained it over dinner: it would be through the Holy Spirit. Jesus wanted a thriving life for them, and it could only happen through a connection with his Spirit. At the end of the meal, Jesus assured them he would send the Spirit to them. I doubt they understood much of this at the time.

John 15 records some of the words he used to describe their connection: He was the vine who would deliver life, stability, nutrients, and growth. Any good "fruit" in his friends' lives would be a result of this connection. Jesus also sends the Holy Spirit to you when you receive him in faith. The Spirit keeps you in a privileged connection of friendship with Jesus. Anything godly that happens in your heart, character, and life is a result of the connection and work of the Spirit. He is your guarantee that when you die or Jesus returns you'll be counted among his friends . . .because you are literally part of him, being sustained by his life, just as a branch connects to a vine, just as a pinky finger is part of a body.

Before dinner was over Jesus told them to do something regularly so they'd remember this friendship connection through his life. Jesus gave them the worship of "communion" or "the Lord's Supper." His body and blood were about to be used on their behalf—to pay for the sin that made them enemies of God and to purchase them back for eternal friendship.

His friends were worth it all. And you can be one of them.

Think about how you connect with your own friends and imagine this kind of connection with Jesus. Take a few minutes and describe your closest friendship. Tell Jesus the ways you want to connect like that with him.