Thursday: The Last Supper
Open Your Bible
Mark 14:12-72, John 16:16-24, John 16:32-33, Psalm 41:7-13, Zechariah 13:7
BY Bailey Gillespie
My good friend had hit a breaking point. After experiencing crisis upon crisis, she finally collapsed under the weight of what felt like too much to bear. A relationship had just dissolved. An EF-3 tornado ripped through her neighborhood, and she spent the next week volunteering with Hands-On Nashville relief efforts. There are financial struggles within her family. The COVID-19 quarantine suspended her classes and, along with it, the chance of getting into a music program for which she had already had four callbacks. In a moment of clarity, she realized while texting us that her birthday was that coming weekend—a birthday she would likely not be able to celebrate as planned.
My friend’s sorrows are personal, but she is not alone in her grief. Similar sorrows are shared by much of the world right now. There is a collective weight in the air these days. Can you imagine the sorrow Jesus must have carried during the nights leading up to His death? He had His own sorrow (Mark 14:34), but He ached for His friends as well (Luke 22:32), even as He prepared to carry the sin and sorrow of the whole world on His shoulders (Isaiah 53:4).
During the Passover feast with His disciples—what we call the Last Supper—Jesus knows that sorrow will soon find them. Trying to prepare His friends for His death, He navigates the situation with delicacy and affirms the sorrow they will feel in losing Him, a close friend. He also reassures them that it will be worth it in the end. “You will become sorrowful,” He says, “but your sorrow will turn to joy” (John 16:20). This strange comfort is also for women who suffer the pain of childbirth (v.21) or Christian martyrs facing their own death after standing for a cause.
Sorrow isn’t a bad thing. Jesus experienced it as a natural part of the human condition. But even while affirming such feelings, He gives the disciples a framework for understanding their future hope—a future extending far beyond the plane of what they can immediately see. Yes, they must grieve His death, but that death was actually a seed that would unfold into new life. Jesus makes sure His disciples know with certainty that they will see Him again (v.22). Even if they don’t fully understand what He means, this changes everything for them, just as it changes everything for us.
No matter what happens in this life, we will see Jesus again. Because of the resurrection, those who hope in Christ Jesus will see each other again too. There is a time coming when every tear will be wiped away, and the burdens that we carry will be released (Revelation 21:4). The old will pass away, as joy triumphs over our troubles and swallows the pain of grief.
In Christ, we have permission to feel sorrow. But we also have the charge to walk forward in courage and expectation of our future hope. “You will have suffering in this world,” Jesus tells us. “Be courageous! I have conquered the world” (John 16:33).
51 thoughts on "Thursday: The Last Supper"
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Ashley Thomas, my study bible states “it was customary to end the Passover by singing the last part of the hallel psalms (114-118).”
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Many times in the Bible, and again in our readings today, the author mentions a hymn is sung after the Last Supper, I always wish to know what hymn was sung. No, it’s not one of the most important things that happened, but I still wonder.
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Me too
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This devotional was so beautiful and timely, and I love how it just drew out the beauty and truth of the gospel and all that Jesus endured for our sake in the lead up to his death. Where I am it’s Good Friday already (Sydney), but it was so helpful to take a bit more time to explore the events of Maundy Thursday. I could camp out in the Upper Room discourse all day! But it really struck me again, particularly from Mark’s account, how alone Jesus was in all this. His friends made big promises they couldn’t deliver. He was betrayed by one of his closest companions of the last three years and denied by another. He was hurt and humiliated by his own people, the very ones who were waiting for their Messiah. And while I am so thankful that we’re invited in to see Jesus’ own sorrow in Gethsemane, I am again amazed that he didn’t walk away or back down. He submitted to the Father’s will, knowing all that lay ahead. As it says in Hebrews 12:2, “for the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” And I am so grateful. Thank you Lord Jesus.
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I love that one day all will be made right, every tear will be wiped away and sorrow will be turned into joy. I know one day the sun will come out, we will all see each other again and life will go on. I’m looking forward to that day, but even more than that I’m looking forward to heaven, a perfect place where we will never again have to go through trials or sorrows. When we are in the midst of the storm, it is hard to believe it will end. I’m sure that is how the disciples felt, but God sees the beauty in the other side. May this easter be more tangible for us than ever before.
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Kristen and Diana Fleenor thank you for sharing that, I needed to read that right now. I will be copying it so that in the coming days I can reread it when I need to and also so I can share it with my sister.
SRT sisters thank you for your prayers.
Jess my pastor yesterday read that same verse and I thought the same thing. As many times as I have heard this story I don’t ever remember hearing those two verses.
Kathy praying for you and your family (he was a big boy). Taylor praying for Carol and Cynthia (Carol is my sister’s name).
Jenna I never noticed that either and I too think it’s amazing to see Jesus praising God that way. -
Life is awesome but draw closer to God almighty
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One thing that stood out to me today was how at the end of the Lord’s Supper they closed with a hymn. I never noticed that before. It’s amazing to picture Jesus praising the Father the night before he goes to the cross. Lord, please give me the same heart of worship even in the midst of great suffering.
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Oh my goodness, God really does know what you need and when you need it. As I sat and read the scriptures and devotion I felt like God was talking directly to me. I felt like He was saying, “See Dorothy I have your back. I’m here for you. You’re not alone. Just DON’T forget to call on me. I’m a thought, a prayer, a mention, a Bible reading, a shout away. Like the song says, ‘Just call out my name and I’ll come running.'” Thank you Bailey for such a timely message. Lord thank you for reminding me You are always there for me.
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