04-07-2009, 02:11 AM
“How’s your mother-in-law, Peter?†said the slim young man as he entered the upper room.
“Still has the fever, Thomas,†he replied, looking up from where he reclined with the other ten. In fact many of the women had inquired about joining them and he wondered within himself that his own wife, who had little interest until now—how she had even wanted to join them.
“So is this it? Is it just going to be us?†asked Thomas.
“If the Greeks were not able to meet our Lord as of just a few days ago—†Philip began, before Andrew interrupted. “That’s what the Teacher said.â€
“And why should they?" asked Nathanael. "If Mary, Martha and Salome couldn’t be here, why should perfect strangers?â€
“Well if you want my opinion, we wouldn’t want Mary be here anyway,†muttered Judas. “She might waste another pound of that expensive Nard—a whole years wages that was!†Never mind that he had robbed the money box of much more.
“And how about Salome—†blurted Simon the Zealot
“Leave our mother out of it!†retorted John.
“But doesn't Simon have a point?†said James the Less. “If left to James and John, we would have your mother here fighting to have you sit and rule over the rest of us.â€
There was a hush as Jesus entered.
“So is it just going to be us, Teacher?†asked Thomas.
“That is what I told Andrew and Peter,†he replied nodding in Andrew’s direction. He paused while surveying anxious and confused faces. “As I said—unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just one grain.â€
“I still don’t understand, Teacher,†protested James the Less. “Why must you die?â€
“So then we should al die, my Lord,†added Simon the Zealot. “If it were my choice, all of Jerusalem should be here for surely by now they must know you should be king!â€
Jesus eyes focused on him. “For the grain to bear fruit it must first die. This is why I have yearned to eat this Passover with you before I suffer—for know this, I will not eat again until it becomes fulfilled in the kingdom of God.â€
With that he accepted a cup and gave thanks, after which he passed it to John. “Take this and pass it between you—for I assure you that from this day on I will not drink again from the product of the vine until the kingdom of God arrives and the Son is glorified.â€
For a moment John hesitated. “But we are coming with you are we not, my Lord?â€
“Where I am going you cannot come.â€
“But we have given up everything—†said Andrew. “Where else shall we go?â€
“Surely you are to return, Lord!†exclaimed James, son of Zebedee, sitting on the other side of him.
“I’ll even follow to the death, Teacher,†said Thomas.
The room returned to silence while Jesus watched each one sip from the cup and pass it to the next. Then, taking an unleavened loaf he gave thanks, broke it in two, and gave them to James and John.
“Take, eat—this means my body which is to be given in your behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me.†Their puzzled expressions mounted. As the cup returned for the third time he held it up just as he had done with the loaf. Giving thanks he passed it to John. “This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood, which is to be poured out in your behalf—â€
Suddenly his countenance changed and in distress he said, “But look! the hand of my betrayer is with me at the table!â€
They froze—each one looking at each other. Being thoroughly grieved each one began to say, “Lord, it is not I, is it?â€
“It is one of the twelve of you—who dips his hand with me in the common bowl.â€
There was a lull as all hands withdrew their bread.
“While it is true that the Son of man is going his way according to what is written—still, woe to that him through whom he is betrayed! It would have been finer for him if that man had not been born.â€
“It is not I, is it, Rabbi?†asked Judas.
“And you are the one asking me, Judas?â€
It wasn’t the first time. But now it was becoming more frequent since just over a year ago when the crowds had found them in Capernaum. After feeding them all he had admonished them to work for everlasting bread—his body and blood. Even after so many had left him and the twelve remained, he had said, “Yet one of you is a slanderer.â€
So they started to discuss in earnest the question of to whom he was referring. Finally, unable to contain himself, Peter said, “Lord, you must know by now that everyone here would disown you before I—for how could I ever betray you?â€
“What are you saying, Peter?†replied James the less. “That the rest of us are any less faithful than you?â€
“For a certainty I won’t—†exclaimed James, the son of Zebedee as he looked at John.
“And neither shall I,†added John.
