PAUSING IN THE UPPER ROOM
Pastor Calvin Cook
April 17, 2025
Isaiah 43:25, God speaks of forgiving transgressions for His own sake, which is also reflected in the Last Supper, where Jesus’ blood is poured out for the forgiveness of sins:
“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” (NIV)
As I prepare for this day and often as I prepare to serve Communion, I try to pause and imagine the Upper Room. Everyone has a different take on what that room might have looked like. There is no real scriptural reflection other than it was a spacious place that had been prepared for visiting guest. We do know that the events of the evening were prepared and there were disciples appointed with the directions to prepare the place. The meal of Passover was prepared and celebrated as the carrying out of the Jewish tradition. There were preparations made for humbleness of servanthood of Jesus to wash other’s feet. A pitcher of wine and a loaf of bread for the new covenant that Jesus was introducing.
During the meal, Jesus took the bread, broke it, and distributed it to His disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). Then, He took the cup of wine and shared it, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:20). This established the institution of the Eucharist (Holy Communion) as a sacred act for His followers.
I often pause to think of who was in the room. They are not the beautifully prepared disciples the DaVinci depicts in the painting of the Last Supper. They are a bunch of ordinary people who had made and fulfilled a commitment to follow Jesus, at least up to this point. Included in this cast were Fishermen, tax collectors, hard working beaten down by society people. I believe they were looking for a time of respite and renewal as they approached the Upper Room to celebrate what their ancestors had experienced in the exodus from Egypt. What their ancestors had endured through the deliverance that God provided, would now be experienced as they are delivered from sin and the gift of a new covenant that was being made through Jesus.
Don’t lose sight of those in the Upper Room, they were not perfect. They were sinners, having sinned against God and each other. In the room was the betrayer, the one who would desert, the doubters, and all of them who would run in fear, except of course for John who would stand by Jesus at the cross. They were just like you, and me and all of us. Because we have all been in that same place of decision of what we should do as followers of Jesus. We are all sinners in need of grace that was poured out for us. The bread and cup from the Upper Room represent the meaning of grace. And as we taste from the table of Lord we should be reminded of all of God and the blotting out of our sins through redemption.
After the meal, Jesus and His disciples go to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prays in deep distress, knowing the suffering that awaits Him. In Matthew 26:39, He prays, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” His disciples fall asleep while He prays, and He later rebukes them for not staying awake and praying with Him.
Pausing in the Upper Room or at the Communion Table in Holy Fellowship is not just a quick trip and something we have to do. It should not be just a pause in busyness of life, but a life style. It is something we need to do! It is something that needs to happen more regularly so that we might be drawn back to the importance of this new covenant. So that we might be willing to stand firm in our faith even when the way is hard.
Praying that we enter into a time of quietness to ponder Jesus love and great sacrifice for each of us. That we remember that regardless of our past, who we are, what we have been or are going through; Jesus is still inviting you to come and receive? Will you do that ?
Thoughts from the Edges 
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