Be Still and Know - "Take This And Eat It, For This Is My Body"
(from www.premierchristianradio.com)
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Matthew 26.26 NLT
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 this and eat it, for this is my body.”
The Old Testament prophets frequently communicated their message by actions. They are often called acted parables. Through their actions they powerfully proclaimed their message in a way that was both clear and unforgettable. In the Gospels, we see Jesus doing exactly the same thing. On Palm Sunday his entry into Jerusalem on a donkey powerfully declared that he was both a king and a man of peace. He came in humility and gentleness. Now, on the night before his crucifixion, Jesus shares the Passover meal with his disciples and declares, in the breaking of bread, that this represents his broken body.
The Passover meal is an annual opportunity for Jews to revisit the Israelite’s miraculous liberation from Egypt. That historic event proved for all time that God is a God of salvation. He is able to do things which are humanly impossible. At the Last Supper, Jesus stood before his disciples as the saviour of the world. At the time, the disciples had no idea what was going to happen over the next few hours but, for the rest of their lives, they were able to look back to that precious final meal that they enjoyed before Jesus’ death.
The miracle of salvation is something which we need to celebrate continually. It is only through the death of Jesus on the cross that we can be set free from our sin and guilt. Jesus continues to invite us to meet him and praise him for his extravagant generosity. As we receive bread, we hear the words of love from 2,000 years ago, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.”
Question: Imagine that you were one of the disciples. What do you think your memory would have been of the Last Supper?
Prayer: Loving Father, thank you for your salvation. Help me always to treasure this supreme gift. Amen