“Oh, but of course! None of you will!†protested Thomas sarcastically. “Which is easy for you to say while you and your brother sit on either side of our Lord.â€
“And don’t all three keep bragging that our Lord takes them everywhere?†blurted Simon the Zealot. “To the Mount of Olives, to private homes, to the holy mountain for the transfiguration—as if you are so much more privileged than the rest!â€
“Brothers, brothers—†pleaded Matthew. “Don’t you know that for every one of you that protests, the lots get fewer for the rest of us?â€
But the argument refused to be diffused. Peter, unable to restrain himself explained, “It was James and John who sent their mother to ask that they sit on the his right and left—â€
“We didn’t send her! She had a vision and spoke to our Lord of that vision—â€
“Dreams like Joseph—Jacob’s son by Rachel?†protested Nathanael. “That his brothers should all be prostrating to him? So why hasn’t the Teacher confirmed it?â€
But Jesus was silent and would only sigh as his eyes remained downcast.
“And look! They haven’t left his side ever since!†retorted Judas. “One on his right and the other on his left!â€
“Indeed, presumptuousness runs in their family,†grunted Peter.
“And it doesn’t in yours?†retorted James as he and John gritted their teeth.
“Which says nothing for the rest of us!†blurted Thomas.
Jesus groaned within himself as the protesting voices mounted and the argument got more heated. Only Matthew and Judas Iscariot noticed him rise up and walk to the entrance where a water jug sat next to a small basin. Laying aside his outer garments he took a towel and girded himself and after pouring water into a basin he carried it to the other end where Thomas lay. Getting down on his hands and knees, he began washing his feet after which he ungirded himself of the towel and dried them before rising and kneeling next to James the Less to do the same. All remained silent until he got to Simon Peter.
“Lord, are you washing my feet?â€
“What I am doing, Cephas, you do not understand at present, but you will after these things.â€
“You will certainly never wash my feet!†he shouted.
“Oh but I must. Unless I do, you will have no part with me.â€
“Well, since you put it that way, my Lord—not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!â€
“Ah but he that has bathed does not need more than his feet washed—but is wholly clean. And you men are clean."
Placing the basin at the feet of Judas, he looked into his eyes. "But not all—not all of you are clean.â€
At that none dared talk or question him until he had finished washing the rest, and having had put his outer garments on, he laid himself down at the table again.
“Do you know what I have done to you?†Many shook their heads. “This water jug sat next to the door. You even placed a basin next to it—yet not one of you offered to wash even my feet."
Immediately Peter rose up but Jesus held up his hand. "You address me, ‘Teacher,’ and, ‘Lord,’ and you speak rightly, for that is what I am. However, if I, although being Lord and Teacher, wash your feet, ought you not to be doing the same to each other? Have I not set the pattern for you—just as I did to you, you should do also?â€
All eyes became downcast as he continued, “Most truly I say to you, A slave is not greater than his master, nor is one that is sent forth greater than the one sending him; and if you know these things, happy you are if you do them. I am not talking about all of you; I know the ones I have chosen."
"But hear me now!" Now all eyes were upon him. "It is in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, ‘He that used to feed on my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’ From this moment on I am telling you before it occurs, in order that when it does occur you may believe that I am—Most truly I say to you, He that receives anyone I send receives me and in turn he that receives me, receives Him that sent me.â€
After saying these things and seeing their eyes glaze over he again became deeply troubled in spirit, assuredly nodding to all of them, saying, “Most truly I say to you, One of you will indeed betray me.â€
At this point they began to look at one another in earnest—being at a loss about whom he was talking about. Even John, who lay on Jesus’ bosom looked up into his eyes.
“It is not I is it, Lord?â€
Peter, seeing that Jesus had not responded but appeared to be staring toward the end of the table, leaned forward and murmured to John, “Tell who it is about whom he is he speaking?â€
At that, John leaned back upon the breast of Jesus and asked, “Lord, who is it?â€
Without breaking his glare he murmured with a low voice to no one but John, “It is he to whom I shall give the morsel that I dip.†And so, without breaking eye contact with Judas, he dipped the morsel and he stretched forward, holding it out to him. Taking it from him, Judas put it in his mouth. “What you are doing get done more quickly.†At that, Judas left immediately. And it was late.
No one knew for what purpose he said this to him—no one but John. Even Peter remained uncertain and thought as some were thinking that since Judas was holding the money box, that Jesus was telling him: “Buy what things we need for the festival,†or that he should give something to the poor. Whatever the case, Jesus now seemed greatly relieved and began to speak more openly:
“The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those having authority over them are called Benefactors. You, though, are not to be that way. But let him that is the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the one acting as chief as the one ministering. For who is greater, the one reclining or the one ministering? Is it not the one reclining and yet I am in your midst ministering.
“Be that as it may, you are the ones who have stuck with me in my trials; and so I make a covenant with you, as my Father has with me, for a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel."
