Course Description

On the night before handing Himself over the death on a Roman cross, Jesus of Nazareth gathered His first followers together around a meal in what has come to be known as ‘The Upper Room,’ an up-stairs apartment somewhere in the heart of Jerusalem. The event takes place under the cloud of His announcing that, after three plus years of close association, He would be leaving them, ‘returning,’ as He put it, ‘to My Father.’ His actions and teaching that evening thus prepared them to move forward in discipleship and ministry in the absence of His physical presence. Which, of course, is the context He which He calls us to follow Him and continue in His ministry.

In this course, we will work our way through the record of that evening, being able to give more careful attention to what He did and said than the first followers were able to do (!), until it was all recorded for them and us in John 13-17. We will find ourselves further equipped and empowered for discipleship and ministry, as He gives us His perspective on His action in the world, as He gives us our new identity in relationship with Him, as He calls us to ‘a new commandment’ and to ‘not be afraid,’ as He makes promises that bring us more fully into the new reality shaped by His gospel, and as He prays for us.