“Mom, is there anything I can help with?”
A young man entered the bustling kitchen where preparations for the meal were underway.
“It's alright, you don't need to help. I'm not alone here—so many people are already lending a hand.”
The woman gestured to those working beside her.
“But I want to help...”
“Well, why don't you help upstairs? Jesus and his disciples will be dining there soon, so we need to set more tables and chairs and light some extra lamps.”
“Yes!”
As the young man left with a bright smile, Maria smiled too. Her son was still quite immature. He often tried his best, but would give up when he faced obstacles. If he had a good teacher, he might improve, but so far, he hadn't had that chance. It would be wonderful if he grew up to be as kind and upright as her brother.
Tonight’s late dinner might be his opportunity to meet the best teacher—Jesus was coming to their home. What an honor! Even if her son could not become one of Jesus’ direct disciples, he could still learn from those who were, like Peter and John, who were preparing upstairs. Maybe one day, her son would preach the gospel and proclaim the kingdom of heaven.
Maria couldn’t help but smile at the thought of her son growing into such a strong person. But that was still far off. How could a young man who couldn’t even break the habit of sleeping without clothes at night handle such a great mission? She needed to help him fix that habit first. It was embarrassing for the young maids to see him like that, and it had happened more than once.
Anyway, for now, she had to focus on the dinner ahead. Perhaps this gathering would be a place where past and present meet, leading to the future, or where someone discovers their calling and dedicates themselves to it. She couldn’t treat such an important occasion lightly.
“Let’s all work harder to prepare for dinner.”
“Yes!”
The kitchen bustled with even more energy. Preparing dinner for Jesus was a joyful task for everyone, whether servant or master.
* * *
Peter and John were arranging tables and chairs in a large upper room for the meal when a young man came in and began to help them. He mentioned that he was the son of the homeowner. During a short break, Peter wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked,
“What’s your name?”
“My name is John.” the young man replied.
“Oh, we have another friend named John here,” Peter chuckled.
“Nice to meet you, young friend,” said John, a disciple of Jesus, patting him on the back in welcome.
“Then please call me Mark. That’s my Roman name.”
“Alright, we’ll call you Mark. If we called you John, it would get confusing. Among us disciples, there are many with the same name, so we distinguish them when calling. For instance, John’s brother is James, and there’s another James, the son of Alphaeus. We also have Judas Iscariot, who keeps the money bag, and another Judas called Thaddaeus. I was originally named Simon, but thankfully, Jesus renamed me Peter. Otherwise, we’d have to find a way to distinguish me from Simon the Zealot.”
“Do you have a Zealot among you too?”
“Yes, we have a tax collector and a Zealot. Jesus welcomes everyone.”
“Wow, that’s amazing.”
“Jesus is truly extraordinary. The reason we came here today is because of His words.”
“How did that happen?”
John was quick to answer.
“Jesus told Peter and me that when we entered the city, we would meet a man carrying a water jar. He said to follow that man and ask where the room was for Jesus and His disciples to eat the Passover meal. He told us the man would show us a large upper room, all ready for us. We believed Him and followed His instructions, and that’s how we met you.”
“Wow. How could such a thing happen? My mother often says she wants to host Jesus, and my uncle from Cyprus often talks about Jesus’ teachings, so my mother has become more interested in Him.”
“Oh, really? Jesus truly knows and acts on everything. Do you know what happened last time...?”
This time, Peter took up the story.
“Do you know how Jesus entered Jerusalem riding a donkey and was welcomed? Something similar happened then. Jesus said that on the other side of the village, there would be a donkey that no one had ever ridden. He told us to untie it and bring it to Him. If anyone asked why, we were to say, ‘The Lord needs him; and immediately he will send him back here.’ We did as He said, and the owner gladly let us take it.”
