Hello and welcome to today’s Foundations podcast. As we draw near to the end of the book of Matthew we are continuing to look at Jesus’ last few days with the disciples before he went to the cross. Today’s passage is the story of the Last Supper (Matthew 26:17-35). These words will be really familiar to some and perhaps brand new to others. Words from this passage are often used every time the church gathers to share in the communion meal. That’s when members of the church share bread and wine with each other and remember that Jesus died for us and for the forgiveness of sins.

REFLECTION:

Today I’d love us to look at what John Mark Comer called the “sacred space” in everyone’s homes. The dinner table. John Mark Comer is an American pastor and we used some of his content in the Grow course very recently. He makes the point it’s something we already do… every day… eating… so let’s practise hospitality… let’s reclaim some beautiful principles from this lost art of having people round and welcoming people into our space and community.

Firstly, and I hope this is not shrugged off as a dull point, but it is significant in the Bible reading today that Jesus sits with his friends and shares a meal. If you are already a champion of sitting at the big table then please don’t switch off, stay with this thought, hopefully there is something for everyone in these next few minutes.

Let’s look at part of the passage today, verse 19-25…

So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”

They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”

Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is 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.”

Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”

Jesus answered, “You have said so.”

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

A few things to pull out and then we will finish with a prayer.

1. Even in this moment, before he goes to the cross, Jesus is present in the room. Yes, he is physically there – but so is his attention and care. He is with those disciples in body, mind and spirit.

How often are we present at the dinner table & with friends? I’m one for checking my phone at the table. It’s a bad habit. But in preparing these thoughts for the podcast this week it’s something I’ve been trying to make a conscious effort to improve. Notifications should not dictate the flow of our meal. Have a think… how can I, like Jesus, be more present to those in front of me? Even if I am eating alone this evening… which is way more common today than it was a decade ago… think about how we can – in those moments – be less distracted. To take more time to be present and be thankful in a moment for things in our day or on our plate.

2. Jesus doesn’t avoid the difficult conversation to preserve the happy atmosphere.

Sometimes the dinner table might get messy because people are messy. And that reality sometimes needs to be engaged with. Jesus knows what Judas is about to do (v21) “Truly I tell you one of you will betray me.”  Jesus addresses the very present thing going on in the heart of the person in front of Him.

Jesus is not shy about what is happening and who he is talking to, and Jesus does expose and shame him. Which is weird when you first think about it… But I’ve read this week that ...