“Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover." "Where do you want us to prepare for it?" they asked. He replied, "As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, and say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there." They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.“
Misunderstood
“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 of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."
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.
Jesus had many times before warned His disciples that He would suffer at the hands of men for the salvation of the world. Here again, at His last Passover, He was warning them. Unfortunately they hadn’t understood what He had been talking about in the past; in the Upper Room they still didn’t understand what His words meant. Jesus must have felt at times as if He were speaking to the wind…
In His great pain of what was about to happen, He wasn’t receiving the compassion and the attention He so needed. He was hurting but all He was receiving were probably blank stares.
It’s so hard to be misunderstood. It hurts when we confide our most intimate and difficult situations to other people and they just don’t understand what we’re saying. They may look at us weirdly and be totally indifferent. In this case, it’s even worst to have shared than not to have shared at all.
With the Cross, comes misunderstanding from others.
Division
“But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him." They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.”
From that moment on, the disciples were dispersed for a while. Satan had infiltrated among them through Judas and they became divided.
A huge part of carrying our Cross means that we will suffer at the hands of Satan himself, that he will attack us one way or the other. Satan attacks the disciples of Christ individually as well as collectively.
There have always been demonic infiltrators within the Church causing much pain to Christians and divisions as well as dishonour to the Name of Christ.
Putting up with unpleasant situations
“Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 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. You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Jesus was hurting because He was about to be delivered when this ‘dispute arose among them’…. This particular dispute was childish at best and totally uncalled for. Moreover, it happened at the very wrong time!
Sometimes, we have to put up with very unpleasant situations caused by other people. Our patience is tested and stretched making us feel like screaming. Of course, no matter how foolish people can get, we have to respond with love and wisdom as Jesus did even if it gets seriously on our nerves…
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift 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." But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me."
“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 is enough," he replied.”
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