“I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer…,” Jesus told his disciples. I’ve always been intrigued by the Last Supper. One of my favorite Christian songs is Come to the Table by Michael Card. He wrote the song in 1983, but the best version is a 1996 duet with Oklahoma City native John Michael Talbot on their album “Brother to Brother.”
Come to the table and taste of the glory.
Savor the sorrow, He’s dying tomorrow.
The hand that is breaking the bread, soon will be broken,
and here at the table sit those who have loved Him.
One is a traitor and one will deny
though He’s lived His life for them all
and for all be crucified.
Card, best known for writing the Amy Grant hit El-Shaddai, caused quite a stir when “Brother to Brother” was released. He’s devoutly Protestant and the grandson of a Baptist minister. Talbot, born into a Methodist family, converted to Catholicism in his 20s. The idea of Card teaming up and even touring with a Roman Catholic left some of his fans incredulous and angry.
The Bible doesn’t say a lot about Judas Iscariot, but I suspect he became incredulous and angry. Some say Judas was upset that Jesus wasn’t going to overthrow the hated Romans. After being hand-picked as one of the 12 disciples he’s not named again until John tells us Judas became upset when Lazarus’ sister Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with an expensive perfume. John’s obviously not a fan, adding Judas “kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.” Interestingly, Matthew and Mark indicate several disciples and followers felt the perfume should have been sold and the money given to the poor. At any rate, Judas responded by going to the high priests and agreeing to betray Jesus.
How do we react when someone doesn’t meet our expectations? I remember too many times when I’ve become incredulous and angry because someone didn’t do what I thought they should. Ephesians 4:26-27 tells us Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil.
Chris Lambert, Director of Meals on Wheels of Oklahoma City
