The Last Supper

00:00:00 Speaker 1: I am the good Shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep John ten eleven. Dear Lord Jesus, we come before you with hearts full of gratitude, acknowledging you as the good Shepherd. We thank you for your ultimate sacrifice, laying down your life to save us. You are a leader worthy of all our trust and devotion. We confess our need for your guidance and direction in our lives. Lead us on paths of righteousness, and help us to follow your voice faithfully. Give us the wisdom to discern your will and the courage to walk in it, no matter the cost. Empower us to be instruments of your love and grace in this world, reflecting your goodness and mercy in all that we do. May we always remember your sacrifice and live our lives in a way that honors you. In your Holy name, we pray Amen. Thank you for praying with me today. You're listening to the Jesus Podcast Stories inspired by the Gospel to entertain, enlighten, and encourage. Be sure to follow this podcast on whatever platform you're listening to. Thousands of Jews roamed the streets of Jerusalem for the Passover, travelers from all around the region piled in through the city gates. Some coats, donkeys, and ramshackle wagons, while others pulled rickety carts by hand, all of the trampling feet kicking up dust cascading it into the air to create a terra cotta haze. Men and women greeted one another with a blessing of ultimate peace. Passover was one of three annual pilgrimages Jews who resided near Jerusalem were to make rich, poor, old and young. All came with deep rooted devotion and gratitude to the Lord on High who had delivered their people from slavery so many generations before. The streets were brimming with the sounds of joyous life. At the temple, men led lambs down the stone courtyard. As they gently tugged ropes fastened around the lamb's necks, a chorus of bleats echoed off the walls. Each lamb had been hands selected days before, ensuring no blemish was found on the creature, days before they were brought into the house to live with the family, And today, on the evening of Passover, it was sacrificed at the temple and then roasted whole for the Passover meal at home. The disciples wove through the sea of peace people on their way out of the temple courtyards and back into the bustling streets. Unbeknownst to them, Judas had slipped off from among them. They traversed through the city and made their way across the Kidren Valley. They anticipated finding Jesus at the Mount of Olives. This has become a routine place for Jesus to seclude himself for prayer and meditations. Once they were away from the commotion of the city, they were able to collect their thoughts. James walked near the front of the group. He turned around and noticed their numbers seemed shy of the whole bunch. 00:03:36 Speaker 2: Has anyone seen Judas Ah? 00:03:38 Speaker 3: No, The last time I saw him was at the temple. 00:03:41 Speaker 2: Did you need him for something, James, No, It's just there is no way a single soul in Jerusalem has occurred about Jesus's entrance into this city. He worries me whenever one of us seems to go missing. We really should be on our God. 00:03:57 Speaker 4: Judas is quite shrewd. 00:03:59 Speaker 3: I'm sure he can handle himself. Plus, it's not like he doesn't know where we spend all our time. 00:04:05 Speaker 4: He'll catch up. 00:04:06 Speaker 2: I suppose you're right. 00:04:12 Speaker 5: Are you in pain after walking, running, or even just standing. It's not your feet, it's your shoes. This summer, switch to Gediphi shoes with patentive Verso shock technology, which aligns your body, provides superior shock absorption and trampoline like energy return. Gdiphi offers souls and styles for any activity, plus two free orthotics. Whether you're an athlete, a busy parent, or always on the go, Gdiphi shoes deliver the comfort and versatility your fee crave. Say goodbye to discomfort and hello to unparalleled support this summer. Enjoy a special summer offer. Visit gdiphi dot com and get twenty dollars off your order of one hundred dollars or more with code Prey. Experience the miracle of ultimate comfort with g to Phi shoes. Visit g d e f y dot com. 00:05:08 Speaker 6: Today this is the Jesus Podcast I'm Ethan with pray dot Com. Today we continue through our mini series on Jesus, disrupting the status quo and showing us a new way to live. This series showcases Jesus's teachings and passion, and we'll learn about God's heart for people and his kingdom. Today, we're going to dive into a significant and sacred moment in the life of Jesus, the Last Supper. It's found in Matthew chapter twenty six, verses seventeen through thirty, where Jesus shares his final meal with his disciples before going to the cross. This meal wasn't just any meal. It was the Passover, the time when the Jewish people remembered their deliverance from Egypt. But this Passover was different. Jesus was about to give it a whole new meaning. 00:06:02 Speaker 1: At the Mount of Olives, Jesus was in deep thought. He curved through the grove of trees and felt the chill of the brisk evening air on his cheeks. He heard the disciples before he saw them. They trampled through the fallen twigs and branches to where Jesus was praying, Shaloon. 