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[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:The_eye_of_all_ur60.jpg|right|frame]] 179:1.1 When [[the apostles]] had been shown upstairs by [[John Mark]], they beheld a large and commodious chamber, which was completely furnished for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover_seder the supper], and [[observed]] that the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover_seder#Order_of_the_Seder bread, wine, water, and herbs] were all in readiness on one end of the table. Except for the end on which rested the bread and wine, this long table was [[surrounded]] by thirteen reclining couches, just such as would be provided for the [[celebration]] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover_seder Passover] in a [[Wealthy|well-to-do]] [[Jewish]] [[Home|household]]. 179:1.2 As [[the twelve]] entered this [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cenacle upper chamber], they noticed, just inside the door, the pitchers of water, the basins, and towels for laving their dusty feet; and since no servant had been provided to render this [[service]], [[the apostles]] began to look at one another as soon as [[John Mark]] had left them, and each began to [[think]] within himself, Who shall wash our feet? And each likewise [[thought]] that it would not be he who would thus seem to [[act]] as the servant of the others. 179:1.3 As they stood there, [[debating]] in their [[hearts]], they [[surveyed]] the seating arrangement of the table, taking note of the higher [[divan]] of the host with one couch on the right and eleven arranged around the table on up to opposite this second seat of [[honor]] on the [[host]]'s right. 179:1.4 They [[expected]] [[the Master]] to arrive any [[moment]], but they were in a [[quandary]] as to whether they should seat themselves or await his coming and depend on him to assign them their places. While they [[hesitated]], [[Judas Iscariot|Judas]] stepped over to the seat of [[honor]], at the left of the [[host]], and [[signified]] that he [[intended]] there to recline as the preferred guest. This [[act]] of [[Judas Iscariot|Judas]] [[immediately]] stirred up a heated [[dispute]] among the other [[apostles]]. [[Judas Iscariot|Judas]] had no sooner seized the seat of [[honor]] than [[John Zebedee]] laid claim to the next preferred seat, the one on the right of the [[host]]. [[Simon Peter]] was so [[enraged]] at this [[assumption]] of choice positions by [[Judas Iscariot|Judas]] and [[John, the Apostle|John]] that, as the other [[angry]] [[apostles]] looked on, he marched clear around the table and took his place on the lowest couch, the end of the seating order and just opposite to that chosen by [[John Zebedee]]. Since others had seized the high seats, [[Peter, the Apostle|Peter]] [[thought]] to [[choose]] the lowest, and he did this, not merely in [[protest]] against the unseemly [[pride]] of his brethren, but with the [[hope]] that [[Jesus]], when he should come and see him in the place of least [[honor]], would call him up to a higher one, thus displacing one who had [[presumed]] to [[honor]] himself. 179:1.5 With the highest and the lowest positions thus occupied, the rest of [[the apostles]] chose places, some near [[Judas Iscariot|Judas]] and some near [[Peter, the Apostle|Peter]], until all were located. They were seated about the U-shaped table on these reclining [[divans]] in the following order: on the right of [[the Master]], [[John, the Apostle|John]]; on the left, [[Judas Iscariot|Judas]], [[Simon Zelotes]], [[Matthew, the Apostle|Matthew]], [[James Zebedee]], [[Andrew, the Apostle|Andrew]], the [[Alpheus twins]], [[Philip, the Apostle|Philip]], [[Nathaniel]], [[Thomas, the Apostle|Thomas]], and [[Simon Peter]]. 179:1.6 They are gathered [[together]] to [[celebrate]], at least in [[spirit]], an [[institution]] which antedated even [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] and referred to the times when their [[fathers]] were [[slaves]] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egypt Egypt]. This supper is their last [[rendezvous]] with [[Jesus]], and even in such a [[solemn]] setting, under the [[leadership]] of [[Judas Iscariot|Judas]] [[the apostles]] are [[led]] once more to give way to their old predilection for [[honor]], preference, and [[personal]] [[exaltation]]. 179:1.7 They were still [[engaged]] in voicing [[angry]] recriminations when [[the Master]] appeared in the doorway, where he [[hesitated]] a [[moment]] as a look of [[disappointment]] slowly crept over his face. Without comment he went to his place, and he did not disturb their seating arrangement. 179:1.8 They were now ready to begin [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover_ceder the supper], except that their feet were still unwashed, and they were in anything but a pleasant [[frame]] of [[mind]]. When [[the Master]] arrived, they were still [[engaged]] in making uncomplimentary remarks about one another, to say nothing of the [[thoughts]] of some who had sufficient [[emotional]] [[control]] to refrain from [[publicly]] [[expressing]] their [[feelings]]. <center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_179 Go to Paper 179]</center> <center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center> [[Category:Paper 179 - The Last Supper]] [[Category: Ego]]

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