Jesus’ Last Supper and Arrest

Maundy Thursday—The Beginning of the Great Three Days

Matthew 26:26-30, 36, 47-50 NRSV    Jesus’ Last Supper and Arrest

While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
   When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
   Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
   While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.” At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.


We may never know what hymn the disciples sang the night of Jesus’ arrest, but scholars assume it was one of the Passover hymns. We might sing Go to Dark Gethsemane, but maybe we should sing All Who Hunger, Gather Gladly.
All who hunger, gather gladly; Holy manna is our bread./Come from wilderness and wand’ring. Here in truth we will be fed./You who yearn for days of fullness, all around us is our food./Taste and see the grace eternal./Taste and see that God is good.
This hymn reminds us that we are not stuck in the historical past. We are not crucifying Jesus again. We are living in the historical present. Like looking at a picture from long ago, we remember the event while living in the present now.

We remember the Exodus from Egypt and the many wilderness trials, and we celebrate the gift from heaven—life-giving bread. We know that the Way, the Truth and the Life of Christ feeds us in our lives today, So we come to taste and see God’s goodness, not at the Passover meal, but at Christ’s thanksgiving dinner table.
There is nothing magical about what Jesus does. He takes a common loaf of bread and a simple cup of wine to share with his disciples. But in the blessing, breaking and sharing with thanks­giving to God for the fruits of the earth, something extraordinary happens. We receive Christ’s body and blood—the elements of life itself—a miracle, a sign of God’s care for us.
We witness Christ going to dark Gethsemane and hear him asking for the cup to be taken away. But even now, we celebrate life in Christ because Christ took the cup and went to the cross; the reality of the resurrection is the world we live in. Christ has made our salvation possible. We may betray Christ’s love for us, but the world of forgiveness and eternal life is ours because of these three days.
All who hunger, sing together, Jesus Christ is living bread./Come from loneliness and longing. Here in peace we have been fed./Blest are those who from the table live their days in gratitude./Taste and see the grace eternal. Taste and see that God is good.

Prayer

Thanks be to you, my lord, Jesus Christ,

For all the benefits that you have given me;

For all the pains and insults you have borne for me.

O, most merciful redeemer, friend and brother,

May I know you more clearly;

Love you more dearly;

And follow you more nearly.

(St. Richard of Chichester, 1253)