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The Lord's Supper
12 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus' disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"
13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, 'The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' 15 He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there."
16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me."
19 They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, "Surely not I?"
20 "It is one of the Twelve," he replied, "one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 21 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."
22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body."
23 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it.
24 "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them. 25 "I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God."
26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
◊——————————————————————————————————————–◊
Mark records the origin of the LORD's Supper, also called Communion or Eucharist (thanksgiving), which is still celebrated in worship services today. Jesus and His disciples ate a meal, sang a hymn, Jesus spoke Scripture, and prayed. It was a very personal time; yet still provided an element of fellowship. Jesus took two traditional parts of the Passover meal, the passing of bread and the drinking of wine, and gave them new meaning as representations of His body and blood. He used the bread and wine to explain the significance of what He was about to do on the cross.
Judas, the very man who would betray Jesus, was at the table with the others. Judas has already determined to betray Jesus by this time, but in cold-blooded hypocrisy he shared the fellowship of this meal. It is easy to become enraged or shocked by what Judas did; yet professing commitment to Christ and then denying Him with one's life is also betraying Him. It is denying Christ's love to disobey Him; it is denying His truth to distrust Him; it is denying His deity to reject His authority. Yet, how many of us find ourselves denying Him areas of our lives and decisions? How many of us suffer from disobedience? How many of us truly trust Him? How many of us believe Jesus is God? Often times, people come to church to take part in taking of the bread and drinking of the wine (grape juice), knowing they have been and/or, are just going to go out and betray Jesus again with sin. Does this make us any different from Judas?
Are you going to follow the ways of Judas or Jesus?
Does your heart, words and actions match? If not, take the time and consider a change of mind and heart that will protect you from making a terrible mistake. It is so important that we do this because ignorance, and ignoring the problem, is not going to help or save us. Only Jesus will.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, how far I have strayed from Your commandments. It hurts to know how I've harmed You and those I love with my selfish actions. You've promised that if I return to You, You will not turn away. Forgive my sin, LORD, and help me make things right with those I've hurt. Help them to forgive my wrongs, too. Turn my heart from evil; and from betrayal of Your precious Son, Jesus. Help me be more like You each day moving forward. Put this sin in my past--forever; and hold my hand as I choose to live for You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
- All prayers provided by TGN are just starters; please allow your heart and the Holy Spirit direct your words to God.
*Additional Resources: The Everyday Guide to Prayer.
Death and Resurrection of Jesus, The Servant
Mark 14:12-26 NIVThe Lord's Supper
12 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus' disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"
13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, 'The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' 15 He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there."
16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me."
19 They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, "Surely not I?"
20 "It is one of the Twelve," he replied, "one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 21 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."
22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body."
23 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it.
24 "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them. 25 "I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God."
26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
◊——————————————————————————————————————–◊
Mark records the origin of the LORD's Supper, also called Communion or Eucharist (thanksgiving), which is still celebrated in worship services today. Jesus and His disciples ate a meal, sang a hymn, Jesus spoke Scripture, and prayed. It was a very personal time; yet still provided an element of fellowship. Jesus took two traditional parts of the Passover meal, the passing of bread and the drinking of wine, and gave them new meaning as representations of His body and blood. He used the bread and wine to explain the significance of what He was about to do on the cross.
Judas, the very man who would betray Jesus, was at the table with the others. Judas has already determined to betray Jesus by this time, but in cold-blooded hypocrisy he shared the fellowship of this meal. It is easy to become enraged or shocked by what Judas did; yet professing commitment to Christ and then denying Him with one's life is also betraying Him. It is denying Christ's love to disobey Him; it is denying His truth to distrust Him; it is denying His deity to reject His authority. Yet, how many of us find ourselves denying Him areas of our lives and decisions? How many of us suffer from disobedience? How many of us truly trust Him? How many of us believe Jesus is God? Often times, people come to church to take part in taking of the bread and drinking of the wine (grape juice), knowing they have been and/or, are just going to go out and betray Jesus again with sin. Does this make us any different from Judas?
Are you going to follow the ways of Judas or Jesus?
Does your heart, words and actions match? If not, take the time and consider a change of mind and heart that will protect you from making a terrible mistake. It is so important that we do this because ignorance, and ignoring the problem, is not going to help or save us. Only Jesus will.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, how far I have strayed from Your commandments. It hurts to know how I've harmed You and those I love with my selfish actions. You've promised that if I return to You, You will not turn away. Forgive my sin, LORD, and help me make things right with those I've hurt. Help them to forgive my wrongs, too. Turn my heart from evil; and from betrayal of Your precious Son, Jesus. Help me be more like You each day moving forward. Put this sin in my past--forever; and hold my hand as I choose to live for You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
- All prayers provided by TGN are just starters; please allow your heart and the Holy Spirit direct your words to God.
*Additional Resources: The Everyday Guide to Prayer.
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