I realized the other day that Easter is at the end of this month. I was thinking about the whole concept of Lent as a means of preparation for Easter. Does one need to go through fasting, prayer, seeking the Lord, or any of the practices usually done by Catholics or others at this time? The short answer is No. Then too, I believe we miss so much of the significance of Easter. Can we really appreciate Easter and the resurrection without reflecting on the great price that was paid? I invite you into a few reflections from scriptures I went through about the Last Supper.
The other day I was struggling with some things and feeling sorry for myself. I was feeling unwanted and unappreciated. In these chapters about the Last supper, I rediscovered Jesus’ amazing love and saw anew some of what He had gone through on my behalf. He could easily have felt unloved and unappreciated… and so much more.
At the Last Supper, Jesus knew that He was going to suffer, yet He desired to eat that Passover with them before it happened. (Luke 22:15) In John 13 it talks about how much Jesus loved His own who were in the world. He loved them to the end. He knew the devil had already prompted Judas to betray Him. He knew Peter would disown Him. (Jn 13:38) He knew they would be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving Him alone. (Jn 16:32) There was something else Jesus knew: that the Father had put all things under His power, that He had come from God and was returning to God. (Jn 13:3)
What did Jesus do? He washed their feet, including Judas. When I read Jn 13:2-4, it is all one sentence. It is all tied together. Judas would betray Him, the authority He had, knowing where He came from and where He was going, and the choice to serve. It was not that Judas will betray me, so I won’t serve him! It was not that they are all going to abandon me and are only thinking of who is the greatest so I don’t want to humble myself before them. It was not using His authority or position as a reason not to serve. Jesus, knowing all of these things, chose to serve.
In Jn 13:15 Jesus told them and us that He has given us an example that we should do as He did. This passage also shows His vulnerability and humanity. Later when Jesus told them that truly, one of them would betray Him, He was troubled (tarasso – to stir or agitate) in His spirit. He was not stoic nor just going through the motions. How hard is it to love those who seek to betray you or are out to destroy you because of their own fears or insecurities or agendas? There were many people who wanted Jesus to die. Caiaphas… the chief priests and scribes. There were many who walked away when what He was said was just too hard. Soon Jesus would face a dark hour and ask His closest friends to pray, and they too would fail Him.
When I go back to Luke’s gospel in chapter 22, I see another contrast. Again, Jesus spoke of His desire (epithumeo – to set the heart upon, long for) to eat this Passover with them before He suffered. He takes the bread – this is my body which is given for you. He takes the cup – this is my blood which is shed for you. Remember. Do this in remembrance of me. Jesus then goes on to say that the Son of man would go as it had been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed. The disciples enquire (suzeteo - investigate jointly, discuss, dispute with, question or reason) among themselves which it might be who was going to do this. There was also a strife (quarrelsomeness, dispute) among them which of them would be regarded as the greatest. I can imagine a conversation going from how each would never do such a thing to why he should be considered great…..
I am amazed at the Lord’s patience. Even here in these final hours with His disciples, Jesus is loving them, serving them, teaching them, telling them of His suffering and betrayal, His body given, His blood poured out FOR them…. Their response seems so petty. While they could not have truly understood the gravity of all Jesus was saying to them, the contrast seems so ridiculous.
Earlier I said I had been struggling with feeling sorry for myself. Laments and struggles are very real for people. We get our “feathers ruffled,” and we go through difficult seasons. People let us down, and don’t always love us as we want to be loved. They don’t meet all our needs.
Jesus understands. He experienced the worst of all that people, in their brokenness, meanness, fear, insecurity, doubts and more, can dish out. We can take our hurts and struggles to Him. I believe that a key is when it said Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power, that He had come from God and was returning to God. In Philippians 2:5-7 we are told to have the mind of Christ. Jesus knew who He was but did not count equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, He took on the form of a servant. He emptied Himself. He washed feet. He showed humility. He showed obedience to the point of death. This is hard and goes against everything in our human nature. We talk of following Christ. Christian means “belonging to Christ.” Just at the Last Supper, Jesus showed us an example of humble servanthood and said that we are to do likewise. We call Him Master and Lord, and that is Who He is. We, His servants, are not greater than our Lord, but how often do I not want to do something because it is hard or ‘beneath’ me? It is also at the Last Supper that Jesus gave a new commandment: That we love one another as He has loved us.
How am I doing with that? Have I tried to minimize these words of Jesus or sort of gloss over them? While it is true that people let me down and hurt me, it is equally true that I have done the same to others. We are all broken and human, but more than that, we are beloved of the Father. I can choose to become less; I can choose the humble way; I can choose to serve those who are petty and ridiculous or even those who hurt or betray me because of who and Whose I am.
I work at the arena and other venues in town. I was talking with a co-worker the other night about the events and positions available. He told me that Christian concerts are some of the worst because the people are rude, act entitled, and can be downright mean. I have heard this from other co-workers as well. In restaurants, servers have said the same thing. Lord, help us! This should not be! We can say we are evangelists while at the same time our actions and attitudes can keep people far from church, far from wanting to be a part of anything related to Christianity. If we love and serve others as Jesus did, people would be drawn in and see a clearer and truer picture of God.
It challenges me to be aware of my attitude and actions towards others. Humility is not popular, but it is Christ-like. Love is hard, but we can love because He first loved us. Even though we don’t ‘have to’ go through the practices of Lent, I challenge myself and you to reflect on these things and ask the Holy Spirit to show us what we need to see so that we can repent, turn and walk in ever-increasing Christlikeness.