So, I’ve been challenged to take
communion on my own as often as possible, I don’t every day yet, but, it has
been good to really take time to reflect on what that meal meant, to Jesus, the
disciples, and us today. I feel like in church we’re rushed to take it in 5
minutes, and maybe we miss what makes it so special. But, I wanted to unpack a
few of my observations on the passage in Luke 22:14-20.
Vs 14. I love this verse. It’s
quite beautiful to think about. When the hour came. The hour that was at hand
was the hour of His betrayal and journey to the cross. He is deserted by those
closest to Him, beaten, mocked, humiliated, spat upon, hit, flogged, a crown of
thorns shoved on his head, the Bible says he was unrecognizable He was beaten
so badly. And then He was led to a cross, where He hung, bled, unable to breath
unless pulling Himself up with nail torn hands and feet… and He died. The hour
of Christ’s death had arrived.
But what
is Jesus up to? Reclining at table with His friends. He’s chillin with His
homies. He is choosing the last few moments of His life to be with His friends.
He’s relaxed. His guard is down. He is with the men He considers safest in the
world (except Judas, but He’s so gracious, He still loves Judas even though he
betrays Him.)
I think
about this verse a lot. Do I have these kinds of friends in my life? Do I have
faith to trust God on the eve of the greatest suffering in my life that I can
just relax and be with my friends? What does it take to cultivate relationships
like that? What does it take to not be anxious about what the future holds?
Jesus obviously
poured into the disciples for three years, teaching them and leading by example.
So, those were pretty intense and intentional relationships. He sought out the
men He wanted to do ministry with and show the kingdom of God. He looked for
His assignment. Jesus modeled for us a healthy limit to the relationships He
was able to commit to building. Sometimes, we’re tempted to take on too many
people into our circles, and we over-extend ourselves. Sometimes, we choose the
wrong people to minister to, people that don’t have our best interests at
heart. And sometimes, we’re not intentional in cultivating the depth of
relationship we need to sustain us when trials and tribulations come.
Who are
the people in your life you’d like to spend your final moments with? A spouse perhaps, and kids and grandkids? Other close relatives, or maybe a few close
friends? Have you cultivated those relationships so that they will be in place
for you in your time of need? I don’t
know that I know who I’d want these special people to be. But I do know I want
special people to be there.
Jesus
wasn’t anxious about what was about to transpire because He was prayed up, and
He was headed into a time of intense prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. He
knew the hour had come. He was in fellowship with those closest to Him.
We don’t
always know if our next season or moment will be easy or difficult to navigate.
But friends who are with us through the hard times are usually there for us in
the joyful moments as well. I hope that you have the blessing of having
cultivated a strong community of believers around you. They will sustain you
when you’re about to go through your worst.
I just
love that Jesus spent his last few minutes enjoying the presence of His closest
friends. That verse I used to just read past, but I’m glad I’ve learned to look
more closely into what I read, and decipher what it meant and how it could apply
to my life today.
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