The Last Supper

Jesus had spent his ministry using his presence at meals to TRANSFORM people.

Luke 22:14–18 NIV

When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

At the Last Supper, Jesus prepared his disciples to carry on his ministry without his PHYSICAL presence.

Luke 22:19–20 NIV

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

Through the bread and the cup Jesus gave them a way to MAKE his presence a part of ANY MEAL.

Luke 22:25–27 NIV

Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

Jesus reminded them that their role was to SERVE AT his table, not LORD OVER his table.

Luke 22:31–32 NIV

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Jesus told them to lead, not from PERFECTION, but from REPENTANCE.

Luke 22:35–38 NIV

Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered. He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.” The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That’s enough!” he replied.

Jesus told them to prepare for a HARD path once the world discovered what kind of MESSIAH Jesus was.

Eating with Jesus Today

Jesus has given us the job of SHARING his PRESENCE with the lost.

We cannot share his presence through POWER or PRESTIGE—we can only share Jesus through SERVICE and HUMILITY.

Sharing the presence of Jesus isn’t EASY—but it is the only REAL HOPE there is.

Small Group Questions

1. What did you find most interesting about the sermon this week? The most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling?

2. Have you ever had an experience where you really felt the presence of Jesus? Tell the group about it.

3. Other than communion, how else can we make Jesus’ presence part of our encounters with others?

4. How are we as Christians tempted to “lord over” Jesus’ table? How do we chase power and control?

5. What does it look like to follow Jesus’ example of serving others?

6. Why do you think experiencing failure and repentance is such an important trait for a Christian leader?

7. What challenges or obstacles do you face in carrying on the ministry of Jesus?

8. What opportunities do you have to share the presence of Jesus with the lost?

9. What does it look like to share Jesus through service and humility?

10. What else do we Christians put our hope it, besides the presence of Jesus? How can we resist those temptations?