And he said to them, “I have eagerly awaited to eat this Passover with you before I suffer”.
Luke 22:15 (NLT)
The Passover feast had already been celebrated for thousands of years before Jesus had come to earth. Jesus was no different than anyone else of the time he celebrated this day with his parents as a child and now with his Disciples as an adult. Jesus knew his fate was death on a cross, he knew he would be betrayed, denied, ran from, mocked and beaten. Knowing this, Jesus said to the Disciples, “I eagerly await to eat the Passover meal with you.” Each Passover there was a sacrificial lamb, the Apostles still didn’t understand, Jesus was about to prepare a sacrificial lamb and the sacrificial lamb would be Jesus himself.
Can you hear the Apostles entering the room for the Passover Feast? They had come from different places but had come together to celebrate this sacred meal with Jesus. As they entered the room there must have been handshakes, hugs and high fives. There must have been a buzz of conversation, Greetings, hellos, what’s up and all kind of salutations of the time. What the Apostles didn’t know was the impact that night would have on eternity. Jesus was probably part of the conversations, greetings, jokes, laughter and how do you do’s.
The evening shifted to a very serious and sober tone. After the greetings and the King of Kings washed all 24 feet, it was time for supper. It was time for toasts and to remember why they were there. It was also time for Jesus to make some announcements, prophesy, and harsh proclamations. Jesus said one of the men in the room would betray him. Jesus said they would scatter, Jesus even told Peter that he would deny him. He told them he would be betrayed, arrested, and sentenced to death for the sin of the world. Jesus told them he was the sacrificial lamb, that he was the Lamb of God. The mood must have changed very quickly.
Jesus took bread from the table and said “This is my body, take and eat, it will be given up for you.” Then he took a cup of the fruit of the vine, and said, this is my blood which will be shed for all”. Jesus prayed for the Apostles, himself and the people of all time. Jesus told the Apostles of the coming of God’s own Holy Spirit. Jesus taught all evening. The one request Jesus made was when you eat this bread and drink this cup do this in remembrance of me.
Many celebrate the Lords Supper on the first day of the week, we take the bread and eat, and we take the fruit of the vine and drink. While we do this we do it as a remembrance of Jesus. This is not a memorial service as that is for the dead. Jesus is alive and will return, also remember that. So on Sunday when you take the bread and drink the fruit of the vine, Remember, remember and remember.
God Bless
Ken Jones
THS <><
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