THE FAREWELL MEAL

His death is imminent. In fact by the end of this meal the soldiers and his betrayer would be coming for Him.

”Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,“
‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

So how did Jesus spend the night before His death? He had a meal with His friends, His Farewell Meal. He told them during supper:

”No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.“
‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Jesus let them in on a secret. John chapter 14-17 Jesus tells them plainly and often:

”But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you].“
‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭7‬ ‭AMP‬‬
Not only was Jesus offering words of comfort during this Farewell Meal, but He promised them a gift. He was going to send the promised Holy Spirit to live in every believer. The Holy Spirit would come to comfort, to advocate, to intercede, to counsel, to strengthen, and to take the hand of every believer and guide them.

He didn’t seek comfort from them like I would have. He didn’t lay down on a mat and expect them to serve Him like I would have. No He spent all the time He had left to serve them, to teach them how to serve others, and offer words of comfort. During this Farewell Meal Jesus prepared His disciples for His death and His departure as He returned to The Father. He modeled for them a servants heart.

”Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.“
‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Not even Jewish slave were required to wash their master’s feet. This abject act was left to the lowest slave of the household, but Jesus performed this demonstration out of love and as an example on how to serve others.

This Farewell Meal was an intimate setting between a beloved Rabbi and His students.

”And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.”“
‭‭Mark‬ ‭14‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

See the setting. All 12 plus Jesus reclining on the floor, feet pointed away from the table, elbows on the table, and the other hand left to dip and take food. Basically they were ear to ear. It was a somber Farewell Meal. The 12 had no idea what horror lay ahead, but Jesus did, and He spoke:

”After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side, so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?”“
‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭21‬-‭25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The unknown disciple who asked, “Lord, who is it?” at this Farewell Meal is known to be John. He wrote the Gospel of John and he felt so loved by Jesus that he wrote, “whom Jesus loved.” Jesus loved each of His disciples and each felt Jesus’ individual love for them. John leaned in so close he probably could have felt Jesus’ heartbeat. That was the intimacy of this Farewell Meal. Jesus earnestly desired to have a meal with His friends before all hell broke out before Him.

”And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.“
‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭14‬-‭20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The demonstrative love and care Jesus had for His disciple carried on out into the dark of night.

”And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.“
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭30‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I pray we all feel the genuine love of Jesus just like John did. Jesus takes such good care of us. Even now He is watching over us and interceding for us. We have His Holy Spirit to confirm in us of The Father’s great love for us.

”looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.“
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

”Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.“
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭33‬-‭34‬ ‭ESV‬‬

”He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,“
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

”Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, God has given us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly world. That is, in Christ, he chose us before the world was made so that we would be his holy people—people without blame before him. Because of his love, God had already decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. That was what he wanted and what pleased him,“
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭NCV‬‬