The Road to Easter – Last Supper

Joke:  A son was walking along side his father as they were walking, the kid was looking at his phone and didn’t notice a pole in front of him, which resulted with him colliding with the pole.

The father looks over at his boy and said, “That was some a”pole”ing behavior” and began to laugh at his own joke

The son, being slightly irritated, snapped back at the father saying, “was that pun really necessary?”

The father not missing a beat says, “well, you walked right into that one”

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Easter 2025 – Week 1

I mentioned last week that we had one more message in our series The Enemy within.  And I may come back and finish it up but I need to start our Easter series to keep on track.

So, today I’m starting our series The Road to Easter.

I wanted to make sure that the other parts of the Easter series were on track.  So, next week we will have Palm Sunday, then Good Friday at 7 PM, followed by Easter Sunday, and to finish up our Easter series I will conclude the Sunday after Easter with, The Road Beyond Easter: Rooted in Jesus

So, to keep in step with the other weeks this week will be a little out of order in the way the events actually took place as I begin the series with The Road To The Last Supper: A Night To Remember.

The last supper would have been the Maundy Thursday but  because we are only having a Good Friday service I had to rearrange a message.

Show Video:  www.skitguys.com

The video opens by stating that there will come a day when, for each of us, we will leave this earth  and cross over to the “great unknown.” It went on to say that we, as believers, hold fast to our faith.

The question was then asked, “If you knew you had only one night left on this planet, what would you say to your friends and family? What would you want them to remember?”

And that is the very situation in which Jesus found himself on the evening that he would spend with his disciples for the last supper.  Except, Jesus knew exactly what he wanted to say. To his friends. To a traitor. To those who would come to arrest him. And to you and me.

So, today let’s spend some time with Jesus on this evening before his journey to the cross. And I want to share a few things Jesus would do on this particular evening:

The first one, if your taking notes is this, Jesus Would Demonstrate:  How To Live Humbly

John 13:4–5 (NIV) – so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

Now to our 21st-century ears, this may seem like an odd practice – the washing of feet associated with a  meal. But in 1st century Israel, this was not unusual at all. What was unusual was that the washing, traditionally done by a servant was now being done by a participant to the meal, and not just a participant but a Rabbi no less.   It was no doubt shocking to the disciples.

And by washing the feet of the disciples, Jesus was breaking expected norms, taking on the clothing of a servant, and leaving an unforgettable lesson for his disciples:   What was the lesson?  Live humbly. Serve others.

Earlier in his ministry, Jesus had taught his disciples that very attitude, it’s found in Mark 10.

Mark 10:42–45 (NIV) – Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

And on this night, Jesus lived out those very words for all his disciples to see.

Not only would Jesus demonstrate how to live humbly through the washing of feet:

But the second thing Jesus would do is, Jesus Would Instruct: How To Serve  Sacrificially.

John 13:6–8 (NIV) – He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

Jesus knew that Peter would struggle with this act of servanthood, and we get to see just how true that is.

Verse 8 tells us, “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Maybe you can relate to Peter.  I know I can.  How many of you have ever spoke before you thought.  Peter speaking before thinking, says out loud what others may not have dared even to think. He tells Jesus, “NO!”

I’m not sure that’s what you should tell the Savior of the world.

The part of the verse, Unless I wash you, you have no part with me is pointing to necessity of allowing be Jesus to serve us, ultimately receiving His gift of salvation that He brought to us by His death and resurrection.

Accepting His finished work of the cross.

Jesus’ response seems to bring Peter to his senses, maybe not yet fully understanding,  but he ultimately surrenders and let’s Jesus do what He had set out to do.

We too must surrender so that we can receive what Jesus offers.

John 13:12–15 (NIV) – When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

Now we me just pause here to say this.  Joy and I have a few times washed the feet of those who attended this church as an act of be a servant and of service.  I might also add, some just like Peter, felt a little odd when we did.

However, the key takeaway from this passage is not necessarily the physical act of washing someone’s feet, but rather the attitude and heart behind it.

Jesus was illustrating the importance of humility, service, and love among His followers,

He was calling them to serve one another in practical and meaningful ways.

In today’s context, Jesus’ teaching encourages us as believers to look for opportunities to serve others, demonstrating Christ’s love through our actions.

