Radical Hospitality
And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?”
And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.”
And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. Mark 14:12-16
Nobody knows where the last supper took place or who hosted Jesus and his followers in the upper room. Some speculate it may have been at the home of Nicodemus and some the home of Mark’s mother, Mary. (Mark, our author, is thought to be John Mark, who plays a prominent role in Acts.) Regardless, whoever offered up this room for the gathering had great means to have a space big enough (the Greek word is mega) to host that many people, but they were also displaying radical hospitality as it is also lavishly furnished. Moreover, they took a big chance, given the atmosphere created by the religious leadership’s attitude toward Jesus and his followers.
I wonder if it was intentional that we do not know the details as we are expected to be ready to host the Lord at our table? I also wonder if we would host, even if it meant creating scorn or anger?
Lord Jesus:
We are not worthy to receive you, yet we need to be prepared to do so anyway!
In Christ’s name we pray. Amen!
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