Dinner And A Prayer

In a little while there will be a new movie theater built in a nearby town.
It is a special kind of movie theater.
One where you can enjoy dinner while watching a movie.
An interesting concept reminiscent of the old drive-in movie theater, without the car.

Combining two birds with one stone.
No need to go out to dinner first.
One place to enjoy both things and have a nice evening out.
The ultimate in service.

There was another meal many years ago.
Not dinner and a movie, but dinner and a prayer.

It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He now showed them the full extent of His love. (John 13:1)

If this evening had been a movie, this verse would be the teaser trailer.
We would want to know the answer.
What is the full extent of Jesus’ love?

The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God; so He got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him. (John 13:2-5)

The extent of Jesus’ love was His service.
Jesus, our Servant Lord.

Jesus was the guest of honor at this meal.
However, He performed a task that was usually done by a slave.
He bent down and washed the dirt off His disciples’ feet.
He put their dirty feet in His hands and made them clean.

Jesus showed the humility that is necessary for the Kingdom.
The least of these being served by the Greatest.
The necessity of being washed by Jesus.
Unless I wash you, you have no part with me. (John 13:8)

We have trouble with being served.
Often, we enjoy doing for others but find that reciprocation is embarrassing.
We don’t know how to accept the service that someone else offers us.
Peter struggled with the same thing.

Peter said the unthinkable to Jesus.
Peter said, No!
Peter knew that he should be the one serving Jesus, not the other way around.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)

The dinner was the typical Passover meal.
The disciples ate the Passover meal with the true Passover Lamb.
They had no idea that soon the meaning of Passover would be made clear to them.
The Lamb sat among them and washed their feet.

The Lamb to be slain loved them through prayer.
Dinner and a prayer.
What a prayer it was!

Jesus revealed even more about Himself at that meal.
Jesus is The Way and the Truth, and the Life. (John 14:6)
Jesus is the True Vine. (John 15:1)
Jesus’ broken Body and shed Blood are remembered in the bread and the cup.

Jesus loved His disciples by praying for them.
Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your name, the name You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one…My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one…Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
(John 17:11,15,17)

Dinner and a prayer.
Bread broken.
Wine poured.
Shared with the One who came to serve.

They left the meal and crossed the Kidron Valley.
They stopped in an olive grove; a favorite place where Jesus would often go and pray.
The three trusted friends, that have shared so much with Jesus, fell asleep.

Jesus wrestled in prayer alone.
Jesus sweat drops of blood in anguish.
Jesus knew what awaited Him.
If there could be any other way.

There in the grove, where the olives are pressed, Jesus was crushed.
He gave up His will to the will of His Father.
He called out to Abba, His Daddy.
Jesus submitted there in the garden; the battle won.

The kiss of betrayal from one whose feet He washed.
The arrest and mock trials through the night.
The denial from one who promised to go with Him to prison and to death. (Luke 22:33)
The washing of Pilate’s hands as he rhetorically asked, What is truth? (John 18:38)

The mocking soldiers; the absurdity of the royal robe over torn skin; the crown of thorns.
The flogging until His skin was ripped away from His back.
The thirst; the assurance of the thief who learned it is never too late, the loneliness.
The cry to His Father, who for this one and only time never answered Him.

The giving up of His spirit, willingly.
The Servant Lord Jesus.

Dinner and a prayer and a cross.
The full extent of His love.