The focus is on embodying the spirit of servant hood that Jesus exemplified.

Philippians 2:3–4 (NIV) – Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

And then in Galatians we read this. . .

Galatians 5:13–14 (NIV) – You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

So, Jesus, rabbi, the son of God, has washed their feet, and then he takes a moment to make sure they caught the lesson. “Do you understand?” he asks. The teacher has humbled himself and served you.  Now. . .you do the same.

Jesus is fully aware of what is ahead. He is preparing these disciples for the tough days to come and for the leadership, they will need to assume in the days after he is no longer with them.

And because Jesus is keenly aware of the tough times ahead for His disciples He spent precious moments on this last evening visually instructing his disciples how to serve sacrificially.

Another thing I want to share is that Jesus Would Command:  To Love Others As I Have Loved You

Do you remember the question, asked in the video, “If you knew you had only one night left on this planet, what would you say to your friends and family?”

That was, I think, where Jesus found himself when he uttered these words to his disciples that evening:

John 13:34–35 (NIV) – 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

“A new command I give you: Love one another.”

I guess that might sound easy enough on the surface. But Jesus doesn’t stop there. He says, “Love one another as I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

How this must have sounded to their ears, these twelve – well, now eleven. One a traitor. One a Zealot. One a tax collector. A few fishermen.   Some others thrown in for good measure. How would they get along without their teacher, Jesus?

Let me make it a bit more personal.  How well do we get along with those who are different than us? With those of opposing political  leanings?  With those whose former employment status might raise an eyebrow or lead to awkward questions?

Jesus knew they would need help. And here, he offers help in the form of a command.

A new command: “Love one another.” Simple, yet so complex. And how are they to love one another?

Simple, he says. Love as I have loved you. Love.

As I have loved you, that’s a big detail.  Could they do it? Eventually. With a few bumps in the road along the way.

Love one another. Can we do it? It sounds simple enough, but what about “them?” Do I have to love “them?” The answer, as we look at the life of Jesus, is “yes.” Even “them.”

And why do this? Jesus provides the answer. “By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples.

Matthew 22:34–40 (NIV) – Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

When Jesus says this, He is emphasizing that the entire Old Testament law and teachings of the prophets are rooted in these two principles of love.

Let me try and show you this way.  The first command to love God with all your being, encapsulates the essence of the first part, the first four, of the Ten Commandments which focuses on our relationship with God.

The second command to love our neighbor as oneself, summarizes the later part of the Ten Commandments witch focus on our relationship with others.

Jesus is highlighting the genuine love for God and others fulfills the intent and purpose of the law.

Now let me add this, as new Covenant believers who are not under the law but under grace, doesn’t mean we don’t need to love.  Jesus is pointing to the heart of God, the scriptures tells us that God is love, it’s not what He does it’s who He is.  So, Jesus is pointing to the heart of God’s desire for all humanity, which is a life characterized by love.

We must be a people of love.

Romans 13:8–10 (NIV) – Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”  and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

I love that, always have a continuous debt of love.

Jesus offered a command for the disciples and us to follow, after all we, too, are to be his disciples.  Amen.

Another thing, if your taking notes is, On this evening. . .Jesus Would Offer: A Timeless Reminder Of What Was To Come

Matthew 26:26–29 (NIV) – While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Let me share this about the New Covenant which was brought to us by the death and resurrection of Jesus, Scripture tells us. .

Hebrews 8:6–13, (NIV) – But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises. 7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. 8 But God found fault with the people and said: “The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. 9 It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. 10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”  13 By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.

Lastly. . .In The Garden: Jesus Would Live What He Taught

Luke 22:49–51 (NIV) – When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. 51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

Jesus embodied the very character traits of God and he encouraged his followers to nurture those very same traits.

Hebrews 1:3, (NIV) – The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

So, Jesus’ last act before he was taken away under arrest (and eventually to the cross) was to exemplify each of the traits we’ve looked at today – living humbly, serving sacrificially, loving others, replacing an ear – even with those seeking to do him harm.

May we, as those who proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior, as followers and disciples of His, follow his example. In the good times. In the difficult times. In the in between times. May we live humbly, serve sacrificially, love others, and do all of these things in remembrance of him!

Pray