XXXV. The Last Supper
134. At the Start of the Supper
17And when it was evening he came with the twelve. 24A dispute arose among them, which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.14And when the hour came, he sat at table, and the apostles with him. 15And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16for I tell you I shall not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”a 17And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves; 18for I tell you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
(Mk. 14:17; Lk. 22:24, 14–18)
a “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you I shall not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” —Jesus knows that he is about to suffer and die at the hands of the Jerusalem religious leaders and tells the apostles that he will not eat with them again until they sit together in the kingdom of God in heaven.
Jesus taught two distinct concepts of the kingdom of God:
(1) The kingdom of God on earth—In all his teachings Jesus gave first emphasis to the kingdom within (“The kingdom of God is within you.” Ch. 107, Lk. 17:21) This is the kingdom of God on earth; it exists in the hearts and minds of each individual who has chosen to abide by his Father’s will—to do the will of God. This is the kingdom that Jesus came to establish on our world.
(2) The kingdom of God in heaven—Jesus also taught another phase of the kingdom, the kingdom of God in heaven. This is the goal of gospel believers, to survive death and ascend to the heavenly mansion worlds. (“In my Father’s house are many mansions.” Ch. 140, Jn. 14:2) This is the salvation—the eternal survival—we attain by choosing and doing the Father’s will while on earth.
Lk. 22:16 it again until (RSV alt. trans.) / it until (RSV) (179:0-2/1936–8)
