Intense Desire
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Important messages
In
the article entitled, How Deep the
Father’s Love for Us, I tried to show the depth of His love basically
through the apostle John’s statement, “Jesus
knowing that His Hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the
Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end” (John 13:1). We noticed
that the Greek phrase “to the end” implied
something more than an end to a time element, in which he expressed His love.
In fact, it described the unending extent of His love, which had no limits.
John’s
comment is given along with his account of the last supper, particularly the
washing of the disciples’ feet, which took place, for whatever reason, on Thursday
night before Passover. Jesus’ crucifixion is less than 24 hours away and He is
crucified as the lambs are being slain for the Passover meal. At the completion
of the article, I mentioned that we would take up two more verses of Scripture,
Luke 22:15 and Revelation 3:20. So now
we return to that evening, just as the Passover supper is to begin, when Jesus
states:“I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Luke 22:15
What I like
about the Chronological Bible or the Harmony of the Gospels is that, of course,
they join the different Gospel accounts and arrange them according to time. Normally, beginning with this verse of
Scripture, you would read to the end of Luke´s Gospel, then through twelve
chapters of John, in order to arrive at the verse in John, which we used as a
text for the first article.
I have already alluded to the fact that, when John made his statement, he then gave the account of Christ reclining at the table, Judas leaving to betray him, and the washing of the disciples’ feet. We would naturally join John’s statement with those events in his Gospel, but reading Luke’s Gospel, we can see that Jesus made a statement at exactly the same time, which adds much to the moment. That is the statement that we have before us now.
I have already alluded to the fact that, when John made his statement, he then gave the account of Christ reclining at the table, Judas leaving to betray him, and the washing of the disciples’ feet. We would naturally join John’s statement with those events in his Gospel, but reading Luke’s Gospel, we can see that Jesus made a statement at exactly the same time, which adds much to the moment. That is the statement that we have before us now.
This Passover meal celebrated on Thursday evening
The Passover
meal was celebrated by the disciples and Jesus a day before the general
populace celebrated it. There are different opinions as to the reason, but whatever
the circumstances might have been that caused this to happen, I think we can
clearly see the plan of God in it all. The desire of Christ is knit to the will
of the Father. He is alone in the upper room with His disciples and they are separated
from the religious observances of the masses.
It is a time of
great intimacy. We have considered this great love of Christ, which is perfect
and eternal, a love to the extreme and to the uttermost. Now the Word of God
made flesh, gives to His disciples an expression of His heart. He tells them
that He has been looking forward to being alone with them at this meal with
great expectancy.
In order to
appreciate His statement more, allow me to refer to a form of speech common
among the Hebrews. The old King James Bible translates literally: “With desire I have desired…” The
structure occurs with different words in other parts of the New Testament; in
John 3:29, for instance: “He rejoices
with joy” and in Acts 4:17, “They
threatened with threatenings”. The
noun form is combined with the verb form to intensify the phrase. Not only is
that true, but this verb is almost always translated to lust and the noun usually means a forbidden desire. I will suggest, not even an opinion, but just
an idea, that the fact that they are celebrating the Passover a day in advance
is due to Christ’s intense desire to eat it with them, knowing that He will not
be able to do so on the day appointed.
Casual, informal times
In any case, we
have another proof of the extreme love of the Lord for His own in the fact that
He intensely desires this time of fellowship or communion with them. The fellowship
takes place at a meal around a table. It seems to me that Jesus preferred the
informal and casual, to the stiff, tense ways of religious order. In the four
Gospels, we often find Jesus at a table, where significant things took place
and important lessons were taught. He was unjustly and slanderously criticized
for it:“The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look at him! A
glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'” (Mt.11:19)
Please do not believe the Pharisees; do not give license to these sins by referring to their lies and exaggerations. He was not a glutton and He was not a drunkard. To be immoderate would be in defiance of His own word. He was a friend of sinners, but He brought sin to their attention and demanded repentance.
Please do not believe the Pharisees; do not give license to these sins by referring to their lies and exaggerations. He was not a glutton and He was not a drunkard. To be immoderate would be in defiance of His own word. He was a friend of sinners, but He brought sin to their attention and demanded repentance.
But Jesus did
seem to enjoy mealtime. Let’s blot out of our minds our western ways and be
aware also of the mid-eastern customs. Jesus and the disciples are not sitting
stiffly on straight-back chairs. To add to the informality of the atmosphere,
we must see them reclining. Ah, I like this scene and it adds to the weight of
His words, “I have intensely desired to
eat this Passover with you.” This is the place of fellowship and communion.
I think the Lord
still enjoys the home atmosphere and especially the dining room. During
revivals, the work of God bursts out of the doors of the church and fills the
homes. I remember that so well as God was moving in northern Minnesota. I can
still feel that time in my soul, still see my parents sitting with visitors at
the table, drinking a cup of coffee, talking exclusively about the things of
God. Above all, I remember the sense of the presence of God and there was no doubt
about His presence, because His unique work took place. Read the Finney
revivals, when Finney would pray before a meal and those sitting at the table
would be gripped by conviction of sin. You can read in revival of people
getting together before and after meetings for prayer. There would be afterglow
home meetings.
This meal was unique
This meal with
the Lord was unique and significant. It was permeated by spiritual force and
activity. Ancient prophecies were unthawing in the heat of spiritual fulfillment
and it was taking the place of Old Testament shadows and symbols. The greatest
of Jewish annual feasts, the Passover, is about to be transformed into glorious
reality. Angelic beings, representing heaven and hell, filled the air. Satan
himself was lurking in the dark recesses of Judas’ heart. There was the pure Lamb
of God, separated and prepared for Passover sacrifice. Human history was unfolding
its most magnificent event in all of its unprecedented, incomparable magnitude.
Jesus had longed to share this epic moment with His disciples. “I have intensely desired to eat this
Passover with you.” It was a love feast.
Jesus had shared
Passovers with them before, but it would never happen again. From this point on,
Christian ordinance would take its place and the people of God would come in
holy remembrance of His death. He takes the cup and the bread and leads His
disciples, present and future, to His table. He has set it, providing the
elements for those who attend. This is not the ritual of a church and it has
nothing of man’s provision. It is uniquely the Lord’s meal and though the menu
is simple, those who sit at His table are the most favored people upon earth.
Come expectantly, because there is no telling how heaven will pour its blessing
upon its guests. He has prepared it with an intense desire to grace it with His
presence.
A greater meal will be served
There is yet a
greater meal to come! The heavenly Bridegroom is preparing it and He prayed to
His Father: “Father, I desire that they
also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that
you have given me because you love me before the foundation of the world… I
made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it know, that the
love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them” (Jn.17:24,26).
Can we begin to imagine the intensity of His desire to share that heavenly
table with His beloved Bride?
“I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the
kingdom of God” (Lk.22:16).
There is a greater fulfillment to come! This will be the perfect meal and since
it is heavenly and we are earthly, since it is future and we know little beyond
the present, I think we need to let Jesus, who has come from eternity, teach us
about it. First He speaks to His Jewish disciples: “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to
you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my
table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Lk.22:28-30).
He also speaks to the future Gentile church: “People will come from east and west, and
from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God” (Lk.13:29).
With intense
desire Jesus is waiting to bring us to His heavenly table and lead us in
partaking of celestial delicacies. Having experienced His love in its amazing
wonder here on earth, we have the hope of Glory before us. He loved us with
everlasting, undying love. It is unthinkable that it can diminish in the
slightest.
………………………….
Still to come:
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens
the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”
Rev.3:20
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