Matthew 26:17-56 (the Last Supper and the arrest of Jesus)
The meal shared here was a ritual meal observed every year to prepare for Passover, that long ago time when God guided the Hebrew people safely out of Egypt and they were passed-over by the angel of death. Jesus told the disciples to go set up the meal and then he joined them.
While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” These are the words we still say, in some form, every week when we gather at the Table.
After eating, they went out into the garden at Gethsemane to pray. Jesus tried to explain to them what was coming, but they refused to understand and fell asleep instead. [An interesting note: Peter, John and James—the same three who witnessed the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor, were the ones who fell asleep here.]
This is where Judas, the betrayer, returns with guards and they arrest Jesus — betrayed with a kiss. After this betrayal, there was another, when Peter, who swore he’d never leave him, pressed by others around him to admit he was a follower of Jesus, insisted three times that he did not even know the man.
The meal shared here was a ritual meal observed every year to prepare for Passover, that long ago time when God guided the Hebrew people safely out of Egypt and they were passed-over by the angel of death. Jesus told the disciples to go set up the meal and then he joined them.
While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” These are the words we still say, in some form, every week when we gather at the Table.
After eating, they went out into the garden at Gethsemane to pray. Jesus tried to explain to them what was coming, but they refused to understand and fell asleep instead. [An interesting note: Peter, John and James—the same three who witnessed the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor, were the ones who fell asleep here.]
This is where Judas, the betrayer, returns with guards and they arrest Jesus — betrayed with a kiss. After this betrayal, there was another, when Peter, who swore he’d never leave him, pressed by others around him to admit he was a follower of Jesus, insisted three times that he did not even know the man.
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