And when the hour was come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him” Luke 22:14 KJV
When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him.” Luke 22:14 NASB
At first reading, the events which transpired in the upper room, as recorded by the pen of Luke, seem out of place. If, however, we remember that Luke is more concerned with a moral order, an order which teaches a lesson, and not with a chronological order, all becomes clear.
Luke presents the events of chapter 22:14-38, in the order in which he does, to teach us the practical impact that the Lord’s supper should have upon our lives. He begins by –
Focusing on our Hearts
The Lord’s words concerning the presence of the traitor at the table led to a searching of heart. “They began to inquire among themselves which of them …” His disclosure led to self-examination, a healthy distrust of self, and an eschewing of all self-confidence.
While the purpose of the supper is not to become introspective or self-occupied, when we look at the cross, we get a fresh insight into the incurability of our flesh.
Forbidding Rivalry
In the true fashion of human nature, they move from a healthy awareness of their own potential to deny their Lord to an open dispute about who was the greatest among them. At the supper, the Lord reminds them that heaven’s measuring standard is the inverse of earth’s. The lower you stoop, the higher you are held in heaven’s estimation. Conversely, the higher you place yourself, the lower your place in God’s system of ranking.
A place at the supper should level the playing field and forbid any comparisons and rivalry. We are all sinners, saved by matchless grace. The Lord in the center of His people alone has the place of preeminence.
Foreshadowing of the Future
From the internecine strife, the Lord lifts their eyes to the future. To these same self-centred disciples, He promises a future marked by reward and reigning. How gracious His words to them! How incredibly gracious His words to us: “I go to prepare a place for you ….”
A contemplation and meditation on the past, Calvary, gives us a keen observation point in the present, from which to contemplate the future. We do it – “Until I come.” But the sweetest part of that is to remember that His day of vindication is coming when “every eye shall see Him and they also which pierced Him.”
Fortifies for Trial vv 31-34
Though the words of the Lord Jesus seemed to fall without a blessing on Peter, how encouraging they must have been after His fall. They must have been remembered as “good news from a far country,” the far country to which he had travelled in his denial. “I have prayed for thee … when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” You and I may not hear the same words from His lips when we gather to remember Him, but a fresh reminder of His pathway of faith to the cross (Heb 12:2) should strengthen us for the trials of the way.
Furthers our Service vv 36-38
Finally, in that upper room, as described by Dr. Luke, He gave instructions which furthered their service. Fully conscious of all that was before them in the days ahead, He wisely equipped them for their task. The “But now” signalled a tremendous change in the circumstances of their service. The Shepherd was about to be numbered amongst transgressors, and men would similarly label His followers. Optimism had to be exchanged for reality and sufficiency for the bare necessities.
Consider:
Reconstruct the events in the upper room by comparing all four Gospel accounts, noting what is peculiar to each writer.