The Last Supper
You enter an upstairs room having climbed a narrow staircase. The room has bare white walls, and at the far end, there stands a table that has obviously been made ready for a meal. From what appears on the table it is clear that the meal that is to be celebrated is the Passover. The two things that give you this is the presence of a boiled egg that has been blackened by being held over a smoking candleflame, the other is the unleavened bread.
Around the table, you see reclined on cushions the twelve followers of Jesus. Sitting in the centre spot is Jesus. There is a feeling of expectancy in the room, mixed with the general feeling that comes with the celebration of the Passover. The Passover holds a very important place in the lives of the Jewish community, they are to celebrate it with their master and Friend. The joyful feeling is only slightly incomplete, in as much as some of the followers of Jesus are not fully aware of the depth of what had happened as they entered the room between Jesus and Mary Magdalene and a jar of very precious ointment.
There is though, in spite of this, a real air of anticipation, and joy.
You are part of this, allow that feeling of expectancy and joy that is in the room to flow into your being..............
The last of the celebration meal is being brought to the table by the women who had been in the upper room for some time prior to the arrival of Jesus and his disciples, preparing the meal.
You are invited to take a seat at the table and do so, trying hard to not be too noticeable..........
The disciples are all talking about the years they have spent with Jesus travelling around the country, slowly but surely heading towards Jerusalem, where they have now reached. You let the words sink into your mind.............
The meal begins and Jesus reaches over to the unleavened bread. You watch as he raises it to the level of his chin..............
He breaks it in half,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, He looks around the table making eye contact with each person present...............
Your eyes and his meet.............
You expect to hear some of the words recited at the Passover but instead, in a quiet voice Jesus says, "This is my body broken for you." ...... For you.............
You let these words sink in.......... What is Jesus speaking of? What does he mean by saying his body is broken for them?
There has been much talk of the danger of them entering Jerusalem. Is Jesus speaking of the possibility of his death at the hands of the Romans?
If so this means this bread represents the body of Jesus....... If it is broken for you as he says does this mean that if he dies that you might find something? The forgiveness he spoke of often????????
The bread is passed around the table each present takes a piece and eats it including the women...........
The meal progresses, quieter now as those present consider what has just happened............
Again Jesus reaches over the table, he this time picks up a large tankard of wine. He lifts his eyes again and once more your eyes meet his.
You hear him speak again, this time he says, "This wine is my blood shed for you.".............
There is no doubt now what he is meaning. Jesus is most certainly going to die and he is saying he is doing it for all who are gathered, for you...........
There is a deathly hush around the upper room. Everybody present is letting these words sink into their thoughts.........
"This is my body............. This is my blood."............
There is little doubt, Jesus is aware that he will die here in Jerusalem, and his death will have a deep meaning..............
Allow that to sink into your inner being. This man Jesus has walked into a certain trap and death will be inevitable and he has done so knowingly................. For you...........
You watch, him and the disciples........... There is a very close bond among them......... They do not wish to lose him, he does not want to leave them, but he will.............
He is telling them he will do so for them............
He is doing it that they and you might live life to the full................
Past mistakes will be forgotten because they will be forgiven............
You were given the broken bread, his body broken............. Think of all the things in your life that need forgiveness........... for such his body will be broken.
You have tasted and shared the wine that Jesus said was his blood............. Think of all the things that your fear.......... all the things that hold you back from being what you can and should be.........
For this, his blood was shed......... That you might have life...........
From the hands of Jesus, all have taken the bread and the wine, all have been given the bread and the wine......... Including Judas.
The meal draws to a close..... a very different Passover from expected..........
Judas has left............ he has other things to do...........
Think of all the times you have heard those words repeated. "This is my body broken for you. This is my blood shed for you."
How often have they been no more than words? Part of a ceremony. For some, one of the few services of worship they attend and the words mean little.
Remember that this service is part of the church of today. Full of depth and meaning. It still offers freedom from past mistakes and faults. It still offers a new beginning every time the words are repeated. "This is my body broken for You. This is my blood shed for You."
There is though, in spite of this, a real air of anticipation, and joy.
You are part of this, allow that feeling of expectancy and joy that is in the room to flow into your being..............
The last of the celebration meal is being brought to the table by the women who had been in the upper room for some time prior to the arrival of Jesus and his disciples, preparing the meal.
You are invited to take a seat at the table and do so, trying hard to not be too noticeable..........
The disciples are all talking about the years they have spent with Jesus travelling around the country, slowly but surely heading towards Jerusalem, where they have now reached. You let the words sink into your mind.............
The meal begins and Jesus reaches over to the unleavened bread. You watch as he raises it to the level of his chin..............
He breaks it in half,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, He looks around the table making eye contact with each person present...............
Your eyes and his meet.............
You expect to hear some of the words recited at the Passover but instead, in a quiet voice Jesus says, "This is my body broken for you." ...... For you.............
You let these words sink in.......... What is Jesus speaking of? What does he mean by saying his body is broken for them?
There has been much talk of the danger of them entering Jerusalem. Is Jesus speaking of the possibility of his death at the hands of the Romans?
If so this means this bread represents the body of Jesus....... If it is broken for you as he says does this mean that if he dies that you might find something? The forgiveness he spoke of often????????
The bread is passed around the table each present takes a piece and eats it including the women...........
The meal progresses, quieter now as those present consider what has just happened............
Again Jesus reaches over the table, he this time picks up a large tankard of wine. He lifts his eyes again and once more your eyes meet his.
You hear him speak again, this time he says, "This wine is my blood shed for you.".............
There is no doubt now what he is meaning. Jesus is most certainly going to die and he is saying he is doing it for all who are gathered, for you...........
There is a deathly hush around the upper room. Everybody present is letting these words sink into their thoughts.........
"This is my body............. This is my blood."............
There is little doubt, Jesus is aware that he will die here in Jerusalem, and his death will have a deep meaning..............
Allow that to sink into your inner being. This man Jesus has walked into a certain trap and death will be inevitable and he has done so knowingly................. For you...........
You watch, him and the disciples........... There is a very close bond among them......... They do not wish to lose him, he does not want to leave them, but he will.............
He is telling them he will do so for them............
He is doing it that they and you might live life to the full................
Past mistakes will be forgotten because they will be forgiven............
You were given the broken bread, his body broken............. Think of all the things in your life that need forgiveness........... for such his body will be broken.
You have tasted and shared the wine that Jesus said was his blood............. Think of all the things that your fear.......... all the things that hold you back from being what you can and should be.........
For this, his blood was shed......... That you might have life...........
From the hands of Jesus, all have taken the bread and the wine, all have been given the bread and the wine......... Including Judas.
The meal draws to a close..... a very different Passover from expected..........
Judas has left............ he has other things to do...........
Think of all the times you have heard those words repeated. "This is my body broken for you. This is my blood shed for you."
How often have they been no more than words? Part of a ceremony. For some, one of the few services of worship they attend and the words mean little.
Remember that this service is part of the church of today. Full of depth and meaning. It still offers freedom from past mistakes and faults. It still offers a new beginning every time the words are repeated. "This is my body broken for You. This is my blood shed for You."
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