Wickedness and Weakness

Luke 22:14-23The Message (MSG)

^14-16 When it was time, he sat down, all the apostles with him, and said, “You’ve no idea how much I have looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you before I enter my time of suffering. It’s the last one I’ll eat until we all eat it together in the kingdom of God.”
^17-18 Taking the cup, he blessed it, then said, “Take this and pass it among you. As for me, I’ll not drink wine again until the kingdom of God arrives.”
¹⁹ Taking bread, he blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, given for you. Eat it in my memory.”
²⁰ He did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant written in my blood, blood poured out for you.
^21-22 “Do you realize that the hand of the one who is betraying me is at this moment on this table? It’s true that the Son of Man is going down a path already marked out—no surprises there. But for the one who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man, this is doomsday.”
²³ They immediately became suspicious of each other and began quizzing one another, wondering who might be about to do this.

Most folks in the church are familiar with this story. If you've been in a church that does regular (monthly) communion, you've probably heard it a dozen or more times. If you're a life-r you've probably heard it hundreds of times.  

Funny thing is Scripture, as the living Word of God, has a way of speaking in new and different ways each time we read it.  That's what happened for me today, I heard this passage differently.  For me, today, it was less about the Passover meal (a.k.a. communion) and more about who Jesus included, or chose not to exclude.

It is clear here Jesus eats with one he knows will betray him. Throughout the whole meal, Jesus knew Judas would betray him (and he knew Peter would deny him) and yet he included them anyway.  This holy meal--to which Jesus gave new depth and meaning--wasn't reserved for the faithful and the righteous. It was meant for all--including the sinners, the liars, and those who would betray him.  

That's good news for us because if Jesus included the "worst" disciples then--the most wicked the the most weak--then Jesus also includes the "worst" of the disciples now. Whether we're defined by wickedness or weakness, Jesus invites us to the table. He shares the blessing with us, even knowing we're going to keep getting it wrong.  

And the kicker is, if Jesus is willing to include us at our worst, then he's also willing to include them at their worst.  The gift of forgiveness, of salvation, new life, and God's promises aren't reserved for a select few, they are made available to all--over and over again because of and in spite of our sin. 

Are you ready?

Luke 22:7-13The Message (MSG)

^7-8 The Day of Unleavened Bread came, the day the Passover lamb was butchered. Jesus sent Peter and John off, saying, “Go prepare the Passover for us so we can eat it together.”
⁹ They said, “Where do you want us to do this?”
^10-12 He said, “Keep your eyes open as you enter the city. A man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him home. Then speak with the owner of the house: The Teacher wants to know, ‘Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ He will show you a spacious second-story room, swept and ready. Prepare the meal there.”
¹³ They left, found everything just as he told them, and prepared the Passover meal.

  There are a number of things that happened in this passage that required obedience, faithfulness, and timing.  
-Peter and John were prepared to cook the Passover meal (not generally something they would have done as men--fish, maybe, but not a feast for a high holy day)
-There was a man carrying water (also not normally the job of a man) and he managed to be at just the right spot at the gate at just the right time for Peter and John to see him
-Peter and John had to follow him
-The homeowner was home
-the homeowner honored the request of the "teacher" even though he wasn't present
-the room was already ready and furnished
-The disciples found the food, got a lamb, and prepared the meal for all of the men to share together

In this we see incredible faithfulness in the various men who are present. Peter and John were ready to do what Jesus asked--even though it wasn't "men's work" (and they knew/figured out how to do it).  Then there's the man with the water (presumably a slave) who just happens to be carrying water at the moment they come into the city.  He would have been easy enough to spot, as it typically would have been a woman carrying the water, but still he was there for Peter and John to find and follow. Then we have the homeowner.  He was home and didn't see to argue or even flinch at "the teacher's" request.  

God ordained or otherwise, the collision of people who were willing to live in the moment or do as God said or some combination of both is incredible and important.  The events of this night came together because multiple people were faithful and obedient.  We often say "God is in control", which I believe (to some extent), but God is also reliant upon us to participate.  We need to listen, we need to follow, and we need to do as God has asked us to do.  

Are you ready?

to listen?

to follow directions?

to work outside your comfort zone?

to help the stranger?

to be used by God?