But He is ready. Jesus reaches out to pass the torch. He turns over His mission to the disciples and, by extension, to all believers. On the eve of Christ's crucifixion, He hands down to this ragtag band of misfits a promise, a practice, and a prayer.
The Promise
"And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is My body given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' In the same way, after the supper He took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.'" (Lk. 22:19–20).
In the Old Testament, God established a number of covenants with His people, including Noah, Abraham, Moses, Aaron and the priests, and King David. These covenants, similar to modern day contracts, contained promises made by one or both parties to fulfill certain stipulations. Unlike agreements today, however, covenants had no expiration date—they were binding until death or, in God's case, forever. Covenant promises were kept regardless of whether the other party upheld their end of the deal.
At the Lord's supper, Jesus instituted a new covenant between God and His people. With the breaking of bread and the passing of a cup, Christ commemorated for all time His body broken on the cross and His blood shed for us. The promise He gave was this: those who believe in Him and acknowledge His atoning sacrifice for sins would receive forgiveness and inherit an eternal kingdom. Christ's promise to those who trust in Him is the once-for-all cleansing from sin, the inner transformation of God's Spirit, God's Word, and God's will within us, and the constant, abiding peace of a right relationship with God!
The Practice
"...[Jesus] 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... 'I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you... Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them'" (Jn. 13:4–5, 15, 17).
Of all the things Christ could have modeled for His disciples, of all the practices He could have handed down, He chose the most humble practice of all. The task of a slave. In the act of washing the disciples' feet, Jesus showed the incredible reversal of values in God's kingdom. He showed the worth of humble work. He demonstrated the truth that no task is beneath us, for "no servant is greater than his master" (v. 16). Christ dispels our lofty cultural ideals of the pursuit of fame, prominence and power with the words, "But you are not to be like that" (Lk. 22:26).
We may not be able to achieve and accomplish everything we would like to in this life. Some of our dreams may go unrealized. That career or ministry path we wanted to pursue? God may have other plans. But Jesus gives us the hope of a fulfilling and joyful life on this earth—regardless of our circumstances—by illustrating this profound and yet simple truth: If our goal is to serve, we can always do what we want!
The Prayer
"Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world" (Jn. 17:17–18).
Much has been said of Christ's prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane: "Yet not as I will, but as You will" (Matt. 26:39). It is an undergirding principle of the Christian life that we are to seek God's will above all things and in all situations, no matter how difficult. But Christ prayed another prayer on this night—a prayer for you. For me. For everyone who ever has and ever will believe in Him.
In this prayer, Jesus identifies believers as those belonging to God (Jn. 17:6). The hallmark of their identity is their acceptance of and obedience to His word (v. 6, 8). He acknowledges the fact that by receiving the word, the world will reject us (v. 14). He asks the Father to sanctify us by the word—to set us apart, to separate us as silver from the dross. Christ prays that believers may be brought to complete unity so that the world will know He was sent by God, and that God loves His children (v. 23).
With this prayer, Jesus shows us what He felt was most important for all believers: true spiritual unity rooted in the acceptance of His word. This type of unity is not the universalist uniformity that seeks to blend all beliefs and disregard the truth. It is not institutionalized conformity that quenches the diversity of the church. It is the unified representation of Christ to the world, rooted in truth and bound in love: "I in them and You in Me" (v. 23). Even after He was gone, Jesus wanted the world to see Him—to see His face, His character, His love reflected in us.
On this night, Jesus conferred on us His mission. We are His instruments, His hands and feet to reach the world. Our charge is this: proclaim His promise of eternal life and forgiveness of sins. Practice humble service to one another. And pray that through our spiritual unity of love and truth, the church might reflect Christ to a lost and hopeless world!