The Chosen: Last Supper

What is that supposed to mean?

Well, who is, and who isn't?

I have earnestly desired to eat this meal with you before I suffer.

This is our last Passover together on this earth,

before we celebrate it again when all is fulfilled in the new Kingdom.

I would ask how long that will be...

but I know the answer.

You will understand.

But first...

Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe,

who brings forth bread from the earth.

Amen.

Normally,

this bread is to remember and celebrate our redemption from Egypt

into the Promised Land.

From slavery into freedom.

Tonight we celebrate your redemption from sin because of me.

Take and eat it.

This is my body, which is given for you.

Do this in remembrance of me.

Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe,

who creates the fruit of the vine.

Amen.

Normally, the wine allows us to remember and celebrate the blood of the lamb,

spread on the doorposts of our ancestors.

But tonight,

likewise...

this is my blood of the new covenant,

shed for you, and for many, for the forgiveness of sins.

Drink it, all of you, in remembrance of me.

I am the true vine.

And my Father is the vinedresser.

Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, He takes away.

And every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes,

that it may bear more fruit.

Abide in me, and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine...

neither can you, unless you abide in me.

I am the vine.

You are the branches.

Whoever abides in me, and I in him,

he it is that bears much fruit,

for apart from me, you can do nothing.

If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch, and withers.

And the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

If you abide in me,

and my words in you,

ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done.

By this My father is glorified, that you bear much fruit,

and so prove to be my disciples.

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.

Abide in my love.

These things I have spoken to you,

that my joy may be in you,

and that your joy may be full.

Rabbi.

What are you smiling at?

It's nothing. It's just that, uh...

Rabbi.

Earlier, I may have washed some of your feet.

But not all of you are clean.

What are you saying?

The scripture has now been fulfilled.

"He who has eaten my bread has lifted his heel against me."

What?

Truly, I say to you...

one of you will betray me.

Someone at this very table.

Someone in this room?

Who?

One of you, brothers?

Who?

Tell us who.

And we will bind him, and gag him, and throw him in a pit, so he can't do it.

The Son of Man goes as it is written of Him.

But woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed.

It would have been better for him if he had never been born.

Just say who it is.

And we'll make sure that man wishes he'd never been born.

I need a moment.

What's happening?

- What? - Andrew.

And according to our treasurer report,

the additional days needed

to complete the columns in that section of Solomon's Porch,

will result in a 14% increase over the original cost estimate.

The Temple Renovation Committee unanimously approved the spending.

Although I'm sure to the surprise of none of you,

Rabban Ozem required some convincing.

All right, all right.

From what I understand, there is no additional business for today.

- This meeting is adjourned. -

- Rabbi Nicodemus. - Ah.

- Welcome back. - Thank you.

I trust your time was fruitful.

Oh, yes, yes. Good to be back, Ozem.

Did the students in Bethel show enough appreciation for the Teacher of Teachers?

Yes, th-they were lovely,

but I'm sure they were glad to be rid of me.

I'll see you in the morning for the committee meeting, yes?

Yes. Yes, of course.

Shmuel.

Rabbi Nicodemus, welcome back.

Thank you. It's good to be back.

I understand congratulations are in order.

I'm sorry I wasn't here to officially welcome you.

I'm honored to be part of it.

Thank you.

Yes, well...

- Well, shalom, shalom. - Shalom, shalom.

I'll be at your quarters in less than an hour, Rabbi Nicodemus.

I have to stop by the Education and Labor Committee meeting first.

- I'll talk to you soon. - Yes, yes.

And it's good to see you again.

Good to see you.

The vote to approve the Sabbath law adjustment proposal

was actually less contentious than I expected.

You would have been surprised at the cooperation

of some of our Sadducean friends, even Gedera.

Uh, let me see what else.

Just the highlights, Zebediah.

Understood.

Uh, Agricultural and Food Committee are still working on their Jotapata analysis.

Oh, the Ritual Purity Committee has decided that...

All right, you don't need an update on that. Let me see.

Um... Ah.

I will say, I saw you talking to Shmuel today.

- His inauguration day was quite something. - Hmm.

Shammai gave the welcome speech, and he really sang his praises,

giving him credit for some of the events

leading to the death of the baptizer from Galilee.

President Shimon raised a ruckus about that whole business.

Death? Of who?

The Baptizer?

John bar Zechariah, you know.

- The one who Herod had imprisoned. - Of course I know who he is.

I encountered him directly in Capernaum.

He's dead?

Beheaded by Herod's court.

It was a whole sordid tale. You hadn't heard?

- No. - Oh.

How did you encounter him?

And did he call you a viper too?

No, no. Not-not quite. He...

But he was certainly a character.

- I visited him in prison there. - Huh.

Beheaded?

Mmm, that was the story.

He had a cousin in Capernaum.

A teacher who was amassing a following, doing signs and wonders.

Yes, Jesus bar Joseph.

You know the name?

Yes, he was the focus of the larger discussion.

Caiaphas ended up giving a whole speech about him.

Caiaphas? How... How did this get to Caiaphas?

He's a rabbi all the way in Capernaum.

Your Bethel trip was too long, Rabbi.

Jesus has been traveling all over,

and these so-called signs and wonders you mentioned have bedeviled the people.

He's the most popular Messiah claimant in a while.

Shmuel had a whole damning report about him.

Caiaphas had to issue an edict, empowering district leaders

to bring him in for questioning for false prophecy,

blasphemy, a litany of charges.

I can't believe you missed all this.

- You met him? - That's all for today, Zebediah.

Thank you for your report.

I'll see you in the morning?

- Uh, of course. Is everything all right? - Yes, yes.

It's just been a long day. I...

Uh, give-give Rebeckah my regards.

And you the same to Zohara. We'll have to have dinner soon.

Yes, yes. I'll have Matthias set it up.

- Shalom, shalom. - Shalom, shalom.

- Matthias. - Yes, Rabbi?

I want you to drop everything you're doing and listen to me carefully.

I have an assignment for you.

Mary of Magdala.

- Have you been looking for me? - Yes.

Teacher, it's you.

Please, keep your voice down. Not everyone in this house is awake.

Why so secretive? Why didn't your men just tell me they were with you?

I am so sorry, but we had no choice.

I don't know what is in your head at the moment,

how zealous you and the others are, what you will say, and to whom.

You've not been discreet lately, and I need to be.

Discreet? You're in the Sanhedrin.

Where is this place?

This is my home, but you don't need to know where.

This city is crawling with spies, agents, and informers.

I don't know why you've been so difficult to reach.

I've really needed your help. Where have you been?