00:06:21 Speaker 4: I'm glad to see you made it out of the city safe. The city has an energy I've never felt before. I can't imagine why. It's as if Royalty were here for the celebrations. 00:06:33 Speaker 1: The disciples chuckled at Jesus sarcasm. They could always count on Jesus to ease their nerves. It's as though he could sense when their hearts were troubled and would preemptively give them the remedy. 00:06:46 Speaker 2: Yes, Master, speaking of the celebrations, we were wondering where you wanted us to prepare to eat the Passover. It seems our tents might not be quite suited for our needs. 00:06:58 Speaker 1: Jesus patted Peter on the shoulder. 00:07:00 Speaker 4: Hardly, you will take your brother and go back into the city. Once you make it through the gates, a man will meet you. 00:07:07 Speaker 2: How will we know he's the one you want us to follow? 00:07:09 Speaker 4: He will be expecting you. You'll know it's him because he'll be carrying a jug of water. Follow him to the house he serves in. He will invite you in. Find the master of the house and say this to him. The teacher asks, where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples? 00:07:26 Speaker 2: Will he know what that means? 00:07:28 Speaker 1: Peter clearly seemed hesitant at the plan. 00:07:31 Speaker 4: Would I tell you to do this if it wasn't so? When you ask him this, he will show you a large room upstairs. It will be furnished and ready for us. Once you have the place secured, you and the disciples may make preparations for us there. 00:07:46 Speaker 1: Jesus was right, and Peter knew it. Jesus had never given them a command that led them astray. If Jesus said it would happen, Peter knew he could trust him. He tapped Andrew on the elbow and began the trek back towards Jerusalem. The brothers paced around the ender entrance of the city, looking for their target. 00:08:07 Speaker 2: What about him? He has a jug of water. It's no use, Andrew. It's the eighth person we've seen with a water jug. How are we possibly supposed to know which one Jesus wants us to follow? 00:08:19 Speaker 1: A voice responded to Peter from behind him. 00:08:22 Speaker 3: Oh, Jesus, you say, ah, you must be his disciples. 00:08:27 Speaker 4: My name is Asher. 00:08:28 Speaker 3: I've been waiting for you. I was just about to make my way back to my master's house. If you come with me, it's not far from here. 00:08:37 Speaker 1: Peter and Andrew looked at each other. Peter felt a twinge of guilt for so quickly sliding into doubt. Andrew simply shrugged his shoulders and began following. The servant. They bounced through the busy walkways, past houses, shops, and inns. 00:08:55 Speaker 3: I can't believe you're actually his disciples. Is he everything he said he is? 00:09:01 Speaker 4: Well, it depends on who you ask. 00:09:04 Speaker 2: There's some who find. 00:09:05 Speaker 3: That he's more of an acquiet taste. All I know is that, for all my years living in Jerusalem, I've never seen anyone welcomed into the city like he was. There's no denying he's the Messiah. 00:09:19 Speaker 2: On that we can agree. Don't listen to whatever you hear from the pharisees. Jesus is greater than anyone you will ever meet. 00:09:27 Speaker 1: Peter was determined to make up for his lack of faith by witnessing to the young servant, who already seemed to have his mind made up on who Jesus was. As Peter finished speaking, he noticed they had just made their way to an open door of a house. 00:09:42 Speaker 2: Hey, if you know Asure, you know that there's very few people he listens do a hack. 00:09:48 Speaker 1: The man speaking was a portly, older gentleman. His voice was gravelly and his gray beard stretched from his smile as he spoke. 00:09:58 Speaker 2: Luckily, for me, I'm one of those people. Name says a Kaiah, Now, whom are you to me? We are disciples of the Rabbi Jesus of Nazareth. Oh Jesus, what an incredible young man if I've ever seen one. It made me giddy to see him clear out the temple. In all my years, I could never have dreamed of seeing such a spectacular sight. Aha, prays out to night. Yes, and what brings you fine fellows to my humble home. Peter cleared his throat. 00:10:39 Speaker 1: He recalled the instruction Jesus gave them, and was sure to recite them word for word. 00:10:45 Speaker 2: The teacher asks, where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples? 00:10:51 Speaker 1: As a Kaiah grinned from ear to ear, the words seem to satisfy their host. 00:10:57 Speaker 2: Ah, that's all I needed to hear. Ah, You'll be surprised how many people him in gon door to door, pretending to know Jesus, trying to find where he's celebrating. To night, follow me upstairs. Everything is ready. 