On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
There is something very wonderful about people who are great hosts. Those who take time to think of every detail and seek to make time with loved ones so special. I have been blessed with many family members and friends that have been so loving in this way, and I am blown away just thinking about it.
My mom used to make us castle cakes for our birthdays, with turrets, towers, and a mote. She spent hours on them and they were so cool. Green-dyed coconut for the grass around the castle too.
My Uncle John one time flew up to visit his daughter at college and took a couple of days to treat me to a fishing trip and front row seats at a Seattle Seahawks pro football game. It made me feel so special.
My brother John and his wife, Jennie, threw a 50th birthday party for me, though I was out of work and could not fund it myself. I got to invite my friends and everyone gave us gift cards to help us in our time of need.
And our community group has over and over again blessed us so much in a season of low income. From monetary gifts, to treating us to a shooting range experience, to helping us with Christmas, funding kids camps, and providing meals as we could use them when sick or in need. Their love is so felt.
Jesus loved his disciples and we see here the intentional nature of his love. He prepared in advance for his last meal with them. He had thought ahead about all of the details. He had reserved a special room for them and someone else was ready to meet his disciples ahead of time to lead them to the place. He had likely prayed about what he would say to them and how he would teach them. And even more than that, he wanted to model for them the humility he had to obey God.
Sometimes, the times that are of the richest fellowship, are set up by a very loving, intentional, and thoughtful host! Thank God for those great hosts in my life! And may I grow in my ability to also be one!
Lord, you wanted this last supper to be so special for your disciples, you prepared for it in advance, even down to the last detail. And you give us the opportunity to do this service of love for each other too. Thank you for modeling excellence in preparation and hosting! May I learn to be more and more excellent in this area too.
