The Last Supper

Hello! and good Holy Wednesday to all of us, GUYS.  For our "daily bread" today:

THE GOOD NEWS (23 March 2016)

"Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went off to the chief priests and said, 'How much will you give me if I hand HIM over to you?  They promised to give him thirty pieces of silver, and from then on he kept looking for the best way to hand HIM over to them.

On the first day of the Festival of the Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to JESUS and said to HIM, 'Where do YOU want us to prepare the Passover meal for YOU?  JESUS answered, 'Go into the city, to the house of a certain man, and tell him: 'The Master says: MY hour is near, and I will celebrate the Passover with MY disciples in your house.'

The disciples did as JESUS had ordered and prepared the Passover meal.

When it was evening, JESUS sat at table with the Twelve.  While they were eating, JESUS said, 'Truly, I say to you: one of you will betray ME.'  They were deeply distressed and asked HIM in turn, 'YOU do not mean me, do YOU, LORD?

HE answered, 'He who will betray ME is one of those who dips his bread in the dish with ME.  The Son of Man is going as the Scriptures say HE will.  But alas for that one who betrays the Son of Man; better for him not to have been born.'  Judas, who was betraying HIM, also asked, 'YOU do not mean me, Master, do YOU?'  JESUS replied, 'You have said it'." - Matthew 26:14-25 

(During the Passover supper JESUS wanted to clarify the meaning of HIS imminent Passion.  HE was headed toward a death which HE freely accepted, a death that would save the world.  What would "HIS" salvation be?  It would bring human history to its fulfillment: peoples and races needed to mature, to confront one another and finally to be united in one body.  The world would pass through a thousand crises and deaths in order to come to the resurrection.  Within such a history GOD could spread and distribute the riches of HIS Spirit and bring to holiness HIS elect.  JESUS had presented a message that should guide humanity, but a people of GOD was also needed, a yeast, a minority who would feel committed to GOD's work, and to whom GOD would commit HIMSELF.

To understand the meaning of the LORD's Supper, it is necessary to read JESUS' farewell speeches to HIS apostles, which John situates on this very night of Holy Thursday [John 14-17].  JESUS came not only to preach but also to spread HIS Spirit among HIS believers.  In the future HE would be present and empower them in a special way whenever they would gather to celebrate the Holy Supper.  John explains this in John 6 and Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:17.)