This Easter weekend, many of us will gather around glorious food-laden tables with family and friends in homes, restaurants, or even outdoor venues—complete with copious conversational cocktails of laugher, stories, banter, and rich discussions! But as we walk through Holy Week and consider the one table mentioned in Scripture during this pre-crucifixion and resurrection timeframe, it’s good for us to pause and ponder the heart, the heaviness, and the hope hanging thick in the air at The Last Supper…
“When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.” (Matthew 26: 20)
Honestly, I get tingles when I think of The Last Supper. There have been magnificent paintings created depicting Jesus around the table with His disciples, poems have been penned, sermons preached, and songs composed— all drawing our attention to the high emotions and poignant reactions to this world-famous evening meal.
This event was intimate yet fully charged. Jesus knew His time was running short, but chose to spend it with His dearest friends, His disciples—around the table.
Always the picture of love and compassion, Jesus put His own incomparable grief and sorrow aside while He allowed them to enjoy this celebratory meal—I’m guessing there would have been much joking and laughter initially as they ate together. Twelve guys at the same table are very rarely sensible and solemn. Just saying.
But eventually, Jesus had to share his heart. He told his closest friends that one of their own was going to betray Him. And then He initiated the very first Communion—they shared the bread and the wine together, symbolizing His body and His blood “which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.“ (Matthew 26:28b).
Did the disciples appreciate the depth of His words? The solemnity of those elements? Did they imagine centuries later we would still be remembering?
I wonder what emotions encompassed this table. Did Jesus have tears in His eyes when He spoke of betrayal? Did His hands tremble as He broke the bread, knowing His destiny? And how shattered was His heart when he took Peter by the shoulder and looked into his eager eyes and told him he would deny knowing Jesus on three separate occasions. And then there was the looming shadow of the cross…
“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!.” Philippians 2:8
As Jesus ran the palm of His hand across the wooden grain of that shared table, surely His soul was heavy when He considered where His love would take Him.
From a wooden table to a wooden cross.
Those carpenter palms pierced in the ultimate act of love.
In spite of all this, the table talk was shot through with hope. Jesus, the One who knew every heart gathered, gave words of encouragement (John 14), what they were about to witness was not the end.
Indeed, it was just the beginning, for the resurrection would change everything.
What will “table talk” look like for you this Easter weekend, friend? I pray your heart will be filled with gratitude and joy as you remember the extravagant, limitless, tender love of God toward us in the sacrifice of His Son. As you give thanks for loved ones, for gathering together, for good food (let’s not forget the chocolate!), may your plate be full—but may your heart be fuller!
Wishing you a beautiful Easter…
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