Unseen Yet Seen
By Rosella Shishido, Communications Ministry Coordinator
If you google “what happened on Maundy Thursday,” you’ll get the Last Supper on top of the list. It’s when Jesus had His final meal with His 12 disciples in the upper room. It’s when He washed their feet (unheard of for a rabbi to do at that time), and when He established what we know today as Communion––the breaking of the bread and the sharing of the wine in remembrance of how Jesus willingly died on our behalf for the forgiveness of all sins.
But let’s rewind a bit to what happened BEFORE the Last Supper began.
He (Jesus) replied, “As soon as you enter Jerusalem, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. At the house he enters, say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal.” They (Peter and John) went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover meal there.” (Luke 22:10-13)
Notice how Jesus mentions two unidentified men in that passage: the man carrying the pitcher, and the man who owned the house. We don’t know who they are, but we know what they did. Mr. Pitcher Guy pointed the way. He led the disciples to where they needed to go. Mr. Houseowner opened his home to Jesus by providing the furnished venue for the supper. Seemingly small roles in the enduring story of the Last Supper, but they were important just the same. What if the pitcher guy was a no-show and failed to meet up with the two disciples Jesus sent? What if the houseowner changed his mind about letting them use his large room?
Like these unnamed men, we all have roles to play––some roles require people to be up front and center, while other roles require people to stay behind the scenes. Different roles, yet all are important. Which role are you finding yourself in these days?
We all know the major players in this story. But the Last Supper may not have happened the way it did, if the unnamed, uncredited, behind-the-scenes role players didn’t step up to the plate to play their parts.
If ever you’re feeling unheralded or unappreciated for what you do, know that it doesn’t go unnoticed. Jesus has His eyes on you. And whatever you do for ministry, whatever you do to take care of your family, whatever you do to help those on the fringes of society, do it well. You’re making a difference in people’s lives, whether or not you’re credited for it. You may be feeling small and unseen, but Jesus sees you.
He knows what it’s like to feel small. Judas betrayed Him and sold Him cheaply for only 30 pieces of silver, and yet, Jesus bought us with the price of His precious blood. It cost Him His life to secure the forgiveness of our sins.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, my Blessed Savior, thank You for dying on the cross for me. I will never be able to repay You, but what I can do is to never take for granted what You’ve done. Help me to remember that You see me and all that I do whether I’m noticed for it or not. I want to do my part for You. Amen.
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