26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:26-28, NIV).
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Have you ever thought about why Jesus and His disciples had gathered together for the LAST SUPPER? Did they know that this would be their last meal with Him before the crucifixion? Was this simply another evening meal with their Lord?
Actually, they had gathered that evening to share in the PASSOVER meal. Every year, for almost 1,500 years, the Jews celebrated their freedom by remembering how God spared their lives as the angel of death PASSED OVER their doors while God forced the Egyptian Pharaoh to let Moses lead the Jews away from captivity.
This is why they were there that night. But Jesus had a much more profound reason for that evening meal. Not only was He there to celebrate Passover, and God’s covenant promise of rescue and freedom for His people, but Jesus was also there to become the NEW PROMISE that would set people free from the bondage of sin forever!
Note the first thing Jesus did was to bless the bread, giving thanks to God for it. Thanking God for His provision and for keeping His promises and being a loving God.
Then, when Jesus broke the bread, He was symbolizing how His body was getting ready to be broken on the cross. He was previewing for the disciples what was getting ready to happen – the immense sacrifice that He was getting ready to make on behalf of all sinners, people just like you and me.
Lastly, the wine symbolized His blood that would be spilled on our behalf. In hindsight, we know what Jesus did for us, but His disciples had yet to fully grasp what was about to go down. They also didn’t fully grasp that Jesus would see them again… in three more days, when He came back UP from the grave in VICTORY!
As we celebrate Easter let us come broken before Christ, so that we can truly embrace that fact that we RISE IN VICTORY WITH HIM, for what He alone has done!
Though we are sinners, we are FORGIVEN by the blood of Jesus Christ and have becomes heirs to the riches of heaven. That is our HOPE. That is His TRUTH. That is His PROMISE. That is a FACT. Praise our Lord for doing for us what we could never do on our own!
David McCall
Executive Pastor