00:11:13 Speaker 1: They stepped through the front door and followed Hezekiah up a set of stairs built into the side wall of the house. Upstairs was a neatly furnished room. Glimmers of dusk picked up the light pushing into the room through the window. They turned to each other and nodded in approval. The place was exactly as Jesus had said it would be. They thanked Hezekiah for his generosity and quickly left the modest home and its gracious owner. The two disciples found the rest of the group in the market square. Jesus had sent them off to purchase what food they would need for the meal. Not long after Peter and Andrew had left, they had bags full of everything they would need to prepare to eat the Passover In their recently acquired guest room. They finished their errands before the brothers led them back to Hezekiah's house. They spent the rest of the afternoon crowded into the kitchen. They happily worked to the sound of knives chopping on wood blocks, spoons scraping the sides of bulls, and the crackle of a large fire. Just outside, as the sun slowly submerged into the horizon, a soft knock on the door could be heard. They opened the door to find Jesus. He was calm and quiet, as though he were in deep contemplation. He worked his way around the kitchen. James was there, kneading some dough and pounding out the lumps. Jesus nearly chuckled at the sight of James the Fisherman baking bread. He smelled the crisp apples mixed with thin men and picked up a pinch of the bitter herbs and rubbed it between his fingers. 00:12:54 Speaker 4: Everything smells and looks wonderful. 00:12:57 Speaker 2: You sound surprised. That's because I am, but pleasantly, of course. 00:13:02 Speaker 1: The teacher took a seat at the table as the disciples finished the preparations. About an hour later, Judas broke the steady hum of their work. He sat down silently beside them. All was still and quiet. Jesus broke the silence. 00:13:19 Speaker 4: Judas, we were getting worried. It looks like we're all here now. If you would come and have a seat around the table with me, we can do the last of the preparations for the meal. 00:13:30 Speaker 1: The air outside was growing colder as knight set in. A fire was set in the small stone oven, keeping the rest of the house warm. Upstairs, Jesus and the disciples were reclined at the table. After Jesus washed their feet, he prayed for them as he began the Passover meal. 00:13:51 Speaker 4: Pleasant are you, Lord who provides for all God of our ancestors. May you remember us on this day of Passover to bless us with kindness and mercy for a life of peace and happiness. We pray that he who establishes peace in the heavens will grant peace for us, for all of Israel and all mankind. 00:14:17 Speaker 2: Amen. 00:14:18 Speaker 1: The disciples gave a resounding amen as they filled their plates with the various offerings. They gladly ate, talked, and laughed after all their hard work. As the night carried on, their conversations died down, Jesus alarmed them with a surprising new topic. 00:14:39 Speaker 4: The time is nearing for the son of Man to be lifted up. I am glad to be with you to night, my brothers, but I must also tell you that one of you betray me, one who is eating with me. 00:14:54 Speaker 1: The atmosphere in the room sank. Jesus had made comments about leaving them before, but never before had he alluded to one of them being the cause. Sorrow filled their hearts as they stared at Jesus with puzzled looks. 00:15:10 Speaker 2: Surely you caught me one of us, Lord, We would follow you, even to death. 00:15:15 Speaker 1: Judas shifted uncomfortably in a seat, trying to avert his eyes from Jesus without raising suspicion. Jesus carried on with his explanation. 00:15:25 Speaker 4: Yes, James, it is indeed one of the twelve. It is the one who tips bread into the bowl with me. Then the son of Man will go, just as it has been written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the son of Man. It would be better for him if he had not been born. 00:15:46 Speaker 1: Judas's eyes went wide. He held his breath and heard his heart beat ringing in his ears. Jesus met his worried face with his eyes. Everything about Jesus suited love. 00:16:01 Speaker 2: In that moment. 00:16:02 Speaker 1: His eyes were kind, not full of judgment or anger, as Judas had expected them to be. Jesus kept his full attention on Judas, as though trying to draw him out of himself. Judas muttered, just loud enough for. 00:16:20 Speaker 2: The group to hear, surely you don't mean me, Rabbi. 00:16:24 Speaker 1: Judas's face dropped as though admitting defeat. Jesus's eyes went glassy and his voice quivered slightly, Just because Jesus knew what would happen. Didn't mean that it didn't break his heart as you have said it. Jesus wiped his eyes softly with his hand. He reached across the table for the plate of bread. He took a piece in his hand and broke it in two crumbs, falling to the table. He looked up and thanked the Father. 00:16:57 Speaker 4: Please it are you, Lord, a God, king of the universe, who gives us bread from the ground. 00:17:04 Speaker 1: Jesus lowered the bread and began to pass it around to the disciples. They gingerly broke off pieces for themselves and passed it along. 00:17:14 Speaker 3: Take and eat. 00:17:16 Speaker 1: This is my body. He slowly lifted a cup of wine. He raised it slightly and prayed once more. 00:17:24 Speaker 4: Blessed are you, Lord, our God, king of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine. 00:17:32 Speaker 1: He took a sip and passed it to them. They each partook of jesus cup and handed it back to him. He turned his head slowly to each disciple. 