We’ve all gone to a meeting that was required or at least strongly encouraged. Maybe it was informative, maybe it was boring beyond all human tolerance. Similarly, we’ve, most of us, attended social functions which were enjoyable or, at times, GMO’s (ghastly moral obligations – thank you, Eleanor Mumford). Maybe we’ve had the experience of a family get-together which was either the warmest, friendliest, funnest ever, or stories abound of these settings which tend to turn into shouting matches, hurt feelings, or fisticuffs. But there’s nothing better than an invite to friends’ homes where the welcome is sincere, the ambience is spot on, the food is delicious, the conversation is easy and where the hours pass all too quickly.
Today is Thursday of Holy Week, the day when the Passover Seder is held. That day for the disciples was a strange, uncomfortable occasion. The mood in the city was dark and foreboding. Jesus was often saying something incomprehensible about betrayal and beating and dying. There was a palpable sense of danger and being watched with evil intent. It didn’t feel much like the traditional celebration.
Luke 22:15 TPT, as they gathered for the Seder, has Jesus saying these beautiful, heartwarming words: “I have longed with passion and desire to eat this Passover lamb with you . . .” Well, those words would have held greater beauty, greater warmth, if he had ended there, but he finished with these heart wrenching words: “before I endure my sufferings.” The twelve men around the table heard these final five words as gibberish, as some kind of code, as, perhaps, a riddle. They were at table with the Messiah, their Redeemer, their Lord, the Blessed One sent from the Father in Heaven. They were sharing this celebration meal with the one who would defeat the mighty powers of Rome and restore riches and sovereignty to Israel. Weren’t they? Wouldn’t he?
These guys had no clue they were about to live a nightmare more horrific than they could ever have imagined. One of their own betrayed Jesus! Jesus was arrested, subjected to a mock trial, cruelly beaten, abandoned by his closest allies, and condemned to be crucified! Their entire world was spinning out of control! Cherished hopes were dashed. Confusion reigned. Terror seized them. And then – Jesus really died! How was this even possible? How could his enemies have gotten the upper hand? What about his power? What about his Father? What was the meaning of the entire past three years? His teachings? His miracles? The hopes he raised?
ps It’s 2025 and as Pentecost people, we have many (almost too good to be true) answers that were undecipherable to the disciples. Even so, much mystery remains for us. We know how this love story ends (and it’s really, really amazing!), but much about this new life of faith in Jesus challenges our flesh, our ego, and our leftover sin bits. PD
