How can we cultivate eagerness for fellowship as Jesus did in Luke 22:15? Seeing Jesus’ Heart for Fellowship Luke 22:15—“And He said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before My suffering.’” • “Eagerly desired” (epithumia, deep longing) reveals Jesus’ intense anticipation, not mere social preference. • His focus is relational and redemptive—He wants to share the covenant meal, explain its meaning, and strengthen His friends before the cross (cf. John 13:1). What an Eager Heart Looks Like • Delight in gathering with God’s people, not viewing it as a duty (Psalm 122:1). • Prioritizing shared worship, Scripture, and the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:42). • Willingness to serve others’ needs as naturally as tending our own (Philippians 2:4). • Expectation that Christ Himself is present when believers draw together (Matthew 18:20). Barriers to Our Eagerness • Self-centered schedules that crowd out corporate life (Luke 14:18-20). • Unresolved conflict or bitterness (Matthew 5:23-24). • Fear of vulnerability—forgetting that fellowship is God’s design for mutual strengthening (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). • Substituting digital contact for embodied presence (Hebrews 10:24-25). Practical Steps to Grow a Ready Heart 1. Rehearse the Gospel daily. – Remember Christ’s costly eagerness; gratitude fuels our own (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). 2. Guard meeting times as immovable appointments. – Treat Sunday worship and small groups like critical family events (Acts 20:7). 3. Prepare before you arrive. – Pray for specific people, read the text ahead, arrive early to greet (Romans 12:10). 4. Engage actively, not passively. – Sing, respond, share, and listen with intent to edify (1 Corinthians 14:26). 5. Extend the table. – Invite believers and seekers into your home; hospitality mirrors Jesus’ table fellowship (Luke 14:12-14; Romans 12:13). 6. Pursue reconciliation quickly. – Keep short accounts so anticipation isn’t choked by resentment (Ephesians 4:31-32). 7. Celebrate ordinances meaningfully. – The Lord’s Supper stirs fresh longing for the Marriage Supper to come (1 Corinthians 11:26; Revelation 19:9). Fruit That Springs from Eager Fellowship • Shared joy: “how good and pleasant” unity is (Psalm 133:1). • Spiritual growth: iron sharpening iron (Proverbs 27:17). • Missional witness: love that the world can’t explain (John 13:35). • Endurance in hardship: hearts knit together stand firm (Colossians 2:2; Hebrews 3:13). Jesus’ words in Luke 22:15 set the pattern: long for fellowship because He first longed for us. Cultivate that same eagerness, and the gatherings of God’s people will echo the warmth of His upper room. |
    |