On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go to prepare the Passover meal for you?”
So Jesus sent two of them into Jerusalem with these instructions: “As you go into the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. At the house he enters, say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal.” So the two disciples went into the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover meal there.
In the evening Jesus arrived with the twelve disciples. As they were at the table eating, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, one of you eating with me here will betray me.”
Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one?”
He replied, “It is one of you twelve who is eating from this bowl with me. For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!”
As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it, for this is my body.”
And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And he said to them, “This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many. I tell you the truth, I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.”
Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
Thanks for the pain
I read this passage with new insight today. I have recited the words of consecration over the bread and juice in church so often they have become second nature, but today they took on new life for me. Especially the words, “And Jesus took the cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it.” I have often given thanks for the cup of wine (juice in our tradition) and been very sincere in my thanks. I am very grateful for the blood of Christ.
It is natural for me to give thanks for the cup. I did not have to give my blood as the payment for sin. My sin caused the outpouring of Christ’s blood. Jesus on the other hand gives thanks to God for the cup. This is the same cup about which he later prays in the garden might pass from him. How amazing that Christ gives thanks to God for the very suffering he will encounter. He understood this suffering in every detail as God’s will for his life. He understood the humiliation that accompanied it. He understood the complete debasement of it. Yet he welcomed it and gave thanks to God for it in the very presence of some who had caused his suffering.
How great is the love of Christ to give thanks for the suffering in his life. With Paul, I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection, the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings. I should not fear the sufferings of Christ but thank God for them. In the end they lead to resurrection.
Jesus, thank you for displaying complete humility and obedience even to the point of thanking God for the cup of suffering. Help me to discover the fellowship that comes from sharing in your sufferings with thanksgiving. - Dan Jones
It’s goin
g to be a drinking party!There’s hope in the heart of pain when Jesus is present! Like Judas, I betray him to the religious ideals to which I cling (see yesterday’s comment). Like Peter I pretend I’m not a Jesus freak. Like the rest of the twelve Apostles, I run in fear and self preservation. But…!
But, Jesus is here! I am his disciple. Many times I am stupid (like a sheep!). Sometimes I cower when backed unexpectedly into a corner. I shy away from sharing suffering with him. But, thank God, he’s accepted me and I belong to him! So there’s a drinking party in my future. One hosted by Jesus himself.
I love the words Jesus speaks when he offers the cup of wine. My paraphrase, “I know what’s coming, but take heart, we’re going to drink together in heaven!” No matter how deep the suffering or stupid my failures, Jesus is sitting around the table of my heart reminding me, “We’re going to have a drinking party together someday. So don't give up.”
With that kind of hope, I can get up after my failures. Unlike Judas, I don’t have to self destruct. Like Peter, I can hear Jesus invite me back into productive contribution to his cause. There is always hope for me. Why? I have my personal invitation to a heavenly drinking party - without the hangover and forever inebriated with perfect joy!
God of the ultimate party, I am looking forward to the day when you will drink wine again, and drink it with me around the heavenly table. With you help and your Spirit’s daily presence, I will endure to the end. Here’s to heaven! - Mike Leamon
No comments:
Post a Comment