Luke 22:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

On Thursday, possibly in the morning, the Lord sends forth the disciples Peter and John, representing love and the beloved, respectively. By truly engaging in such a life, we ought to be immersed in the mysteries of Christ. These mysteries will be prepared through the efforts of Peter and John, through active service and deep reflection, fervent enthusiasm and gentle humility. The believer is called to be passionate in doing good, fervent in opposing evil, and compassionate toward those who commit wrongdoings. It is essential to detest evil while showing care for the person who engages in it, for that individual is in pain. To commit evil is to be afflicted by the evil one and to bear the weight of suffering. With Peter and John organizing the Supper, we understand it as the virtuous life exemplified by Peter and the profound truth upheld by John the Theologian.

The law, through its foretastes, has long indicated the mystery of Christ, and He affirms this when He says to the Jews, "If ye had believed Moses, ye would have believed Me also, for he wrote of Me." Throughout the Scriptures, He is depicted in symbols and figures as having been sacrificed for us, as the pure and true Lamb, sanctifying us through His life-giving blood. Additionally, we see that the words of the holy prophets resonate perfectly with the wisdom of Moses. When "the fullness of time had come," as St. Paul notes, and the only-begotten Word of God was to humble Himself, enter into human flesh, and submit to the law, He was also sacrificed for us, as the unblemished and true lamb, on the fourteenth day of the first month.

Who is the figure in the Gospel who leads the vessel of water into the city, encountered by the disciples dispatched by Christ, who are instructed to follow him? Who possesses the house? Why do the evangelists refrain from disclosing his identity? What significance does the spacious, adorned upper room hold, in which the profound mystery of the divine banquet takes place (Luke 22:7-13; Mark 14:13-16)?

make us ready to partake in the Passover, in accordance with the commandments.

The Gospel of Matthew does not specify who was chosen to make arrangements for the Passover. In contrast, the Gospel of Mark indicates that two of the disciples were dispatched for this task. Meanwhile, the Gospel of Luke provides further clarity by naming Peter and John as the ones sent, highlighting them as the most cherished of the disciples.

Although the other apostles were unaware of the circumstances, the Lord possessed full knowledge and patiently awaited the moment designated for Him. He anticipated departing from His disciples prior to the forthcoming feast, which led Him to instill profound meaning into their final meal together, aligning it with the Jewish Passover meal, or more aptly, with the Christian sacrament that succeeds the Old Testament observance. On the thirteenth day of Nisan, He likely found Himself in Bethany, dedicating His final moments to His disciples. However, on that morning, He instructed Peter and John to go to Jerusalem to inform the owner of the house where the Last Supper would occur about His intention to prepare for the Passover celebration.

Preparation of the Passover for Jesus and His Disciples

The apostles Peter and John inquired of Jesus, “Where would you like us to prepare for the Passover meal? Please tell us, and we will make the necessary arrangements” (Mark 14:12). Preoccupied with the thoughts of His imminent sacrifice, Jesus appeared to not fully hear their question and instructed them, “Yes, go and make preparations for the Passover meal.” They pressed Him further, asking, “Where should we prepare it?” - Where indeed should the Passover be set for Christ, who had nowhere to rest His head? Does the location truly matter?

The Savior instructed the apostles Peter and John to travel to Jerusalem, where He indicated a sign to them, revealing that they would encounter a servant carrying a pitcher of water at the entrance to the city gate. They were to follow this servant to a house, where they would deliver the Master’s request to the owner regarding the preparation of the Passover meal with His disciples in that location. This owner, believed by some to be Joseph of Arimathea, would immediately provide them with an upper room that was fully equipped with the necessary furnishings for their gathering. They discovered everything exactly as Jesus had foretold, and on that day, they made preparations for the Passover.

"Jesus sent": as recounted in the account of the Hebrews. According to Matthew and Mark, the disciples inquired of the Lord where He wished them to make preparations for the Passover. Luke presents a slight variation, indicating that the Lord instructed them to prepare the Passover and, when asked for the location, provided the answer. The fundamental point remains consistent; the variations arise solely from the style of narration. It is likely that the Lord was particularly focused and contemplative at this moment prior to His passion, prompting the disciples, who did not perceive His instructions regarding the Passover, to remind Him (as noted in Matthew and Mark). The Lord responded to their reminder, instructing them to go and prepare (as recorded by Luke). When the disciples sought clarification on the location (in Luke), He responded in a veiled, prophetic manner (as indicated in Matthew, Mark, and Luke).