00:17:42 Speaker 4: This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it in the new Kingdom of God. 00:17:57 Speaker 1: Nobody said anything in response. There was a certain seriousness to Jesus tone that told them now was a time to sit and observe. Jesus could sense their attention. He sank deep into his chair and smiled at each one of them. 00:18:16 Speaker 4: All this would make sense in due time, But now seems like a perfect time for some music. Radius would you mind leading us in a song? 00:18:26 Speaker 1: The disciple returned. Jesus smile with his own he arose from the table. He returned with a liar in one hand and a small drum in the other, which he handed to Matthew. The music began. One by one, the disciples joined into a hymn. As they sang, they considered what Jesus might have meant by his body and blood being given to them. They wondered what sort of new covenant he was offering to them, but they knew that that wherever Jesus was willing to lead them, it was worthwhile to follow. 00:19:09 Speaker 6: The scene is set on the first day of the Feast of unloaven Bread, the time when the Jewish people gathered to celebrate and remember how God delivered them from slavery in Egypt. The disciples asked Jesus, where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover Matthew, chapter twenty six, verse seventeen. Jesus, knowing that his time was near, gave them specific instructions. 00:19:31 Speaker 2: On where to prepare the meal. 00:19:33 Speaker 6: Now, the Passover meal was full of rich symbolism. Every element, from the unleaven bread to the bitter herbs, reminded the people of God's mighty act of redemption. But Jesus was about to infuse this ancient tradition with new meaning. The focus would shift from Israel's deliverance from Egypt to Humanity's deliverance from sin. As they were eating, Jesus dropped a bombshell. Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray me. Matthew, chapter twenty six, verse twenty one. The disciples were shocked and saddened. They began to ask, Lord, is it I imagine the tension in the room. These men had walked with Jesus, learned from him, seen his miracles, and now one of them would betray him. What's striking here is the response of the disciples. They didn't point fingers or accuse one another. Instead, each of them asked, is it I? This humility and self reflection are something we should all aspire to. Before we judge others, we should look within and ask Lord is it I. But Judas, the one who had already planned to betray Jesus, also asked, Rabbi, is it I? This was the height of hypocrisy. Yet even then Jesus responded with love, giving Judas one last chance to repent. And then comes the heart of the matter. As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, take eat, this is my body Matthew, chapter twenty six, verse twenty six. Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and said, drink from it all of you, for this is my blood of the New Covenant, which has shed for many for the remission of sins. Matthew, Chapter twenty six, Verses twenty seven and twenty eight. Here Jesus is doing something profound. He was taking the elements of the Passover meal and giving them a new, a deeper significance. The bread, which traditionally represented the bread of affliction, now symbolized his body broken for us. The cup which would have reminded them of the blood of the lambs sacrificed in Egypt, now represented his blood shed for the forgiveness of our sins. This wasn't just a ritual. Jesus was instituting a new covenant, a new relationship between Godlood and humanity. His body, his blood, would be the means by which we could be forgiven and brought into a close personal relationship with God. One of the key aspects of the Last Supper is the act of remembrance. Jesus said, do this in remembrance of me at Luke, chapter twenty two, verse nineteen. He knew that we as humans are prone to forget. We get caught up in the busyness of life, and we can forget the immense sacrifice that was made for us. The Lord's Supper is a reminder. It's a tangible way to remember what Jesus has done for us. Every time we eat the bread and drink the cup, we're reminded of his body broken for us and his blood shed for us. It's a moment to pause, reflect and be grateful. Finally, after instituting the Lord's Supper, the Bible tells us that they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives Matthew, Chapter twenty six, verse thirty. Can you imagine that Jesus, knowing what was about to happen, still found the strength to sing. What an example for us. In the face of the greatest trial of his life, Jesus worshiped. It's a beautiful reminder that worship isn't just something we do when things are going well. It's something we do because God is worthy no matter our circumstances. When we come to the Lord's table, we do so with hearts of worship, remembering that Jesus didn't just go to the cross for us, He did so willingly and joyfully because of his great. 00:23:37 Speaker 2: Love for us. 00:23:39 Speaker 6: As we prepare to take the Lord's Supper today, let's do so with hearts full of gratitude. Let's remember the sacrifice that was made for us, the new covenant that was established through Jesus's blood, and the love that was demonstrated at the cross. And let's not forget this simple yet profound act of worship that followed the meal. Jesus sang a hymn with his disciples even as he walked toward his darkest hour, We too, can lift our voices in praise no matter what we're facing, because we know that Jesus has already won the victory. So Church, as we come to the Lord's table, let's take the bread and the cup, remembering all that Christ has done for us. Let's allow this sacred moment to renew our hearts and deepen our love for God and one another.