Jesus Christ's last meal...teaches about love, and more
By Timothy W. Burnett
Last week we stopped at Jesus Christ's teaching about the symbolism of food and drink related to his body and blood. The accounts continue with Luke 22:21-22 where Jesus once again referred to his impending betrayal, "But, behold, the hand of him that betrays me is with me on the table. And truly the son of man goes, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!" And they began to inquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing." This was the third time Jesus brought this subject up. The first time he mentioned it, his disciples wondered among themselves. The second time, they each asked him "Is it I?" This time they inquired among themselves as a group concerning which of them it should be. Also, strife arose over which of them should be accounted the greatest (Luke 22:23-30).

He taught them a great lesson by saying "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But you shall not be so: but he that is greatest among, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that does serve. For whether is greater, he that sits at meat, or he that serves? Is not he that sits at meat? But I am among you as he that serves. You are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father has appointed unto me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

Next we come to the accounts starting in
John 13:18-38. Here again, Jesus mentioned his betrayal two more times, "I speak not of you all. I know whom I have chosen, but that the scripture may be fulfilled, 'He that eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me.' Now I tell you before it come, that when it is come to pass, you may believe that I am he. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that receives whomsoever I send receives me, and he that receives me receives Him that sent me. When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, 'Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.' Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spoke." It continues with the record of one disciple asking Jesus who would betray him. Jesus answered, "'He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it.' And he gave the sop to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon." Then according to verse 27, after the sop was given to Judas, Satan entered into him, and Jesus told him to do it quickly. Judas then left. They thought he left to give money to the poor.

After Judas left, Jesus boldly said, "Now is the son of man gorified in him, God shall also glorify him in Himself and shall straightway glorify him." Jesus went right back to teaching his disciples. He told them that where he was going, they could not come. He then taught them a new commandment in verse 34, "A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another." The first epistle of John covers this love in detail It is about showing God's love toward mankind in our lives. God's love is showed in walking by his spirit that is within. It says in 1John 3:18, "...let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth." This means to love truly in deed. The perfect example of deeds is found in Jesus Christ while he walked on earth.
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