The Last Words of Jesus: A Lenten DevotionalНамуна

Reflection 1: The Last Supper

Read: Luke 22:14-20

Jesus’ final meal wasn’t a particularly joyous one. The table was set, but there weren't any decorations. The menu wasn’t elaborate. The disciples didn’t chip in to buy the ultimate thank-you gift.

But the Last Supper wasn’t uneventful either. Much to Peter’s surprise, Jesus told the disciple that he would deny Him three times that night (Lk. 22:34). Jesus silenced the disciples when they started arguing about who would be the greatest among them (Lk. 22:24). And in the ultimate dinner party diss, Judas left early to finalize his plans to betray the guest of honor (Jn. 13:30).

One of the most notable events from the Last Supper is the tangible way Jesus gave the disciples, and us, to remember Him. Communion allows us to prayerfully remember Jesus’ sacrifice: that His body was broken for us and that His blood was shed for us (Lk. 22:19-20). As we participate, we can reflect on everything the Lord has done, knowing that we’re following Jesus’ instruction to “do this in remembrance of me” (Lk. 22:19b, NLT).

The disciples might have hung on Jesus’ every word because they realized that nothing would ever be the same again after that night. Or maybe they didn’t recognize the gravity of the evening at all. Whether or not they understood at the moment, we know what happened and how important Jesus' sacrifice is to us.

We can hang on to Jesus’ words at the Last Supper and honor the Lord “until the Kingdom of God has come” (Lk. 22:18b, NLT) by participating in communion and remembering His sacrifice.

Questions for Reflection:

• If you knew you were going to have a last supper, what would you eat, who would you invite and what would you say to your guests?
  
• Do you think the disciples experienced confusion at the Last Supper? What are some things they might not have understood?
  
• Why is it important for Christians to participate in communion?