Table Talk

There is so much that we cannot comprehend right now, and unfortunately, it’s our nature to try to figure things out and control them. That doesn’t mean we should stop asking or seeking. In fact, it means that we should keep searching and discovering, realizing that we’ll only discern in faith what He wants us to know.

I’ve always been intrigued with Jesus’ “farewell address” found in the gospel of John, chapters 14-16. I’ve studied it for months and I’m starting a series of short devotionals called “Fresh from the Table” from my findings which I hope will help my readers to unpack the best “after dinner speech” ever delivered.

All four gospels frame the Passover meal scene, but only the apostle John recorded the words of Christ. John probably didn’t write the speech down at the table that evening. That would be rude, but apparently, he remembered every word and wrote them down later for us to enjoy and absorb.

Little did the disciples know this would be their last Passover with Jesus. He had sent them to a specific man who He knew would allow Him and His disciples to celebrate the meal at his house (Matthew 28:18). How surprised they must have been when Jesus Himself started to perform the traditional act of foot washing! Sure, this was a customary act before a meal in Jewish households, but never would the host of the meal carry this out for the guests. Servants were customarily employed to do such a dirty job. Nonetheless, after travelling around with Jesus for three years and witnessing many awesome and miraculous works at His hands, they may have been used to His departures from the norm even when they had no clue why He was doing what He was doing. So, the disciples lined up, waiting their turns. But when it came time for Peter to have his feet washed, as Peter was known to do, he opened his mouth with a bewildering question.

“Lord, You are washing my feet?”

Jesus probably didn’t even look up from what He was doing. “What I am doing, you do not realize right now, but you will understand later” (John 13:7).

The disciples didn’t quite get it sometimes. For instance, in some of the parables, the men couldn’t decipher the meaning themselves. In Mark 4:10-13, in the Parable of the Sower, the disciples asked the meaning after they heard it, but only after the crowds had left. They didn’t want the embarrassment of saying out loud that they didn’t understand.

It’s no shame to have questions. As 21^st century believers we will have to be content to let some questions go unanswered.  We may, however, affirm the fact that, for now, what we can know will have to be enough.