There have been some pretty famous meals in history.
- The first Thanksgiving in 1621 with the Pilgrims is still celebrated.
- The last meal served on the Titanic was a 10 course meal for first-class passengers.
- The first meal on the moon by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin was bacon squares, sugar cookies, peaches, pineapple-peach drink and coffee.
- Following an 8 minute wedding ceremony of Elvis and Priscilla Presley at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, the breakfast reception included Elvis’s favorites: ham, eggs and fried chicken with a 6-tiered yellow sponge cake.
- In June 1790, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton bumped into each other outside George Washington’s NYC home. They decided to have dinner and invited James Madison. At that meal, it was decided the federal government would assume state debts and Washington DC became America’s capital.
But probably the most famous meal in history goes to Jesus and the Last Supper. What practical lessons in Luke 22:7-20 do we learn from Jesus and the Last Supper?
1- The Value of Preparation.
… and he sent Peter and John, saying, God and prepare us the passover, that we may eat… and they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. (Luke 22:8,13)
Jesus sent 2 disciples to prepare for the Passover meal. The Feast of Unleavened bread a weeklong celebration and Passover was one day in that week. Both are reminders of God’s deliverance of the nation of Israel from Egyptian slavery by a slain lamb. The strange thing was that as the disciples went they found the way had already been prepared for them. What happened with the preparation for the meal was also what was happening in the last days of Jesus. It was already prepared. Jesus remained in control of every detail. He does that for us too. But he wants us to prepare anyway.
If we don’t prepare for life, we will end up in trouble. A grandfather went fishing on a lake. He pushed his boat away from the dock, jumped in and dropped anchor yards away. His grandson and son noticed grandpa was sitting in the boat not doing anything. The grandson asked, “What is grandpa doing?” The father said, “He was going fishing, but it looks like he forgot his fishing equipment.” The boy asked, “Why doesn’t he row back in and get his stuff?” The father replied, “I think he would, except he forgot the oars too.”
So why make plans if God already has a plan? Because we are commanded to plan our life. R.B. Keuper illustrated this challenge with two ropes going through two holes in the ceiling and through a pulley unseen. To support yourself, you must cling to both. If you cling to only one, you will fall. You must make your plans, knowing that God’s plans have already been made.
“We can make our plans but the Lord determines our steps.” (Proverbs 16:1)
2- The Role of Desire.
And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. (Luke 22:15-16)
The Passover was the most important Jewish meal of the year. Jesus observed many Passover meals. This is the one He most desired to eat. This was His last one. He knew that He would be leaving them and wanted to join together for one last meal. He not only wanted to eat with them, He looked forward to eating together in the Kingdom. His next meal would be with the Father and with all God’s children. Jesus looked forward to the Kingdom meal and so should we.
At a funeral for a grandmother the family gave everyone a fork. When their family had dinner and cleared the table, they told everyone, “Keep your fork for dessert”. Grandma made the best desserts and it was the best part. Even though grandma was dead, the best was yet to come.
Can a person be so heavenly minded they are no earthly good? I suppose. But most Christians who desire heaven are making their journey more heavenly.
“There have been times when I think we do not desire heaven but more often I find myself wondering whether, in our heart of hearts, we have ever desired anything else.” – C.S. Lewis
3 – The Truth of Supremacy.
And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. (Luke 22:19-20)
The Passover meal began with a prayer of thanksgiving and the first cup of wine. They ate some bread dipped in bitter herbs, sang psalms and drank the second cup. Then they ate roasted lamb, sang more psalms and drank the third cup. The feast ended with the drinking of the fourth cup. It was as they drank the third cup that Jesus initiated The Lord’s Supper. He took the wine and the bread and predicted His body would be crucified and His blood would be shed. Every time we participate in the Lord’s Supper we remember what He did. The Passover is a reminder that God delivered Israel from Egypt through the death of an innocent lamb. The Lord’s Supper is a reminder that God delivers any believer from the judgment of sin by the death of the innocent Son of God.
This new covenant that Jesus made was introduced in Jeremiah 31:31-34. His covenant is superior in four ways: It is inside rather than outside. It creates a close relationship with God. It provides a deep, personal knowledge of God. It provides total, complete and eternal forgiveness.
Dr. Christian Barnard was the first surgeon to do a heart transplant. He asked his patient, Dr. Philip Blaiberg, if he would like to see his old heart. He handed him a glass container and Blaiberg was the first person in history to ever hold his own heart in his hands. He asked a few technical questions. Then took one final look and said, “So this is my old heart that caused me so much trouble” and handed it back and turned away and left forever. His new heart was so much better. Our life is so much better because of Jesus.
“The cross shows us the seriousness of our sin – but it also shows us the immeasurable love of God.” – Billy Graham
In Old Testament times, God agreed to forgive people’s sins if they brought animals for the priests to sacrifice. But animal blood did not remove sin. It only covered it. The word “atonement” means ‘covering.’ But when Jesus died on the cross, His blood did not just cover sin, it removed sin. When you accept Jesus as personal Savior, your sin is removed. If you reject Jesus, your sin remains.
Every time a Christian shares in the Lord’s Supper, it should be a reminder of all that Jesus has done. Why not use every meal to remind you of Jesus and all He has done for you?