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Day 42 Mark 14:12-26 Mark 14:12 And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the Passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou may eat the Passover? 13 And he sent forth two of his disciples, and said unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him. 14 And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the good man of the house, The Master said, Where is the guest chamber, where I shall eat the Passover with my disciples? 15 And he will show you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us. 16 And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the Passover. 17 And in the evening he came with the twelve. 18 And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eats with me shall betray me. 19 And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? And another said, Is it I? 20 And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dips with me in the dish. 21 The Son of man indeed goes, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! Good were it for that man if he had never been born. 22 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. 23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. 24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. 25 Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God. 26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. If you go to church, you’re familiar with the sacrament of Holy Communion. It is offered in churches at a minimum, once a month, and at most every week. It wasn’t always known as Communion, but more commonly known as The Last Supper. When Jesus ate the Last Supper with his disciples, he changed the once a year custom of Passover, to the custom it is known as today. However, what did Jesus do during that last supper that changed the way Passover was celebrated? In the Passover ritual, there is a set manner in which the bread and wine are eaten and the foods prepared. It was a reminder of the bondage they endured in Egypt, and the last night they were in Egypt as slaves, before they hurried from Egypt to the Promised Land. The bitter herbs reminded them of the hardship they endured as slaves. The unleavened bread signified the haste in which they departed Egypt, and the lamb was without spot, pure and unblemished. They took the lamb’s blood and put it across the tops and sides of the doors, so the death angel would pass over their homes, when it struck the firstborn of Egypt. When Jesus took the bread and broke it for his disciples, there were three sections the bread was placed in the napkin. The middle section was never eaten because that was reserved for the Messiah. When Jesus broke bread, he took the middle section, declaring who he was, and the purpose he was there. He was the spotless Lamb of God who would later give his life as a ransom for everyone in the world who would trust and believe in him. When the disciples saw what he did, they recognized the significance of his actions. They didn’t understand he would die or that one of them would betray him. That realization came in the next few hours. With the fourth cup of the Passover meal, Jesus declared his purpose, to give his life for all mankind, not just the Jews. As Christians, you have the opportunity to celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection every time you take communion and partake in the Last Supper. You don’t eat a full meal, as Passover was, but only take the bread and wine, signifying what Jesus did for you. There is a consequence to partaking of Holy Communion. You must not eat or drink it in an unworthy manner. 1 Corinthians 11:23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come. 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. You need to know and understand what you are partaking of, when you take Holy Communion. You need to examine yourselves. Are you taking communion out of ritual or is it the Holy Sacrament Jesus instituted before he died? If it is no more than a ritual, you are partaking in an unworthy manner. Consider your actions, and confess them, then partake, and you will feel the blessing God intended through the salvation he provided in Jesus, his Son. Let’s pray: Father, let me consider my actions, examining all I’ve done, confessing them, so I will not be found unworthy of partaking of your Holy Sacrament. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 17 August 2018 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay