7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” 9 “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked. 10 He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.” 13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. 14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 22:7 – 15)
Over the last three days of Passion Week we have observed Jesus being passionate about his purpose. This was clearly demonstrated in His condemnation of those who distorted God’s plans and His commendation of those aligned with God’s plans. Then we saw Jesus’ passion for fellowship with His Father. Today we observe His passion for fellowship with His disciples.
There are so many lessons to be learned from the last Passover Jesus shared with His disciples but today we will focus on his commitment to fellowship. In the passage above, note the preparations Jesus facilitated for the time of fellowship with His disciples (“large room upstairs, all furnished”). Next, note His statement of eagerness for the event (“I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.”).
Please prayerfully reflect on the Bible passages above.
Something to think about:
What lessons do you take from Jesus’ commitment to fellowship even as he headed to the cross?
March 29, 2018 at 4:49 am
Sometimes when we go through adversity there is a tendency to be isolated and there a number of reasons for that. Jesus is showing us that even as he is about to suffer he ensures to have fellowship with his disciples, just to be with them to encourage them and to leave this as a model for us to follow.
March 29, 2018 at 6:50 am
By God’s grace we should be able to fellowship even in the midst of trail. The opposite tends to happen. I close myself off from other. Jesus not only fellowshipped but ministered to the disciples in the midst of impending trial. Lord help me to be Your light in the valley experiences.
March 29, 2018 at 2:29 pm
This type of fellowship, when facing adversity, is difficult to understand if you focus on yourself. Jesus accepted his purpose, and was clearly focused on those who are dear to him.
The true test for us, would be so focused on others, when the time has come to move to the next phase of our life.
March 29, 2018 at 4:30 pm
Amazing. I tend to want to be alone.
April 3, 2018 at 9:39 pm
First, He knew that He was going to suffer yet He was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice so I have learnt that like Jesus I can say, “Not my will but thine be done” and not only say it but even when suffering comes my way, to persevere to the end, for God’s sake. Second, fellowship requires not only sacrifice but also preparation, interaction, directives, action, a time, a place, an earnest desire, commitment, sharing responsibilities, getting others to play an active role, and knowing that fellowship may even lead to suffering. Third, I’ve learnt that the servant is the greatest of them all.