Luke 22:13-18: a reflection

13They went, found things as Jesus had told them, and they prepared the Passover. 14When the hour had come, he sat down with the twelve apostles. 15He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, 16for I tell you, I will no longer by any means eat of it until it is fulfilled in God’s Kingdom.” 17He received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves, 18for I tell you, I will not drink at all again from the fruit of the vine, until God’s Kingdom comes.”

As Jesus gathers with his disciples for the Passover, on the night before his death, he says something that reveals his heart toward them: I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. On the eve of his suffering, with the cross before him, what he expresses is his deep desire to be with his disciples, to share this meal with them. He longed for this time of fellowship with them; his heart was set on being with those he loved.

Notice the desire Jesus expresses: I have earnestly desired to eat this with you. It was not a casual wish, but an earnest longing, a deep desire for fellowship with his disciples, expressed on the very eve of his suffering. Even as the cross loomed, Jesus' heart was drawn to be with those he loved, to share this meal, this fellowship, with them. He desired their company; he longed to be with them. His love for his own showed in this earnest desire for fellowship with them.

That desire of Jesus for fellowship with his disciples is a desire he has toward us as well, and it is a tender thing to consider. We can think of our fellowship with Christ as something we desire, if we are faithful; but here we see that Christ desires fellowship with us, earnestly, deeply. He longs to be with his people, to have communion with them. Let it move you to consider that Christ earnestly desires fellowship with you, that his heart is drawn to be with you, as it was drawn to be with his disciples at the table. Do not think of yourself as merely tolerated by Christ, or of fellowship with him as something only you desire; he earnestly desires to be with you. Respond to his desire for fellowship with you by drawing near to him, delighting to be with the One who earnestly desires to be with you, as he desired to eat the Passover with his disciples before he suffered.

Lord Jesus, as you gathered with your disciples on the night before your death, you said, I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; even with the cross before you, your heart was set on fellowship with those you loved. Let it move me to consider that you have that same desire toward me. I can think of my fellowship with you as something I desire, if I am faithful; but here I see that you desire fellowship with me, earnestly, deeply. You long to be with your people, to have communion with them. Let it move me to consider that you earnestly desire fellowship with me, that your heart is drawn to be with me, as it was drawn to be with your disciples at the table. Keep me from thinking of myself as merely tolerated by you, or of fellowship with you as something only I desire; you earnestly desire to be with me. Help me respond to your desire for fellowship by drawing near to you, delighting to be with you, who earnestly desire to be with me, as you desired to eat the Passover with your disciples before you suffered. Thank you that you desire to be with me, Lord; draw me to you.