Unlucky For Some

It’s almost over in most parts of the world, but let’s be real – did anything actually bad happen? Well, maybe one thing – the Air Conditioning in our offices stopped working which rendered any matte and chic make-up look a complete waste of time – but really did Friday 13^th live up to all of it’ expectant horrors, fears and general anxiety upping expectations?

I have always been struck about the power superstition plays on the heart and mind of the believer. From walking under a ladder to avoiding planning anything significant falling on the 13^th, the date has historically been so heavy with portents of the more negative kind. People having major issues with the date go back to mediaeval times when both the date of the Original Maundy Thursday (13^th of Nisan for all you theology buffs out there) was considered auspicious for all of the wrong reasons as it precipitated Jesus’ death. Furthermore, overt dislike for the number 13 really took hold when believers considered the number of diners in the Upper Room that fateful night: As the Bingo Caller rhyme goes ‘Unlucky for Some, Three and One!’ 

But let’s take a step back. How unfortunate would it have been to be there? Dining with Jesus – with only eleven other people fighting for his attention. How intimate and enthralling, inspiring and flipping exciting would that supper have been?! And maybe it is because I am a foodie, but I have this consistent thought that the unleavened bread would have been the lightest and most delicious bread ever, maybe even dusted with Sumac or another exotic Middle Eastern spice, the wine would make Chateau Latour seem vinegar like in quality and the Lamb would have been fall of the bone tender. But I digress, there couldn’t really be a greater privilege than to have been one of Jesus’ chosen twelve. The Gospels all talk of greater numbers being followers, but it is the twelve who were the strategic ones. They got a front-row seat on Jesus’ glory. Hung out with him on quiet days, witnessed the remarkable and observed the mundane.

When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you.  For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” Luke 22:14 -20

There was nothing unfortunate about the Last Supper. Firstly, it was planned: Jesus told the disciples to make arrangements ahead of time. Tellingly, there was a specific purpose to it aside from observing the Passover: Jesus wanted to have that one last meal with his closest friends before his Passion. He knew explicitly that suffering lay ahead. He promised not to drink again until the fulfillment of God’s Kingdom and finally the first Communion was held with bread and wine blessed ahead of being shared, something that believers still do to this day.

But perhaps what should banish any aspect of fear and dread around the 13^th is the knowledge of what happened afterwards: the resurrection and its promise of reconciliation for us all. There is nothing random about the God we serve and the life, death and resurrection of his only son are central to his good plan for all of humankind. As were the number people at the Last Supper and everything that has followed since. Jesus’ Passion expresses love at its most selfless and boundless. And unequivocally proves that we are the luckiest of all.