Was the Last Supper a Disaster?

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The Last Supper could never be called a disaster since the Lord Jesus was there. But in terms
of everyone else and their behavior it was nothing short of a disaster. Indeed it was so awful
that one could hardly have faulted the Lord for saying, “That’s it Father, I’ve had it with them,
I’m coming straight home!” Praise God he chose to die for the likes of us.

On Holy Thursday, let’s examine the sequence of the

Last Supper which pretty well illustrates why the Lord
had to die for us. We will see how earnest the Lord is
about this Last Supper, how he enters it with an intense
love for his disciples and a desire that they (we)
carefully heed what he is trying to teach them. We shall
see however that they (we) show forth a disastrous
inattentiveness and a terrible lack of concern for the
Lord. Here then are the movements of the Last Supper.
Watch how things begin with the loving and careful
attentiveness of the Lord and end with a selfish, inept
and unloving response from the apostles (us?) Here is
the sequence.

1. COMING CLOUDS – Jesus knows that his hour has

come. This meal will be his last meal. Judas has already
conspired and been paid to hand him over. Scripture
says Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his
hour had come. He always loved those who were his
own, and now he would show them the depths of his
love. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon
the Iscariot, to hand him over. (John 13:1) Hence in the
gathering storm Jesus considers his last meal which will
also be the first Holy Mass. He instructs his Apostles to
prepare the meal: 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, and wherever he
enters, say to the householder, ‘The Teacher says,
Where is my guest room, where I am to eat the Passover
with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper
room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” (Mark
14:13-15)

2. CARING CONCERN – This last supper was obviously important to Jesus. Luke records the
heartfelt words of Jesus: And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover
with you before I suffer; for I tell you I shall not eat again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of
God.” (Luke 22:15-16). Yes this was to be a very special moment for Jesus.
3. COSTLY COMMUNION – Jesus, reclining at the table, will now celebrate the Holy
Eucharist for the first time. But this was a costly communion. He had already lost many
disciples for what he taught on the
Eucharist (cf John 6:50ff). It was a costly
teaching. Further, after the first
consecration, as he looks into the cup he is
looking at his own blood soon to be shed,
and he distributes his own body soon to be
handed over. Yes this is a costly
communion, no mere ritual for him. Every
other priest before him had offered a
sacrifice distinct from himself, (usually an
animal, sometimes a libation). But Jesus the
great High Priest will offer himself. It is a
costly communion.

4. LEAD BY SERVING OTHERS– During the meal Jesus rises and then
stoops to wash the disciples feet. He instructs them to see in this a model
for those who would collaborate with him in any future ministry. John
records it this way: He rose from the supper and took off his outer
garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured
water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe
them with the towel with which he was girded (John 13:5). Jesus then
teaches the Disciples: Do you know what I have done for you? You call
me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your
Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash
one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also
should do as I have done to you. (John 13:12-15). We shall see that, in
moments, they will demonstrate a complete disregard for what he has
just tried to teach them. Now things get bad.

5. HIDDEN BETRAYAL MADE PUBLIC: Back at table and after having taught them that
they must wash one another’s feet Jesus becomes suddenly troubled in
spirit and says, I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.
(John 13:21). This causes a commotion among the Apostles who begin
to ask “Who can it be?” As the anxiety and commotion around the table
continue, Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him
which one he means.” Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him,
“Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give
this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the
piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. As soon as
Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. “What you are about to
do, do quickly,” Jesus told him (John 13:24-30).
 6. TOO BLIND WITH OWN SELF IMPORTANCE TO SEE WHAT WAS REALLY
HAPPENING : But as Judas takes the morsel of bread and heads into the night, no one tries
to stop him! No one rises and block the door or even utters a protest despite the fact that Jesus
has clearly identified him! Why?! Luke supplies the answer: A dispute arose among them,
which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. (Luke 22:24) They should be concerned
about Jesus’ welfare but instead they debate about who of them is the greatest. How
confounding and awful! Yet is that not our history? Too often we are far more concerned
with our status and welfare than with any suffering in the Body of Christ.

7. AFTER THREE YEARS WITH JESUS – THE APOSTLES STILL KNOW NOTHING
OF JESUS’ FATE AND MESSAGE: Jesus continues to teach at the Last Supper. This
moment he surely wanted to impress upon them his final instruction. How he must have longed
for them to listen carefully and deeply internalize what he was teaching. Instead all he gets are
arguments. Both Thomas and Phillip rebuke him. John records the outrage: Jesus said Do not
let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many
rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And
if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also
may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” But Thomas said to
him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to
him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. If you
had known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know him and have seen
him. So Thomas rhetorically rebuked the Lord, in effect saying,
“We have NO IDEA where you are going, when will you show us
the way!” Jesus answers but Phillip will have none of this promise
to see the Father and he boldly says, Lord, show us the Father, and
then we shall be satisfied.” Jesus, likely saddened at all this said
to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know
me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you
say, ‘Show us the Father’? (John 14:1-9). Hence his own apostles
are being argumentative and contentious. They are caustic and
seem also to rebuke the Lord. The Supper isn’t going so well!

8. APOSTLES LOSE ALL CREDIBILITY IN THE FINAL TEST: Undeterred Jesus

embarks on a lengthy discourse that John records and which has come to be called the priestly
prayer of Jesus. At the end of it the apostles remark, perhaps ironically, perhaps with
sincerity: His disciples said, “Ah, now at last you are speaking plainly, not in any figure! Now
we know that you know all things, and need none to question you; by this we believe that you
 came from God.”(John 16:29-30). But Jesus knows their praise is hollow and will not stand the
test. There is a great credibility gap to what they say, it is almost comical. So he says: Do you
now believe? The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, every man
to his home, and will leave me alone (John 16:31-32). Peter undeterred says, Though they all
fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Here too is another almost comic credibility
gap and thus Jesus said to him, “Truly, I say to you, this very night, before the cock crows, you
will deny me three times.” Still insistent Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will
not deny you.”
And so said all the
disciples. (John
16:33-35). Well
you know the
story and that
only John made it
to the cross. Their
credibility was, by
this time a dark
comedy.

9. HOWEVER.......JESUS STILL LOVES THEM: But you also know the rest of the story.
Jesus went on and died for the likes of them (us). I wonder if he had some of this Last Supper
in mind when he said to the Father, “Forgive them, they know not what they do.” Almost as if
to say, “They have absolutely no idea what they are doing or thinking, so have mercy on them
Father.”

What a grim picture of us the Last Supper was. A disaster really. But the glory of the story
and the saving grace is this, the Lord Jesus Christ went to the cross anyway. Seeing this
terrible portrait of them (us) can we really doubt the Lord’s love for us