Let’s eat

“Mirror of the Passion” Lent devotion for March 5, 2022. Photo by Davey Gravy on Unsplash.

Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover” (Luke 22:8).

So there is all this stuff going on. Judas is in cahoots with the chief priests and scribes. These religious leaders are trying to kill Jesus. Judas, a disciple, is trying to find a nice, out of the way place where he can hand Jesus over to them.

And Jesus basically says, “Guys, it’s your turn to make supper.” Let’s eat.

Well, OK, it’s not just any meal. It’s the Passover. A lamb. Unleavened bread. Wine. Stories of salvation. Songs of praise. Prayers of thanksgiving. It’s a meal that the Hebrews, the nation of Israel and the Jewish people had gathered to eat on this particular day for over a thousand years. This festival was commanded by God. The meal reminded them of who he was, who they were, and all he had done for them.

How many have prayed, “Come Lord Jesus, be our guest” before a meal? In other words, “We’d love to have you over for supper, Jesus! No, you don’t have to bring anything. You’ll be our guest.” Whether we’re serving leftover soup or a new dish we’ve always wanted to try, what a privilege to sit down and have a meal with Jesus. How much more special when it’s a holiday, like a birthday or an anniversary or a Memorial Day barbecue.

Jesus knows what’s going on in the shadows. He know about the plot. He knows who the betrayer is. He knows who the denier is. He knows how much tomorrow will hurt. Peter and John know none of this. To them, it’s just another Passover.

We can see ourselves in these disciples because we go about our everyday lives without knowing all that’s going on in the shadows. We don’t know what tomorrow will be like. We don’t know who we’ll meet. We don’t know what will break. We don’t know how we might stumble and sin. We don’t know who will die. We prepare our meals, say thanks with our families, talk about the day, and anticipate the possibility of dessert.

There is so much going on in this world that we know nothing about. I’m thankful for that, because what I am aware of can be overwhelming sometimes. It’s good to know that I don’t have to worry about everything all the time. I can sit down to a meal, invite Jesus in, and enjoy the company of family or friends. He knows what’s going on, and He’s taking care of it. He’s taking care of me.

Thank you, Lord, for being there at all the meals that sustain both my body and my soul.