The day came when the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John to prepare the meal. When they asked where, he told them to enter the city, follow a man carrying a jar of water to the house he entered, and ask the owner for the room where Jesus could eat the Passover with his disciples.
Peter and John were not left to choose a location on their own. Jesus identified the person they would encounter, the house they should enter, and the request they should deliver to its owner. Their preparation began by following those directions into the city.
Jesus said the owner would show them a large furnished room upstairs. The disciples went and found everything as he had said, and they prepared the Passover.
When the hour came, Jesus sat at the table with the apostles. He told them that he had greatly desired to eat that Passover with them before he suffered. He said that he would not eat it again until it found fulfillment in God’s kingdom.
Jesus took a cup, gave thanks, and told them to divide it among themselves. Then he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them. He said that it was his body given for them and told them to do this in remembrance of him. After the meal he spoke of the cup as the new covenant in his blood, poured out for them.
Jesus said that the hand of the one who would betray him was with him at the table. The Son of Man would go as determined, but woe to the betrayer. The disciples began asking which of them could do such a thing.
They also argued over which of them was greatest. Jesus told them not to rule as the kings of the nations did. The greatest among them was to be like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. Jesus said that he was among them as one who served.
Jesus compared the person reclining at a meal with the one serving it. The reclining guest was ordinarily regarded as greater, yet Jesus identified himself with the servant among them. He then acknowledged that the disciples had remained with him through his trials. As the Father had granted him a kingdom, he granted them a place at his table in his kingdom and seats judging Israel’s twelve tribes.
He told Simon that Satan had asked to sift them like wheat, but that he had prayed for Simon’s faith. When Simon returned, he was to strengthen his brothers. Simon said he was ready to go with Jesus to prison and death, but Jesus said that before the rooster crowed, Simon would deny knowing him three times.
Jesus recalled sending the disciples out without purse, bag, or sandals, and they said they had lacked nothing. He told them that circumstances were changing and spoke of the Scripture that he would be numbered with transgressors. When they said they had two swords, Jesus said that it was enough.