Maundy Thursday (CL)

Mark 14:10-31

¹⁰ Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. ¹¹ And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.

¹² And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” ¹³ And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, ¹⁴ and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ ¹⁵ And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” ¹⁶ And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

¹⁷ And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. ¹⁸ And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” ¹⁹ They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” ²⁰ He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. ²¹ For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

²² And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” ²³ And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. ²⁴ And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. ²⁵ Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

²⁶ And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. ²⁷ And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ ²⁸ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” ²⁹ Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” ³⁰ And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” ³¹ But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.

It has been a while since I really celebrated the Passover. There is just something about attending a Seder meal that gives us a little insight into what it must have been like that night. One thing I thought of this morning filling individual cups and sips from the common cup. I bet when they filled their cups with the blood of Christ, the disciples filled their bigger than shot glasses individual cups to the top.

The time for preparation has arrived and the Passover must be celebrated. Jesus sends two of his disciples to take on the task to make sure the Passover is prepared properly. They will need to make sure the matzoh is properly placed and there will be plenty of wine.

You know there are some congregations today that still consume all the left overs after communion. I wonder if they had any leftovers that first night? Oh, wait you were not allowed to have leftovers. So why are we so stingy on the Wine and wafer! If we were going to do this right we would count the people, and divide the bottle evenly then likewise the wafers.

The important thing may not be all the details of this night. The details may even force us to look past the Importance of this night. Jesus celebrates the Passover with his disciples and forever changes this celebration. It is no longer roasted Lamb or bitter herbs that are important but Christ’s body and blood given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.