“Still has the fever, Thomas,†he replied, looking up from where he reclined with the other ten. In fact many of the women had inquired about joining them and he wondered within himself that his own wife, who had little interest until now—how she had even wanted to join them.
“So is this it? Is it just going to be us?†asked Thomas.
“If the Greeks were not able to meet our Lord as of just a few days ago—†Philip began, before Andrew interrupted. “That’s what the Teacher said.â€
“And why should they?" asked Nathanael. "If Mary, Martha and Salome couldn’t be here, why should perfect strangers?â€
“Well if you want my opinion, we wouldn’t want Mary be here anyway,†muttered Judas. “She might waste another pound of that expensive Nard—a whole years wages that was!†Never mind that he had robbed the money box of much more.
“And how about Salome—†blurted Simon the Zealot
“Leave our mother out of it!†retorted John.
“But doesn't Simon have a point?†said James the Less. “If left to James and John, we would have your mother here fighting to have you sit and rule over the rest of us.â€
There was a hush as Jesus entered.
“So is it just going to be us, Teacher?†asked Thomas.
“That is what I told Andrew and Peter,†he replied nodding in Andrew’s direction. He paused while surveying anxious and confused faces. “As I said—unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just one grain.â€
“I still don’t understand, Teacher,†protested James the Less. “Why must you die?â€
“So then we should al die, my Lord,†added Simon the Zealot. “If it were my choice, all of Jerusalem should be here for surely by now they must know you should be king!â€
Jesus eyes focused on him. “For the grain to bear fruit it must first die. This is why I have yearned to eat this Passover with you before I suffer—for know this, I will not eat again until it becomes fulfilled in the kingdom of God.â€
With that he accepted a cup and gave thanks, after which he passed it to John. “Take this and pass it between you—for I assure you that from this day on I will not drink again from the product of the vine until the kingdom of God arrives and the Son is glorified.â€
For a moment John hesitated. “But we are coming with you are we not, my Lord?â€
“Where I am going you cannot come.â€
“But we have given up everything—†said Andrew. “Where else shall we go?â€
“Surely you are to return, Lord!†exclaimed James, son of Zebedee, sitting on the other side of him.
“I’ll even follow to the death, Teacher,†said Thomas.
The room returned to silence while Jesus watched each one sip from the cup and pass it to the next. Then, taking an unleavened loaf he gave thanks, broke it in two, and gave them to James and John.
“Take, eat—this means my body which is to be given in your behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me.†Their puzzled expressions mounted. As the cup returned for the third time he held it up just as he had done with the loaf. Giving thanks he passed it to John. “This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood, which is to be poured out in your behalf—â€
Suddenly his countenance changed and in distress he said, “But look! the hand of my betrayer is with me at the table!â€
They froze—each one looking at each other. Being thoroughly grieved each one began to say, “Lord, it is not I, is it?â€
“It is one of the twelve of you—who dips his hand with me in the common bowl.â€
There was a lull as all hands withdrew their bread.
“While it is true that the Son of man is going his way according to what is written—still, woe to that him through whom he is betrayed! It would have been finer for him if that man had not been born.â€
“It is not I, is it, Rabbi?†asked Judas.
“And you are the one asking me, Judas?â€
It wasn’t the first time. But now it was becoming more frequent since just over a year ago when the crowds had found them in Capernaum. After feeding them all he had admonished them to work for everlasting bread—his body and blood. Even after so many had left him and the twelve remained, he had said, “Yet one of you is a slanderer.â€
So they started to discuss in earnest the question of to whom he was referring. Finally, unable to contain himself, Peter said, “Lord, you must know by now that everyone here would disown you before I—for how could I ever betray you?â€
“What are you saying, Peter?†replied James the less. “That the rest of us are any less faithful than you?â€
“For a certainty I won’t—†exclaimed James, the son of Zebedee as he looked at John.
“And neither shall I,†added John.
