Acts 2:37-47

As we look at that window - "The last Supper", by Leonardo da Vinci - , Sunday by Sunday, we are looking at a representation of a great work of art. It was painted a few hundred years ago (1495-98) onto the wall of the dining room in a Milan monastery "Santa Maria delle Grazie". The artist, Leonardo da Vinci, was fascinated by the subject. He wanted to bring life and feeling into that highly significant event in Jesus life - the last Supper. An eyewitness - Matteo Bandello, author of the novel about Romeo and Juliet on which Shakespeare based his famous play - reported that sometimes Leonardo would arrive early morning and work feverishly all day. At other times, while he was working on a statue at another part of town, he would hurry over in the midday sun to the monastery to apply a bit of colour here and there. At other times he would just stand there, not knowing how to proceed. We can imagine the monks having their meals, being reminded by this large (14'x30') and powerful painting, to whom they belong and who was the centre of their community life.

But we are looking at more than a great work of art. Art here is used as a vehicle of grace. As we worship, Sunday by Sunday, this work of art reminds us what it means being "church".

"Jesus is Lord"

Jesus is the centre. Although in the Gospel of John it says that the beloved disciple leant on Jesus, here in the picture there is a little distance between Jesus and the rest. Jesus is part of them, they are grouped around him, but he is clearly portrayed as the central figure.

The picture reflects the merging of horizons. There was the Jewish Passover meal where Jesus had gathered his disciples around him. The time had come. The opposition had grown and it was closing ranks. It would now be a matter of hours or days before the agents of the establishment would clamp down on him.

But then, the New Testament indicates that this meal was more than a Passover. True, there is bread on the table and the cup of blessing. But central is not the story of Israel's liberation from slavery, nor even Jesus' words that the bread and the cup would point to his death for the sins of the world. At the centre are Jesus and the fellowship of his friends.

That brings us to a third horizon. The picture is painted after easter. It includes the perspective of the church. On the historical plane, Jesus had lost the battle for the triumph of love and peace and justice. But there is another plane. God's plane. God raised Jesus from the dead and made him "Lord".

"Jesus is Lord" was one of the earliest Christian confessions, and we call the Christian Passover the "Lord's Supper". Jesus is central to the life of the church.

". where two or three are gathered in my name,
I am there among them."
(Matthew 18:20).

The people gathered around Jesus are his disciples. Here it is the core group. Just twelve to represent the twelve tribes of Israel. But on another plane, we are included.

By looking at the picture, our look becomes the thankful awareness that we, here and now, are friends and followers of Jesus.

The church is not in the first place a building or an institution or an organisation. The church is primarily the "gathering", the "coming together" of the friends of Jesus, of those who want to see Jesus as the centre of their lives.

". the whole group of those who believed
were of one heart and soul,
and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions,
but everything they owned was held in common."
(Acts 4:32)

An important element of the community of faith is friendship. The disciples are a group of friends. And it is a special burden that they suspect a traitor in their midst. Peter is whispering to John to ask Jesus who it is - failing to recognise that he, the betrayer, Judas, is sitting right next to him.

What is the main ingredient for a meaningful friendship? Trust! If there is trust, then conflict, misunderstandings, disagreements cannot ruin a community. If trust goes, a community is doomed.

Notice the intense discussion of the three disciples on the right. They realise that without trust, they can't go on.

It was really bad in the old days before 1989 in the socialist countries, for instance in Czechoslovakia. The pastors would get together and it was not easy to be a Christian minister in those days, but the atmosphere was bad. No one wanted to speak and share because trust was not there. Someone would report to the government afterwards.

Could we let this picture to inspire us to lean towards each other in trust? Even if there are different opinions, let us not allow to develop mistrust.

Faithfulness is another important ingredient for being church. It was not easy to be a friend of Jesus. The present banner in our church reminds us of that. Even Peter who wanted to follow Jesus to the end, had his hours of uncertainty and doubt.

Only Jesus was faithful to the end.

In our picture, Jesus points to the bread and to the cup as an important way in which the presence of Christ is kept alive in the church.

Allow me to honour those who are faithful in our midst and thereby reflect the faithfulness of God. The picture honours Mrs. Elsie May Joyce and in the service when the mural was unveiled, her grandson, Ian Joyce, was dedicated. Ian is now a husband and father and faithful member of the church.

And now, Lord, . and grant to your servants
to speak your word with all boldness
(Acts 4:29)

The Jesus story continues from the Passover via Easter into the whole world. And it continues because of the credible life of faithful witnesses.

"Remember the word that I said to you,
'Servants are not greater than their master.'
If they persecuted me, they will persecute you .."
(John 15:20)

The Cross lingers over this picture, and the cross will be a mark of those who follow Jesus. Not because they enjoy suffering. Not because they seek suffering. But because they are part of a community of faith that marches to a different beat and tune as the world does.

Being a friend of Jesus in a world that does not honour God, in a world where lies and betrayal and unfaithfulness is in the order of the day, in a world that measures people by what they have rather than who they are, means conflict and suffering.

And it is not the suffering of our illnesses or our professional and family disappointments, but it is the suffering that are the result of living for Christ. It is the result of keeping our promises, of loving our enemies, of telling the truth and of showing solidarity with those who are less fortunate than we are.

Leonardo's "Last Supper" will now flow over into our having the "Lord's Supper". Jesus Christ is the centre of our life. Let us come and gather around the table. Let us take of the bread and drink of the cup and let the Spirit of God renew our faith.

TL: April 1, 2001.