It was Easter and I was tasked with creating a children's paraphrase of Luke's telling of the Last Supper.

I read the original text so closely: Luke 22:1-20.

Most of us adults who have ever set foot in a church know this story. It's the one where Jesus knows he is going to end up on a Roman cross, so he shares one last Passover meal with his closest disciples and friends.

As he does so, he brazenly uses the sacred Passover bread and wine to cryptically tell his friends what is about to happen to him and what it all means.

Not surprisingly, none of them really get it. Not yet, at least.

As I was poring over the text and working to translate the foreboding story into words kids could understand, I noticed something I had never noticed before.

Just prior to Jesus breaking the Passover bread and telling his followers, "This is my body, broken for you," he gives them a final instruction.

He tells them that he is so happy to share this meal with them before he suffers. That this will be the last meal he shares with them on earth. And then he picks up the Passover wine and says, “Share this with each other. I won’t drink it until heaven comes to earth.” (my translation)

Only after this admonition to share wine together does Jesus begin reciting the words we all hear prior to being served Communion.

Only after he tells them to share wine in community does he tell them about the act of remembrance Christians have carried on for over 2000 years.

There is something about urging his closest friends to share a drink with each other that was very important to Jesus on the final night of his life.

I wonder if he was saying something like,

Life is hard.

Life is lonely.

Life is confusing and dark sometimes. And for you, my closest ones, it is about to get very dark.

So you need friends; you need each other.

Make sure you create time and space to share a meal, to share a drink, with people you love.

Drink wine, together, my disciples, even when I am gone.

One day---one great day---I will drink it with you forever.

But until then, oh my friends, gather around tables and talk and laugh and sing and cry and raise your glasses to each other, and to me.

For there is nothing on this earth like friendship.

Nothing like the fruit of the vine.

Nothing like being together.

So, please, share this with each other.

Don't you think maybe Jesus was saying something like that to his friends?

Don't you think maybe Jesus is saying something like that to us today?

I kind of hope so.

Photo by Matthieu Joannon on Unsplash