Dinner for Thirteen, please.
Scent and smell trigger memories better than any other sense we have.
Catch the scent of cut grass and you are back playing tag with your friends.
The aroma of onions and celery coming from the neighbors’ houses brings the
vision of Thanksgiving dinner and your mouth begins to water. The sweet fragrance
of a baby’s soft hair triggers the thought of having another child.
Now, take a good sniff, and across centuries of time you can catch the
scent of cooking fires and roasting lamb from the city of Jerusalem. It is time
for the Passover meal in the first century. Let’s not be late.
Quietly
enter the large room where a particular Passover dinner has already begun. We
find Jesus and his apostles being served by several women, clearly close
friends and family members. For hundreds of years this special dinner ceremony
has been observed and includes four ritual servings of wine. Notice that Jesus
leads each part of the ritual meal, explaining carefully and then personally refining
each explanation.
The memory of Jesus performing this common ritual with his enhanced
explanation of each part has been passed down through the ages to become the
traditional communion service in Christian churches around the world. Like most
unrecorded memories most of his words have been lost but the major points have
been kept and cherished, to be repeated as a set piece at each offering of
bread and wine.
Look closely at the attendees – some are chatting with each other, some
are watching Jesus with glowing love, and there is one that sits sulky and disappointed.
Jesus has not lived up to his political expectations.
Now look closely at Jesus – he is not his usual light hearted self. He
seems serious, slightly subdued and, yes, somehow sad. His eyes rest on each
one in the room with love and then stops for a moment on the only attendee
nervous and grumpy, fidgeting in his seat. Their eyes meet – Jesus knows and
understands, and the apostle knows that Jesus knows. We watch as both their
hearts break, just a little.
What is actually said, we will never truly know. But, when the dinner
is complete, Jesus slowly leaves. His heart is heavy and he has much to ask of
God this night. . .and we will quietly return to see what the rest of this
night brings.
Questions to Contemplate and Discuss
1. Jews still commemorate Passover in much the same way. If you are Jewish contemplate Jesus leading this ceremony at your home.
2. If you are Christian research more about this holiday and dinner ritual and think about Jesus leading it.
3.
If you
are Christian and take communion, try to imagine Jesus, and not the priest or
minister, is offering you the bread and wine. Does this change the experience
for you?
T Watch for the next section to be posted and for the book 'Looking for Jesus, His Life and Times' go to:
bettejeancundiff.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment