The Passion - Easter DevotionalIhe Atụ

"The Last Supper" Devotional - The Passion

“When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table. Jesus said, ‘I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.’” (Luke 22:14-16, NLT)

Twelve men who had left their families, homes and livelihoods to follow Jesus sat around the table that day. Not all of them would be faithful in the future, but all of them had been faithful in the past. And suddenly, after three years of traveling and witnessing miracles, they were here. At the table. With Jesus.

He had unexpectedly washed their feet, and He was dropping hints left and right that one of them was going to betray Him. They could hardly believe it. Who among them would betray this man they had spent the past three years resolutely following?

And then He broke the bread.

“He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’” (Luke 22:19)

And then He poured the wine.

“After supper he took another cup of wine and said, ‘This cup is the new covenant between God and His people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.’” (Luke 22:20)

The brittleness of the bread and the crimson of the wine foreshadowed the sacrifice that was to come. Yet, none of The Twelve could comprehend what was about to transpire, nor could they imagine the betrayal that was right around the corner. But for now, they had been given the sweetest of parting gifts—real communion with Jesus.

Today, communion is taken in churches all over the world and remains a holy sacrament to remind us of the sacrifice of our Savior. However, it also serves as a gift to all who belong to Christ. When we take the bread and the cup, for just a few moments, the noise of the world fades away, and we get to remember. 

Can you imagine all that the disciples must have reflected on in that moment? Living life with Jesus had been an adventure, and they were certainly recalling all He had done.

In the same way, that rare moment of solitude gives us the chance to think about the ways God has worked in our own lives. Communion quiets our souls and stills our hearts. It reminds us of His sacrifice, yes, but it also reminds us that He’s here with us. At the table.