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BREAD AND BETRAYAL AND THE LAST SUPPER (MARK 14:10-26) 

REFLECTION 

“Bread and Betrayal and the Last Supper” is the theme for our reflection. Passover is a great feast or celebration that commemorates the day God delivered the Israelites from death in Egypt but visited calamity upon the homes of the Egyptians where their firstborns died. It is an annual feast of joy, thanksgiving, merrymaking and family reunion. It is a day when families eat together and partake in the sharing of the unleavened bread and the Passover lamb after it has been sacrificed. It is a feast dedicated to remembering God for his wonderful act of deliverance in the past, and His maintenance of family unity and national identity. 

Bread is the symbol of prosperity and satisfaction, it is for this reason when Jesus was teaching the disciples how to pray, He said “Give us each day our daily bread.” (Luke 11:3).  One of the ways to express love to the people we care about is to share our daily bread with them. The bread may not be big or sufficient yet by sharing it, we are in more than a thousand words saying to the person it is being shared with that “I love you and wish you well.” A person who invites you to his or her table to partake in his or her bread is a person who truly trusts and loves you. It is therefore interesting and ironic to note that the Passover feast which is the time of breaking bread and sharing in the Passover lamb as a symbol of love and unity among family and the entire nation will be the time Judas will betray Jesus. “Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over (Mark 14:10-11)

No one deliberately shares bread with his or her enemies and that is why it is usually disheartening and painful to learn that the one who is your betrayer is the very person you have shared your bread with from the bottom of your heart. It goes to reason that sharing your bread with friends and family members makes you vulnerable because these people are close to you, you trust them and therefore you are likely to share with them to the point that they have access to your bakery where the bread is coming from so that it becomes easy for them to destroy you and your bakery. When your bakery is destroyed you will no longer have the bread of love and prosperity to share, therefore, you will become a laughing stock or an object of ridicule to your enemies. This is exactly what Jesus’ enemies sought to achieve when they conspired with Judas to betray Him.

The big question is, should a Christian stop sharing his or her bread of love and prosperity because of the evil intentions of some of the people he or she cares about? The answer is no. God is our bakery and provider, the enemy may come to our table many times to betray and destroy us through the breaking and partaking of our bread, but David reminds us that God “prepares a table before you in the presence of your enemies. God anoints your head with oil; your cup overflows. Surely His goodness and love will follow you all the days of your life, and you will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” (Psalms 23:5-6).  My dear friend, your bread is the testimony of God’s faithfulness, do not stop sharing, let your enemies who are wolves in sheep’s clothing come and partake of your bread of love, prosperity and satisfaction, for God has promised that “A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.” (Psalms 91:7-8). Betrayal will come but do not be discouraged for the grace of God is ever sufficient. 

In Mark 14:22-24, Jesus instituted the Eucharist or the Last Supper as the symbol of the new Passover lamb and memorial for His sacrifice, which must be observed anytime believers fellowship. The elements of the Last Supper, in other words, the bread and wine, remind us of the priceless body and blood of Jesus sacrificed or atoned for the forgiveness of our sins and for our salvation or eternal life. The Last Supper continually reminds us of Jesus’ sacrifice and promise of salvation to all who have faith in Him as Lord and Saviour.

In conclusion, we have reflected on the theme, Bread and Betrayal and the Last Supper” We have discovered that loving and caring for others through breaking and sharing of our daily bread may render us vulnerable because some of the closest people we love and care about may be the very people to betray us. However, we must continue to do the will of God by caring for people because He is our redeemer. Again, we have understood the significance and promise of the Last Supper the symbol and memorial of Jesus as the new Passover Lamb who was sacrificed for the transgression, forgiveness and salvation of as many who will believe in Him as Lord and Saviour. Shalom.

PRAYER 

ALMIGHTY GOD, EVEN WHEN WE ARE BETRAYED BY THE VERY PEOPLE WE LOVE AND SHARE OUR BREAD WITH, CONTINUE TO BLESS OUR TABLE WITH THE BREAD OF LOVE AND PROSPERITY. MAY THE LAST SUPPER CONTINUALLY REMIND US OF OUR SALVATION THROUGH THE IMMEASURABLE SACRIFICE OR ATONEMENT OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. AMEN.

Jean-Paul Agidi (Rev.)