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In 1494, Leonardo da Vinci began work on a painting. Today it is one of the most famous works of art in the world.
Giorgio Vasari tells the following anecdote:
The prior of the monastery, where the artist was working, urged da Vinci to finish the painting. It seemed strange to him to see the painter thinking for half a day. He could not understand why da Vinci remained idle and did not finish his work. Da Vinci then decided to give a detailed account of his situation.
He explained there were two heads still missing from his painting. One was that of Christ. Da Vinci did not wish to search the earth for a model, but he also did not believe that his imagination could conceive the beauty and heavenly grace befitting the incarnate God. The other head, which he was contemplating, was that of Judas.
This is the famous painting of the Last Supper, in which Jesus is seen with His twelve disciples. How would you have painted Jesus' expression? Would He be smiling? Would He be graceful and regal? Or would there be a worried, serious look on His face?
This was His last meeting with His disciples. The disciples had just finished arguing about who was the most important, when suddenly Jesus stood up and began to wash their feet. In those days it was customary to wash before eating. The dust and dirt brought in from outside had no place at the table.
But it was Jesus, the Master, who humbled Himself! "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet" (John 13:13-14). Jesus, the Son of God, came into the world to serve.
I imagine how the room suddenly fell silent. The disciples were ashamed. They had all understood what Jesus was trying to tell them. But Jesus didn't stop there. It was not about rebuking the disciples, but about something much more important: "I am the bread of life", He had said some time before this last meal. "Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty" (John 6:35). In the washing of the feet, Jesus made it clear that He did not come to earth to be served.
He came to free people from their filth and to save them. When Jesus sat at the table and broke the bread, He said the words that are still quoted today when Christians come together to remember their salvation through Jesus: "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me" (1 Corinthians 11:24).
He also took the cup and said: "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me" (1 Corinthians 11:25). Only a few hours later he was arrested and condemned.
When we celebrate the Lord's Supper today, we proclaim Jesus' death, but even more we proclaim His resurrection, His victory over death. The Lord's Supper is not mystical – it is more like an anniversary, like a regular reminder of Jesus' offer. Jesus wants to remind us that He is our Master and Lord, who is not above doing the work of a servant for the sake of our salvation.
In the same way, we should not be above serving one another. The service I give to my fellow man shows my gratitude for what Jesus has done for me. When I am willing to help another person without concern for my own reputation, I am following Jesus' example and agreeing to accept Him as Lord and Master. Jesus put it well when He said, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35).
Jesus wants to make His offer irrevocably clear to us: whoever believes in HIM and allows HIM to save them will be saved. That offer is still valid today. When we celebrate the Lord's Supper, we realise where dirt and filth cling to us. All our pride, our selfishness, our offensive thoughts about others – all this can be presented to Jesus so that He can wash it away. This fellowship established by Jesus is an encouragement for us to take Jesus' hand. To accept His salvation. To recognise that He died for YOU too.
What a man to humble Himself to the point of the cross! What a God who, in His humiliation, has nothing else in mind but to save His creatures.
It took Leonardo da Vinci five years to complete The Last Supper. How would I have painted Jesus? I'll have to think about it. But I'm looking forward to when Jesus comes back and I can see His true face.
Bible texts for in-depth study:
Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 12:12-26; Luke 22:7-27; John 6:48-63; 13:1-17; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 11:23-30; Revelation 3:20