“Oh, but of course! None of you will!†protested Thomas sarcastically. “Which is easy for you to say while you and your brother sit on either side of our Lord.â€
“And don’t all three keep bragging that our Lord takes them everywhere?†blurted Simon the Zealot. “To the Mount of Olives, to private homes, to the holy mountain for the transfiguration—as if you are so much more privileged than the rest!â€
“Brothers, brothers—†pleaded Matthew. “Don’t you know that for every one of you that protests, the lots get fewer for the rest of us?â€
But the argument refused to be diffused. Peter, unable to restrain himself explained, “It was James and John who sent their mother to ask that they sit on the his right and left—â€
“We didn’t send her! She had a vision and spoke to our Lord of that vision—â€
“Dreams like Joseph—Jacob’s son by Rachel?†protested Nathanael. “That his brothers should all be prostrating to him? So why hasn’t the Teacher confirmed it?â€
But Jesus was silent and would only sigh as his eyes remained downcast.
“And look! They haven’t left his side ever since!†retorted Judas. “One on his right and the other on his left!â€
“Indeed, presumptuousness runs in their family,†grunted Peter.
“And it doesn’t in yours?†retorted James as he and John gritted their teeth.
“Which says nothing for the rest of us!†blurted Thomas.
Jesus groaned within himself as the protesting voices mounted and the argument got more heated. Only Matthew and Judas Iscariot noticed him rise up and walk to the entrance where a water jug sat next to a small basin. Laying aside his outer garments he took a towel and girded himself and after pouring water into a basin he carried it to the other end where Thomas lay. Getting down on his hands and knees, he began washing his feet after which he ungirded himself of the towel and dried them before rising and kneeling next to James the Less to do the same. All remained silent until he got to Simon Peter.
“Lord, are you washing my feet?â€
“What I am doing, Cephas, you do not understand at present, but you will after these things.â€
“You will certainly never wash my feet!†he shouted.
“Oh but I must. Unless I do, you will have no part with me.â€
“Well, since you put it that way, my Lord—not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!â€
“Ah but he that has bathed does not need more than his feet washed—but is wholly clean. And you men are clean."
Placing the basin at the feet of Judas, he looked into his eyes. "But not all—not all of you are clean.â€
At that none dared talk or question him until he had finished washing the rest, and having had put his outer garments on, he laid himself down at the table again.
“Do you know what I have done to you?†Many shook their heads. “This water jug sat next to the door. You even placed a basin next to it—yet not one of you offered to wash even my feet."
Immediately Peter rose up but Jesus held up his hand. "You address me, ‘Teacher,’ and, ‘Lord,’ and you speak rightly, for that is what I am. However, if I, although being Lord and Teacher, wash your feet, ought you not to be doing the same to each other? Have I not set the pattern for you—just as I did to you, you should do also?â€
All eyes became downcast as he continued, “Most truly I say to you, A slave is not greater than his master, nor is one that is sent forth greater than the one sending him; and if you know these things, happy you are if you do them. I am not talking about all of you; I know the ones I have chosen."
"But hear me now!" Now all eyes were upon him. "It is in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, ‘He that used to feed on my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’ From this moment on I am telling you before it occurs, in order that when it does occur you may believe that I am—Most truly I say to you, He that receives anyone I send receives me and in turn he that receives me, receives Him that sent me.â€
After saying these things and seeing their eyes glaze over he again became deeply troubled in spirit, assuredly nodding to all of them, saying, “Most truly I say to you, One of you will indeed betray me.â€
At this point they began to look at one another in earnest—being at a loss about whom he was talking about. Even John, who lay on Jesus’ bosom looked up into his eyes.
“It is not I is it, Lord?â€
Peter, seeing that Jesus had not responded but appeared to be staring toward the end of the table, leaned forward and murmured to John, “Tell who it is about whom he is he speaking?â€
At that, John leaned back upon the breast of Jesus and asked, “Lord, who is it?â€
Without breaking his glare he murmured with a low voice to no one but John, “It is he to whom I shall give the morsel that I dip.†And so, without breaking eye contact with Judas, he dipped the morsel and he stretched forward, holding it out to him. Taking it from him, Judas put it in his mouth. “What you are doing get done more quickly.†At that, Judas left immediately. And it was late.
No one knew for what purpose he said this to him—no one but John. Even Peter remained uncertain and thought as some were thinking that since Judas was holding the money box, that Jesus was telling him: “Buy what things we need for the festival,†or that he should give something to the poor. Whatever the case, Jesus now seemed greatly relieved and began to speak more openly:
“The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those having authority over them are called Benefactors. You, though, are not to be that way. But let him that is the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the one acting as chief as the one ministering. For who is greater, the one reclining or the one ministering? Is it not the one reclining and yet I am in your midst ministering.
“Be that as it may, you are the ones who have stuck with me in my trials; and so I make a covenant with you, as my Father has with me, for a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel."