Just coming off of a Communion Sunday and heading into a Sunday that has Jesus’ last meal with his disciples as the text has had me reflecting further upon the Lord’s Supper. Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper captures not only a powerful theological moment, but a psychological one as well. Jesus has just warned his disciples of his imminent betrayal – and at the hands of one of the twelve! Mark writes: “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” Da Vinci skillfully captures the anxiety of the moment: imagine racing hearts, lumps in throats, and the nervous tension of it all! The disciples are both shocked and fearful. One by one they ask the question “Is it I?” Interestingly, the disciples did not single out the guilty Judas, but first considered themselves. Mark and da Vinci both invite us as readers and observers to do the same, to examine ourselves. At the end of a Sunday service when we are about to take the Lord’s Supper what are we examining more closely: our hearts or our watches!
In Paul’s teaching on the Lord’s Supper he also exhorts us to partake of the table in a “worthy manner” (1 Cor. 11:27-29) Thankfully, it is Christ’s work on our behalf, and our response of faith in that work, that make us worthy. I like that da Vinci has not portrayed the supper as a private party; we are not mere onlookers but are drawn in to the dramatic scene because of the one-sided table setting. And what we are drawn to is Jesus who sits centrally, and serenely, amidst the turmoil of the moment. The light from the window behind him serves to honour him as the “Light of the world.” His arms are stretched out in a welcoming way toward the bread saying “this is my body, broken for you.” Da Vinci’s last supper is found on the wall of the dining hall of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. It is an impressive 15’ x 29’ in size. I trust that Leonardo’s painting served as a regular reminder to all diners that Jesus presided over every meal shared by those who broke bread in that hall. His calm demeanor and inviting pose, set against the anxiety of his dining companions, identify him as the gracious host – and all who gaze upon him are invited.
Much love,
Pastor Gary