chief, as he that doth serve. 27 For
which is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is
not he that sitteth at meat? but I am in the midst of you as he
that serveth. 28 But ye are they that have continued with me in my
temptations; 29 and I appoint unto you a kingdom, even as my
Father appointed unto me, 30 that ye may eat and drink at my table
in my kingdom; and ye shall sit on thrones judging the twelve
tribes of Israel. 31 Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have
you, that he might sift you as wheat: 32 but I made supplication
for thee, that thy faith fail not; and do thou, when once thou
hast turned again, establish thy brethren. 33 And he said unto
him, Lord, with thee I am ready to go both to prison and to death.
34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this
day, until thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

35 And he said unto them, When I sent you forth without purse, and
wallet, and shoes, lacked ye anything? And they said, Nothing. 36
And he said unto them, But now, he that that hath a purse, let him
take it, and likewise a wallet; and he that hath none, let him
sell his cloak, and buy a sword. 37 For I say unto you, that this
which is written must be fulfilled in me, And he was reckoned with
transgressors: for that which concerneth me hath fulfillment. 38
And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto
them, It is enough.

The last meal of which Jesus partook with his disciples was a passover
feast, and it was the occasion of the establishment of that sacrament
which is known as the Lord's Supper. The passover called to mind a
national deliverance in the past and pointed forward to a greater
deliverance to come, which was effected by the death of Christ. The Lord's
Supper points us backward to the great redemption he achieved by his
atoning death, and forward to the fuller redemption he will accomplish in
his return. The "Last Supper" may rightly be reviewed in connection with
the Christian sacrament, and the story here recorded may intimate to us
how this sacrament may be most helpfully observed.

1. It must be for us a time of retirement. So far as possible we must
exclude all distracting thoughts and fix our minds upon Christ and his
redeeming love. Jesus made such provision for his disciples. He sent Peter
and John to the city to prepare a room in which