As Mark listened to Peter and John’s stories, his curiosity about Jesus grew. What kind of person was He? What did He teach, and what miracles did He perform? If Mark could learn more, he could share it with others. The thought planted a small seed in Mark’s heart, though it would take time to grow. For Mark to fulfill his mission, he needed to learn, experience, and be guided by spiritual mentors like Peter, Barnabas, and Paul. For now, Mark’s heart was like rocky soil, unable to nurture seeds well. But as he removed the stones from his heart, he would become good soil. And when that happened, he would surely fulfill his calling. Perhaps that was one of the reasons Jesus led His disciples to this place.
* * *
The large upper room was warmly illuminated by many lamps. Jesus, his twelve disciples, and those who loved him were all gathered there. The tables were filled with unleavened bread, bitter herbs, charoset, peanuts, almonds, and dried grapes, all prepared for the Passover meal. There was also fine wine.
Passover commemorated God’s deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. The last of the ten plagues God sent was the death of the firstborn, but the Israelites were spared because they marked their doorposts with the blood of lambs. The blood of the Passover lamb symbolized Israel’s salvation and reminded them that God was their deliverer, making them a covenant people. On the fourteenth day of Nisan, the meal to celebrate the Passover began right here, at this very gathering.
Jesus said to them,
“I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for I tell you, I will no longer by any means eat of it until it is fulfilled in God’s Kingdom.”
Jesus said this before the meal, gave thanks, and explained the meaning of the bread and wine. Although no one, including the disciples, fully understood, Jesus hoped they would remember.
Afterward, Jesus spoke gently with his disciples, looking at each of their faces. The delicious food and loving company made for a wonderful start to the Passover. Everyone’s faces were filled with smiles and happiness. However, Jesus noticed a hint of anxiety on Judas Iscariot’s face. Jesus knew that Satan had put the thought of betrayal into Judas’s heart. Yes, it was time for Jesus to leave this world and return to the Father. Jesus stood up to show his disciples that he loved them to the end.
Jesus took off his outer garment and laid it aside, then wrapped a towel around his waist. He poured water into a basin and knelt before his disciples. With warm hands, he washed each of their feet and dried them with the towel around his waist. The disciples were astonished by Jesus’ actions. Washing feet was a task for servants; no one with freedom would wash another’s feet. Yet Jesus did this willingly. The first few disciples didn’t know what to do and could only offer their feet. Even Judas Iscariot was taken aback, but Jesus silently washed and dried his feet as well. Now it was Simon Peter’s turn, but he didn’t offer his feet.
“Lord, do you wash my feet?”
Jesus answered,
“You don’t know what I am doing now, but you will understand later.”
Even as he heard the gentle voice of Jesus, Peter—like so many other Jews who denied Him—insisted on his own ideas rather than submitting to God’s will.
“You will never wash my feet!”
“If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.”
At this, Peter replied urgently,
“Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”
“Someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.”
Jesus slowly washed Peter’s feet. Peter would play a leading role among the remaining disciples after Jesus ascended to heaven. That’s why Jesus taught and showed him more than the others. But Peter still had much to learn; he did not fully understand the teachings and often put his own will before God’s. That’s why God allowed him to deny Jesus three times. After Peter’s threefold repentance, he would truly receive his mission, and it was only after receiving the Holy Spirit in this upper room that he would preach God’s word instead of his own thoughts.
This mission would begin with the Jews and later reach the Gentiles. When the time came, God would show him unclean food and say, “What God has cleansed, you must not make unholy.” Thus, he would serve as a sent servant, carrying out the will of God and Jesus—with the same serving love that Jesus was showing now.
After washing all the disciples’ feet, Jesus put on his outer garment and returned to the table.
“Do you know what I have done to you? You call me, ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord.’ You say so correctly, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should also do as I have done to you. Most certainly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his lord, neither one who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. I don’t speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen. But that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me.’ From now on, I tell you before it happens, that when it happens, you may believe that I am he. Most certainly I tell you, he who receives whomever I send, receives me; and he who receives me, receives him who sent me.”
The passages from Matthew 21:3, Mark 11:3, Luke 22:15-16, John 13:6-20, Acts 10:15 quoted in this narrative are taken directly from the World English Bible (WEB) translation. Of the parallel passages, I have combined them into a single version that includes all the content.
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