November 3, 2024. JESUS AND INDIVIDUALS 6. "Surely, Not I Lord?" (Communion)

Readings: Psalm 27, Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17, Hebrews 9:11-14,  Matthew 26:19-30
Preached at Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church, NY, November 3, 2024

In 1495, Leonardo Da Vinci began painting a fresco on the wall of a monastery dining room in Milan that became one of his most celebrated works. It pictured the Last Supper. The painting is said to reflect upon the moment Jesus said to the disciples “One of you who is dipping into the bowl will betray me.” Each of the disciples is shown to be reacting to the statement, visualizing verse 25 of our Scripture reading where the disciples exclaim "Surely not I, Lord?"

Earlier this year during the televised opening of the Paris Olympic games, some sections of the church made a mountain out of a molehill, when they suggested their faith was under attack, because a very small segment appeared to resemble Leonardo’s fresco. This claim was later totally debunked, when the Olympic World Library published the media guide (written before the ceremony) which mentioned it was actually paying homage to Greek cultural festivities.

The most ridiculous aspect of that whole embarrassing fiasco was how Leonardo’s dining room imaginings had somehow become elevated to the level of infallible scripture. Little wonder that in our day many find the church to be out of touch and completely irrelevant to their lives.

Furthermore, Leonardo’s painting is, of course, just an artistic representation. The participants all sit on one side of the table. In reality they would have sat around a table… or even a number of tables and be facing each other. Each one of them in the painting was an actual citizen of Milan. We have no idea what the disciples actually looked like. Normally at a Passover celebration whole families, including women and children, would be present. There are only disciples in the picture. Some aspects of the Passover celebration are ignored, while others are emphasized.

Yet that image, originally meant only for the eyes of a monastic community as they munched their lunch, has eaten its way into our sub-conscious to such an extent that some folks seem to believe it is on a level with what actually happened, as though Leonardo was there with a camera recording the event.

So, as I’m continuing with this series on Jesus and Individuals, I felt it would be a great idea to revisit that upper room …  and engage our own imaginations. To try and put aside for a moment all these other representations and reflect upon what it would have been like to be one of those disciples sitting around the table when Jesus had made the starling declaration that He was about to be betrayed by someone in the room.  "Surely not I, Lord?"

The first thing to bear in mind is that Passover was very much a celebration. Yes, it had its serious side, but it could resemble a harvest supper or a homecoming more than a religious service. There was wine. There was a lot of food. There was symbolism and a whole lot of memories.

For the disciples that would certainly be the case. I imagine there was some joking and ribbing going on. “Hey, Peter, remember that time you went up the mountain and wanted to build tents?” “Hey, John, what about when Andrew came and said, “A little boy here with a few loaves and fish and we ended up feeding over 5000!” “Yeh, and what about that time we were in the boat, and the storm came, and Peter tried to walk on the water? Took a few steps then… glug, glug, hey Pete, meet the fishes!”

Of course it was a little unusual. According to John there was that whole thing with the foot-washing and a lesson about serving each other before the meal. I mean that was a visual sermon they would never forget, but now they were seated at the table it was party time.

I wonder who we would most identify with at that table? We have snippets of information about the disciples throughout the scriptures.

We read in Luke about the mother of James and John, (the sons who had left their Father Zebedee’s fishing enterprise to be disciples) coming to Jesus and asking that they be given some preferential treatment. Were they embarrassed by their mother’s request, or did it reflect conversations wondering if they had done the right thing walking away from the family business. I mean, what was in it for them?

As we become involved in church life, and have to put other things on hold, and how that interferes with family commitments and expectations, well that may be a real struggle for some sitting around this table today. It was for James and John back then. But enough of a struggle to make them want to betray Jesus? I don’t think so. But there they are, having to ask the question, "Surely not I, Lord?"

Or what about Thomas? He had a very practical mind. Very much a “Come on guys, I can believe that, but this is too much.” After the raising of Lazarus from dead it is Thomas who encourages the others to recognize the true dimensions of what following Jesus was all about. When Jesus says, “Go” it is Thomas who gathers them all together and moves them forward. A deep thinker. After the resurrection he won’t move forward until he has seen the marks of the nails in Jesus hands. But once he is convinced, there is no stopping him.

