A Table Between Two Feasts
May 3 | Rick Thiemke
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Luke 22:1-38
The Plot to Kill Jesus
1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. 2 And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people.
Judas to Betray Jesus
3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. 4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.
The Passover with the Disciples
7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” 9 They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” 10 He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters 11 and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” 13 And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
Institution of the Lord's Supper
14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21 But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22 For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” 23 And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.
Who Is the Greatest?
24 A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
28 “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, 29 and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”
Scripture Must Be Fulfilled in Jesus
35 And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” 36 He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. 37 For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” 38 And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”
As Jesus gathers with His disciples for the Passover meal, He is not simply sharing a tradition. He is re-centering the entire story around Himself. Luke tells us that the day of Passover has arrived and the preparations are made (verse 7-13). Everything about this moment is filled with meaning. The lamb, the meal, the remembrance of rescue. Jesus takes His place at the table with them (verse 14), fully aware of what is about to unfold.
He tells them that He has earnestly desired to share this meal with them before His suffering (verse 15). This is not accidental. This is intentional. He knows where this is heading. And then He says that He will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God (verse 16-18). In that moment, the table stretches both backward and forward. It holds the story of God’s past rescue and points toward the future He is bringing.
Then Jesus takes the bread and the cup and gives them new meaning (verse 19-20). He is not discarding the Passover. He is fulfilling it. Everything that meal pointed to is now happening in Him. The rescue story is no longer centered on Egypt. It is centered on Jesus.
Jesus Gives Himself to Us
At this table, Jesus is not merely explaining something. He is giving Himself - His body given for us - His blood poured out for us (verse 19-20). This tells us something essential about who Jesus is. He is the King who rescues by self-giving love. He does not stand at a distance from our need. He steps in, takes our place and offers Himself fully for us.
And more than that, Jesus has chosen to attach Himself to this practice. This meal is not just something we do to remember Him. It is something He has given, so that we might meet Him. At the table, we are not simply looking back. We are receiving what He gives.
Luke also makes sure we see the moment clearly. Even as Jesus gives the cup, betrayal is already present at the table (verse 21-23). The plan of God is moving forward, and yet, human failure is right there in the room (verse 22). The disciples begin questioning who it might be, and soon the conversation shifts toward their own importance (verse 23-24).
And still, Jesus gives Himself.
He knows them fully, and He loves them completely. This is who Jesus is. He gives Himself, not to the worthy, but to the needy. Not to those who have it together, but to those who will fail Him. That means when we come to the table, we do not come because we are ready. We come because He is.
Jesus Meets and Sustains Us as We Wait
Jesus then stretches the moment forward again. He speaks of a coming fulfillment, a future Kingdom where this meal will be completed (verse 16-18). This table sits between two feasts. The Passover, where God rescued His people in the past. And the great feast of the Kingdom, where all things will be made new.
And here we are, invited to the table in between.
This tells us something more about who Jesus is. He is not absent in the waiting. He is present with His people. When He tells His disciples to continue this practice, He is giving them a way to remain with Him, to receive from Him and to be sustained by Him (verse 19).
This table becomes a sign of the Kingdom, a foretaste of new creation and a place of real communion with Jesus. At this table, Jesus meets us, sustains us and forms us into a people who live now in light of what is coming. He is the host who welcomes us. He is the meal who gives Himself to us. He is the future we are moving toward.
So when you come to the table, you are stepping into the story of God. You are receiving His grace again. You are being sustained in the present. You are being reminded of where all of this is headed. And you are invited, even now, to dine with Him.
Discussion Questions
What does this passage reveal about Jesus’ heart toward you, especially knowing He invites people who have not earned their place at the table (verse 15, verse 19-20)?
How does seeing the Lord’s Table as something where Jesus meets and sustains you, not just something you remember, change the way you approach it (verse 19; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17)?
Where in your life right now do you need to receive Jesus’ grace and remain with Him in the “in-between” as you wait for what is to come (verse 16-18)?