On Thursday of this Passion Week, Jesus celebrated Passover with his 12 disciples (Matthew 26:17-29).
Jesus and the disciples are eating the Passover meal when Jesus takes the cup and bread and uses them to help explain the significance of his upcoming death. He identifies the broken bread with his body and the cup with his blood of the covenant, which is poured out for the forgiveness of sins. Finally he says that he will not drink from the fruit of the vine again until he drinks it with them in his Father’s kingdom. After this profound interpretation of his upcoming death, they sing a hymn and depart to the Mount of Olives. (Mangum, D. (Ed.). (2020). Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament (Mt 26:26–30). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.)
Jesus establishes the new covenant and gives new meaning to this practice for his followers.
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes (1 Corinthians 11:23–26).
On Thursday, April 1, I invite you do something special. Spend time with the Lord as an individual or as a family around the Lord’s table.
- First, I invite you to go your own pantry and get some bread and juice. You can use whatever you have. It doesn’t need to be a certain type of bread or cracker in order to be holy. It is all about God’s love shown through the cross of Jesus that makes it sacred.
- Next, pray and ask the Lord to help you meet him at his table. Pray and sanctify the bread and the juice and your time with the Lord and each other.
- Read one or more of the Scripture passages detailing the meal Jesus shared with his disciples (Matthew 26:14-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:1-39; John 13:1-38).
- To set the stage for gratitude and worship, you might want to meditate on the song, Remembrance.
- Partake of the bread and juice.
- Close in prayer.
Celebrating the Lord’s Supper.
- The Lord’s Supper is an opportunity to express gratitude to the Lord.
- The Lord’s Supper is an opportunity to meet the Lord at his table.
- In the Scripture, we read about the Passover Meal which the Lord Jesus shared with his disciples. Jesus reinterprets it and gives us the Lord’s Supper. We encounter Jesus at his Communion Table to remember all that he has done for us, all that he is doing, and all that he will do.
- By celebrating the Lord’s Supper, (1) we remember the Lord Jesus and his sacrifice, (2) we proclaim his gospel, and (3) we prophesy his return (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
Make the “ask.”
Remember to invite others to join you for Easter either in-person or online. Our God has left a clear witness in our culture. The good news is that people are thinking about going to church at Easter. They just need an invitation. Your friends, family, and neighbors are waiting for someone to invite them. May God give you divine appointments and may you exercise the courage of Christ as you step through those open doors to connect with others.
Blessings,
Pastor Jeff
