Maundy Thursday Meditation - The Lord's Supper

How do you picture the Last Supper?  I suppose I am not the only person who sees that last night of Jesus before His crucifixion as da Vinci's painting by that name.  A quick look through history at other artists' renditions of this moment present the same basic image: Jesus and His twelve disciples around the table. Even ignoring the recent silliness of Dan Brown's novel The da Vinci Code I think it's time to reconsider the image in light of what was really going on.
Start by reading Luke 22:7-38 (parallels - Matthew 26:17-3-;  Mark 14:12-26)


Next, let's ask the question: who was there at the Last Supper?  Luke mentions "his apostles" (Luke 22:14) who are also known as "the Twelve" (Matthew 26:20; Mark 14:20; Luke 6:13).  But was it only Jesus and the twelve known as the Apostles?  Just thirteen people?

In truth, ,probably not.  We know that "the Apostles" were understood to be a subset of a larger more generic group of followers or disciples.  (Luke 6:13)  We know that for early on Jesus had traveled with "the Twelve" and a larger party of people that included a number of women who helped underwrite expenses for their ministry. (Luke 8:1-3)  We know that in a few days, women would be at the scene of the crucifixion (Luke 23:49) and the first to head to the tomb. (Luke 24:1)

We know too that the Passover was a family celebration that included all ages, both genders, and Jewish guests who were away from their own home.  For centuries, a Jewish Passover meal - the Seder - begins with the ritual lighting of the candles by the woman of the household and a special part to play for the youngest child.  I understand that for many American Protestants, the Lord's Supper has become a highly personalized "me-and-God" sort of moment.  For first century Jews though Passover was an event that was both deeply religious and communal.  More like what Americans experience at a large, family Thanksgiving dinner or a family wedding reception.

In that context, can we imagine Jesus sending the women who were with Him - including His own mother - away to fend for themselves?  Hardly.  And as my wife pointed out, "Who would have cooked all that food?  The men?"

While the twelve Apostles played a central role at that Last Supper and received special focus, I find it convincing that there were probably many more people present as well.  Da Vinci's painting was more like the pictures of our family from our daughter's wedding - a special subset of the larger gathering.

So why make this point?  Because in a multitude of unintended ways, we the church - make a gathering around Jesus into an exclusive affair.  We imagine only the Twelve when there were more likely others included.  We don't invite a friend or neighbor to join us at worship, even when much research demonstrates that they are interested and would welcome a sincere expression of sharing life.  In a thousand different ways, we grow comfortable with our routines of life together as the church, without realizing how we spread a fog of isolation around ourselves.  And Jesus wants to include more than just us in His love.

Lord Jesus, open the eyes of my heart to see all those that You would draw to Yourself this Easter.  Extend the picture in my mind's eye to include all those people around the table of Your love and sacrifice.

Help me to notice the opportunities missed to extend Your love, and the unintended ways that I make life with Your people unreachable, uncomfortable or difficult to understand.

Thank You that at the end of time, there will be a gathering around You that will include "every tribe and tongue and nation." (Revelation 7:9)  Expand my heart and vision to begin living in that hope right now.

These things I ask in Jesus name.  Amen.

Let me close this post with the perspective of two other artists on this Last Supper.

While I do not know the artists or any of their other work or convictions, these paintings serve to give a little larger view of that fateful evening in the Upper Room.