The Last Passover Meal

Discipleship and Mission

Call to Ministry

Call to Remember

Matthew 26:17-29 The Message

The Traitor

17 On the first of the Days of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare your Passover meal?”
18-19 He said, “Enter the city. Go up to a certain man and say, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near. I and my disciples plan to celebrate the Passover meal at your house.’” The disciples followed Jesus’ instructions to the letter, and prepared the Passover meal.
20-21 After sunset, he and the Twelve were sitting around the table. During the meal, he said, “I have something hard but important to say to you: One of you is going to hand me over to the conspirators.”
22 They were stunned, and then began to ask, one after another, “It isn’t me, is it, Master?”
23-24 Jesus answered, “The one who hands me over is someone I eat with daily, one who passes me food at the table. In one sense the Son of Man is entering into a way of treachery well-marked by the Scriptures—no surprises here. In another sense that man who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man—better never to have been born than do this!”
25 Then Judas, already turned traitor, said, “It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?”
Jesus said, “Don’t play games with me, Judas.”

The Bread and the Cup

26-29 During the meal, Jesus took and blessed the bread, broke it, and gave it to his disciples:
Take, eat.
This is my body.
Taking the cup and thanking God, he gave it to them:
Drink this, all of you.
This is my blood,
God’s new covenant poured out for many people
    for the forgiveness of sins.
“I’ll not be drinking wine from this cup again until that new day when I’ll drink with you in the kingdom of my Father.”

For Reflection

Is Christ with Judas in heaven? In spite of all the talk of Hell, I would like to think so.  Christ wished as we all do that the world and the Kingdom would be better off without people who betray us.

But did not God create Judas? Did God not love Judas as God loves me? Did Judas not participate in the last meal?  Did Christ promise to drink with his disciples in the Kingdom of God? Did Christ exclude Judas from that promise?

Judas sinned, and so do I. Judas was remorseful and so am I.

Pray

Pray so that you will be more able to love as God loves.

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