Maundy Thursday

"A man carrying a jar of water" is how Jesus identified the location of the final meal. But would that scene be so unusual as to assist the disciples in preparing for the Passover? In fact, it would be out of the ordinary. In the first century, men did not carry water.

Scholars in the land say this bit of detail from the gospels may identify for us the location of the Lord's Supper as well. Only male priests would carry water. Since temple priests can be ruled out as possibly cooperating with Jesus and the disciples that late in the last week, the man in question likely was an Essene priest.

Father Bargil Pixner identified what he called the Essene Gate to Jerusalem. The Essene Monastery would surely have been nearby on Mount Zion. The site today is in close proximity to the traditional Upper Room (Crusader).

Could it be that Jesus drew upon the hospitality of the Essenes for his final meal with the disciples? If so, the Essenes were the lone supporters of Jesus among the major players in Jerusalem as the ministry of Jesus drew to a close.