Matthew 26:20-35, Mark 14:17-28, Luke 22:14-39, John 13:1-38, 14:1-31
Luke 22:19-20 - Growing up in a Presbyterian church, each time we took communion the pastor would recite these verses or something very similar. Even though my current church doesn't do this (and we take communion every week), they still ring sing-songy in my ears. They are far too familiar. I wonder how they sounded to the disciples gathered there? Eat this, it's my body, drink this it's my blood, poured out for you. What kind of impact did it have on them, or were they still out of touch with what Jesus was teaching about? Reading a couple verses down (Luke 22:24) and it seems as though they were. Still, they must have wondered what he was talking about.
Luke 22:25-27 - As a deacon, am I more like Jesus the servant or the 'kings of the Gentiles'? Do I expect a place of honor? Do I think that I should have more respect or honor? Instead I should be a servant and nothing more. Give myself to God's people.
John 13:1-5 - I find Jesus' confidence here striking. He understood the time had come. He knew that Judas was reeady to betray Him. But he was confident, not in himself but in God. Verse three:
Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God ...He had confidence that God had given Him power, that God was with Him, that He was going to be with God. What did that confidence enable Him to do? Serve. Verse four and five:
... so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.He had complete trust in God that gave him incredible calm and poise facing a terrible situation. Not only was he ready to face it, but he could put it out of His mind and focus on these men. Men who still had not a clue about what was taking place. It didn't matter to Jesus though, because of His trust in God. He was confident that God had his back.
John 13:35 - Jesus said that we will be known as His by our love. Not by our doctrine or our church building. Not by our obedience. By our love for one another. Yet we pursue doctrine, theology, obedience and church first over love so often. I marvel sometimes at how people who profess no faith in Jesus show amazing love and compassion while so called believers act so coldly.
John 14:1-7 - I sense a theme here with Jesus' calm in the earlier verses, his confrontation with Peter just prior to this and now this statement and Thomas' response. Jesus had complete trust in the Father and His plan, he was telling the disciples to do the same. But they wanted to be in control, to know all that was happening. Peter with his pronouncement of faithfulness and Thomas' frustration with the unknown. Jesus just says trust me, God and I have it all worked out.
I need to remember this in my wrestling with church stuff. I don't need the complete plan, a play by play organized layout of how the church should work. I just need to trust that God has it figured out.
Luke 22:35-38 - What's with the swords?
Matthew 26:30 - Jesus and his disciples singing a Hymn. I would have loved to hear that.
