Basic HTML Version
A Servant of Servants
This chapter is based on Luke 22:7-18, 24; John 13:1-17.
Christ and His disciples had gathered to celebrate the Passover.
The Savior knew that His hour had come. He Himself was the true
Passover Lamb, and on the day the feast was eaten He was to be
sacrificed. Only a few quiet hours remained for Him to spend for
the benefit of His disciples.
Christ’s life had been one of unselfish service. “Not come to
be served, but to serve” (
Matthew 20:28
) had been the lesson of
everything He did. But the disciples had not learned the lesson yet.
At this last Passover, Jesus was troubled. A shadow came over His
face. The disciples sensed that something weighed heavily on His
mind.
As they were gathered around the table, He said, “‘With fervent
desire I have desired to eat this Passover, with you before I suffer;
for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the
kingdom of God.’ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said,
‘Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not
drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’”
Christ was now in the shadow of the cross, and the pain was
torturing His heart. He knew that the disciples would desert Him.
He knew that He would be put to death by the most humiliating
process inflicted on criminals. He knew how ungrateful and cruel
the people He had come to save could be. He knew that for many
the sacrifice He must make would be in vain. Knowing all that was
before Him, He might naturally have been overwhelmed with the
thought of His own humiliation and suffering. But He did not think
of Himself. His care for His disciples was uppermost in His mind.
On this last evening, Jesus had much to tell them. But He saw
that they could not bear what He had to say. As He looked into their
faces, the words remained unspoken on His lips. Moments passed in
388