Table Talk – Glimpses into the Conversations and Teachings of Jesus during the Last Supper
As we approach the final lesson of our series, let’s focus on the repetition and fulfillment of Jesus’ predictions about His own suffering, death, and glorious resurrection. It’s so important to revisit Jesus’ words, understand their powerful implications, and recognizing how they are intricately woven into the fabric of our daily lives and spiritual journey.
Despite being repeated numerous times, the disciples’ initial struggle to comprehend these truths often reflect our own challenges in fully grasping the magnitude of Christ’s sacrifice and victory. Through exploring these repeated teachings, we are reminded of the transformative power of resurrection, the opening of the disciples’ minds to Scripture, and the role of the Holy Spirit in enlightening and guiding us. Here’s one of the most often-repeated themes having very much to do with the Last Supper conversations:
“The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day” (Luke 9:22 ESV).
This was the first time Christ predicted His death, found in the first three Gospels.
They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And He did not want anyone to know, for He was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And when He is killed, after three days He will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask Him (Mark 9:30-32 ESV).
This was the second time Christ predicted His death, found in the first three Gospels.
As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to Him. “Listen,” He said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence Him to die. Then they will hand Him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day He will be raised from the dead” (Matthew 20:17-19 ESV).
This was the third time Christ predicted His death, and again, is found in the first three Gospels.
Now speaking of that third day, here’s what happened:
Mary Magdalene went to the tomb, found it empty and when she saw two angels in the tomb, and they asked: “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her.
“Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put Him.”
She turned to leave and saw another person standing there, who asked again: “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?”
She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will go and get Him” (John 20:11-15 ESV).
And when He spoke her name, she knew it was Jesus, her risen Lord.
Rushing back to the disciples, “It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened” (Luke 24:10-12 ESV).
I selected these passages because it shows the disciples at their worst, as far as their faith in Christ being risen. But I also need to say—the women got it:
Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they (the women) remembered his words (Luke 24:6-8 ESV).
One other passage, post-resurrection, the Road to Emmaus:
That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus Himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing Him. He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?”
They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.”
“What things?” Jesus asked.
“The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and He was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed Him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified Him. We had hoped He was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago. “Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.”
Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if He were going on, but they begged Him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So He went home with them. As they sat down to eat, He took the bread and blessed it. Then He broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him. And at that moment He disappeared!
They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as He talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem (Luke 24:13-33 NLT).
Despite all His prophecies about His death and resurrection, and every time He mentioned His death, the word “Raised” followed. Still, there were a lot the disciples who either missed it, or just couldn’t understand. But as I said earlier, He did not give up on them. Indeed this is what He did for them:
Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures (Luke 24:45 ESV).
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26 ESV).
So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:21-22 NASB).
You can see after the resurrection, He gave them understanding, and He gave them His Holy Spirit. And then there’s what He’s done for us:
“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16 ESV).
- We have the mind of Christ.
- We have His Holy Spirit.
- And we have the entire context of Scripture before us.
What do I mean by that? Well, when Jesus started to talk about dying and being raised three days later, we know He’s talking about Easter and the Resurrection. We only have to turn a few pages to get to the fulfillment, the promise. The disciples may have had to wait weeks or months for things to be made plain, understandable, and fulfilled. In a sense, it’s almost a spoiler’s alert. We know the end of the story, even when we start at Genesis 1:1.
But there is something we can learn from the disciples, that is essential to our understanding. They walked and talked, ate and slept, worked and rested, listened and argued, understood and misunderstood – and all of it was up close and personal with Jesus for over three years.
- How close is your relationship with Him?
- How much time do you spend with Him?
- How much time do you spend reading, studying, and applying His Word?
One Thing: CONSIDER MAKING READING SCRIPTURE YOUR ONE THING. But start out simply, maybe just a chapter a day. But commit to reading it every day. Start in the New Testament. Let that be your 30-day challenge. Soon, your relationship with your Father and your Savior will be much closer.
Click here to go to the first lesson. The previous lesson is here.
