What is it about sitting around the dinner table that is so important in our lives? It’s almost like there is this connection between us when we simply sit and eat. But was there significance to sitting at the table and eating in the Jewish culture?
Read Matthew 26:20-21 and journal your thoughts
Have you ever been in one of those moments where something just wasn’t right? It is not even something you can really put your finger on. There is just a weird vibe and all you know is something’s. Not. Right. No matter which Gospel you read, the Last Supper has this strange sort of vibe to it doesn’t it? We understand this because we know what’s about to happen, but most of us reading this get that this must have been a pretty strange scene.
What makes this scene particularly strange is when we understand the cultural significance of sharing a meal together. For the ancient Jews sharing a meal was a sign of peace, trust, and forgiveness. In fact if two people were fighting they would share a meal as a sign of peace between them (Genesis 31:45-55).
Take a moment and reflect on the implications of sharing a meal in the story of the Prodigal’s Son (Luke 15:11-32).
As sacred as simply sharing a meal was, the Passover meal was especially sacred because they are sharing a lamb that has been sacrificed to God. Traditionally a Passover lamb had to be completely consumed so nothing was left, and usually a lamb could feed at least 15 people. Now if at a traditional meal peace had to exist between everyone at the table, then what does it look like when an animal sacrificed to God is involved? At the Passover meal, peace had to exist between you and everyone else at the table, and between you and everyone at the table and God. Considering Judas’ actions, could this explain the tension at that Passover meal?
What does this understanding of the Passover meal mean for us when we share communion? So often we hear of sharing communion as having peace between us and God. So before communion we have this time of reflection so we can confess our sins before God. But what does this understanding of communion imply? We should also have peace with each other!
As we go into Holy Week, may you discover peace in all your relationships.
**NOTE: All the journals this week were inspired by Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewishness of Jesus Can Transform Your Faith by Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg. I cannot recommend this book enough!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002AKPFT4/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=engedrescen-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002AKPFT4
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