History does Thomas a great disservice calling him “Doubting Thomas.” According to church tradition Thomas became a missionary to India and his work established one of the first thriving Christian communities outside of the area Jesus walked. He was at that table because he was fully committed. But even he must ask, "Surely not I, Lord?"

Maybe you are around this table, and you are a thinker. You do not commit until, you are sure. But once you are sure, there is no turning back. Thomas was like that. Then came the crucifixion and the resurrection. Thomas needed time to process all of that and think it through. See, that’s one of the things about this table. We can sit and contemplate. It allows us to question. We can come with our doubts. "Surely not I, Lord?"

Then there’s John. In Scripture described as ‘The disciple Jesus loved.’ Some art critics suggest that in Leonardo’s painting John, is actually Mary Magdalene, because of his curly hair and feminine features, almost leaning on Jesus’ shoulder. I had a colleague in theological college that was convinced that the gospel of John portrays a more feminine side of Jesus and the gospel story and should have been called the “Gospel of Joan.” I did not share his view, but it is nevertheless a fascinating observation. Even more so when you consider, that however deep John’s love relationship to Jesus was, John still must ask, "Surely not I, Lord?"

In recent years many worship choruses are less hesitant to use the word “love’ as expressing devotion to God, than were hymnwriters of previous generations. I think of modern songs that have choruses such as “I love you, Lord, And I lift my voice, To worship You, Oh, my soul, rejoice!” Previous generations appear to have focused more on God’s love towards us than our love towards God.

Love. It’s a loaded word isn’t it. These days some people fall in and out of love as though it were a revolving door. Sometimes the words “I love you” are said without the depth they deserve. Love for Jesus was never an emotion but a way of being. I think we need to be careful when we use the phrase. Even the disciple Jesus loved had to ask, "Surely not I, Lord?"

Then of course there is Peter. A fallible character if ever there was one. One moment full of the deepest insight. “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Next moment, he blows it and is being told, “Get thee behind me Satan”. No one was more faithful than Peter, yet when after the crucifixion he is siting in the courtyard warming his hands around the fire he declares three times about Jesus, “I don’t even know Him.”

I’m glad Peter was at the table. He seems to embody the best of us and the worst of us. He knew what it was to gain insight. And he knew what it was to totally mess up. Maybe of all of them, the possibility he may actually be fallible, gave a deep reality to his words "Surely not I, Lord?"

And then... Judas.  We don’t want to identify with Judas. We don’t know how he became the betrayer. He seemed to have been highly respected by the others. Took care of the finances. Seemed to really care. Did he care too much? Was he trying to remove Jesus from the storm he sensed was coming their way? Was it just about the money? Was it fate? Was it the devil? Was it predestination? Maybe all of the above and maybe none of the above. The theologians will argue about that till all things meet their end. Tragically we know that it did not end well. When Jesus said betrayal was coming, he responds , "Surely not I, Rabbi?" but Jesus replies, "You have said so."

You know what the difference between Peter and Judas is? They both betrayed Him. Terribly. There was no excuse for their actions. When Judas realized the depth of his betrayal, Judas tried to atone for his own sins. It couldn’t be done. That can’t be done. In Christ alone can atonement be found.

When Peter realized the depth of his betrayal, he was heartbroken and turned to God for redemption. He turned to Jesus for forgiveness. And he discovered that the forgiveness was there. “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!”

Whoever we are, whatever we have done, whoever we have betrayed, no matter how much we have messed up, this table of holy communion is here to remind us that there is forgiveness on offer. Not because of what we have done, but because of what Jesus Christ has done for us.

It was as they sat at that table asking, "Surely not I, Lord?" that Jesus explained the significance of the feast He was sharing with them. They did not understand right then, but they would know for ever more afterward.

“Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it He broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Come to this table today. And bear in mind the question that was on the disciple’s mind, so artistically interpreted by Leonardo Da Vinci. "Surely not I, Lord?" Like it or not, however we identify with those at that table, one thing is for sure. We are not perfect. 

 

We are going to need help to carry on following the way of our Lord Jesus Christ. We need His Holy Spirit as our strength and our guide. We need the forgiveness He died that we might receive. We need the love and peace of God that passes all understanding.

Around this table is a sacred place where we can seek to make the blessings of God alive in our hearts in such a real way that we can share them with others. Amen.

The Reverend Adrian J. Pratt B.D.