17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’ ” 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.
20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”
26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Matthew 26:26–30
Jesus the day before he dies on the cross has one final meal with his disciples. At this meal, we read that Jesus washes the disciples feet and hosts a final Passover meal.
This final moment Jesus has with his disciples brings forth a simple reminder this Easter season. Jesus sought to create a community.
Apart from prayer, the last thing Jesus does is eat with his followers. Eating is an intimate expression. We traditionally choose to eat with people we love. We eat with friends and family. We eat with our chosen community.
Jesus celebrates the Passover just like every other Jewish person. Yet, this specific meal establishes a new form of community. Jesus’s final meal becomes the first eucharistic meal.
Those who in the future would partake of this meal would join this new community as they affirm the very life Jesus was about to give up and then receive. This communal meal is a physical expression of the spiritual and miraculous reality that all people are now able to come forth and be brought into God’s people—his community, his family, his Kingdom.
When we sit and eat with others, may we remember that in eating, we can affirm and be reminded of Jesus now is able to eat with all of us. The Spirit of Christ allows God to be present with us. We can eat with Jesus—especially when we eat with each other.