What Christians observe in the Lord's Supper is a highly abbreviated form of the Passover seder that Jesus and his disciples kept annually. The morsel of bread and the thimble of juice represent two elements of a much more elaborate meal. The church's brief review of Jesus' words about his body and blood is a small part of the conversation he had with the disciples. Much more took place that evening.
The Passover is a festive time, an opportunity to look back and to celebrate the miraculous deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt. It is a happy occasion when family and friends gather to enjoy a meal and to reflect on God's great goodness to His people. That is how Jesus and the disciples probably celebrated it during their first and second years together. The third year should not be much different, and the disciples are likely expecting the holiday to be much the same as it was before. What they do not realize is that one of their number has been planning something quite despicable, and his plot will set in motion a very different set of events than in holidays past.
The Passover meal has several symbolic elements, representing different aspects of the Israelites' condition before God delivered them.
- The bitter herbs recall the bitterness of Israel's bondage as Pharaoh forced the people to serve him.
- The unleavened bread, also called the "bread of poverty," reminds participants that Israel was poor in Egypt, and that the people had to leave quickly, before their bread could rise.
- The lamb reviews the Israelites utter dependence on God in believing that the sacrifice they made, whose blood they applied to the doorposts, would cause the angel of death to spare their homes.
As these elements appeared at each annual observance of the Passover, they reminded the people of what the Lord had done for them in the past and inspired their hope in His good plan for their future. On this, Jesus' last Passover, one of the elements, the bitter herbs, would again have a negative association.
Matt 26:20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me." 22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?" 23 Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl [of bitter herbs] with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born." 25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" Jesus answered, "Yes, it is you."
The rabbi's pronouncement that one of them would betray him shocked the disciples. This was a gathering of his inner circle, those who had been privy to his specialized instruction and who had seen first-hand the countless miracles he performed. Who among them would betray him? Who among them would want to do such a thing?
Their discussion about Jesus' comment probably blended with other topics that evening, so that when Judas "dipped his hand in the bowl [of bitter herbs]" no one else noticed—no one except Jesus. What must it have been like for the teacher, to know that one of his own followers would turn what should have been a very pleasant evening into a decidedly bitter one?
While it is true that God intended Jesus' sacrifice "from the creation of the world" (Rev 13:8), and that Jesus knew his mission was "to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45), and that he surrendered his life willingly ("of my own accord" John 10:18), the one who actually brought this plan to a head did not have to be one of his closest associates. Judas could have decided otherwise, and God's purpose would still have moved forward without him. Judas did not have to betray his master. The religious leaders would simply have found some other way to kill Jesus. Even at this Passover seder, it was not too late. This would have been a good opportunity for Judas to get his life back on track. The bowl of bitter herbs did not have to become The Bowl of Betrayal. Alas, this disciple forsook God's way and chose his own way.
Our commemoration of Jesus' last seder does not include all the elements of the Passover meal that his disciples had. We have no "bowl [of bitter herbs]" to mark the bitterness of our lives before God delivered us. Perhaps we should, to remind us whence we have come. No matter how many elements we do have, though, they are of no use to us unless we recognize their significance. Your partaking of the bread and the cup will not make you more acceptable to God without your also being determined to make sure your life is on track with His plan. Just as the Passover offered Judas a chance to make things right before they went horribly wrong, so Communion offers you the chance to make necessary course corrections, be they great or small. The apostle Paul writes that...
1 Cor 11:28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the Cup.
...lest he partake "in an unworthy manner" and displease God (v. 27).
As you come to the Lord's table, take a moment now to review the direction you are heading. Have you been doing your best to stay on the path God has set before you, or have you veered off course, to a heading of your own choosing? Your life is certainly not as misdirected as that of Judas, who betrayed Jesus, but he was not the only disciple to falter. Despite Peter's earlier assurances that he would remain true, he later bowed to pressure and denied Jesus. Likewise, the other disciples abandoned Jesus. Had they headed his warning and fortified themselves in prayer, they could have remained steadfast. Perhaps you have not consciously and deliberately taken a wrong turn but have simply let yourself drift along and, in so doing, need a minor course correction. Make it now before the gap between where you are and where you should be widens, as it surely will if you ignore it.
The Bowl of Betrayal did not have to be the end for Judas. Even after Jesus' arrest, this disciple could have repented and received God's forgiveness and restoration, just as Peter did. It is the same assurance we have, that...
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
For the Bibliography and Endnotes see the pdf here.
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Jim Skaggs