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?" 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. 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?' He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there." The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 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." They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, "Surely not I?" "It is one of the Twelve," he replied, "one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 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." 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." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them. "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." -Mark 14:12-25*
Imagine having an opportunity to sit with Jesus and ask him, “Lord, what did you mean, ‘This is my body?’”
Bread is like our human flesh; it is of the earth and will return to it. My flesh was broken to feed you, nourish you, sustain you on your journey. But it only nourishes you if you take it and eat it.
“How do we eat it if it is your body?”
As John explains, I AM the Word that became flesh, a living message from my Father. And as I instructed Ezekiel to eat the words of the scroll until he was full, he found they tasted sweet, like honey. But don't eat it like the cynics, to judge the quality and the flavor. Rather, let My Spirit give it life.
“And Lord, what did you mean, ‘This is my blood of the new covenant, shed for many.’?”
My twelve, all Jews, knew that I was referring to the Israelites’ escape from the angel of death that preceded their flight from
“But Lord, why would you do that?”
Because I long for you to be free from slavery to fear, to self-protection, and to self-interest. They would dictate every move, every decision of your life. You are born a slave and must be set free – free to have joy, to love with abandon, to be perfectly secure. And most of all, to be my people and I will be your God. I want you to be my family forever. Abide in Me, and cast off the cares of this world!
Shirley Grigsby just completed a term on the Staff/Parish Relations Committee. Scott is a leader in Boy Scout Troop 121 and is a strong prayerful influence in the church and community.
How has Jesus made a difference in your life? "Jesus has made a difference in my life because he gave me friends, family, pets." -Kaleb Ruiz, 5th grade
*Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
