Daily Bible Study

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Day 53 Mark 14:12 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?” 13 He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him. 14 Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’” 15 Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us.” 16 So His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover. 17 In the evening He came with the twelve. 18 Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me will betray Me.” 19 They began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him one by one, “Is it I?” And another said, “Is it I?” 20 He answered and said to them, “It is one of the twelve, who dips with Me in the dish. 21 The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born.” 22 As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. 25 Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. How often do you sit at the table with friends or family, and your host gives you a disturbing announcement? Then afterward the meal continued as though nothing untoward took place. You have many questions, but your host only answers one, and not to your satisfaction. As the meal progresses, your host blesses the meal and makes another announcement you do not understand but do not question. Jesus ate the Passover meal with His disciples. As He did, He announced that someone among them would betray Him. When it came time for the giving of the bread and wine, Jesus added an element to the familiar ritual, calling it a new covenant in His blood as He blessed the bread and wine. He also told them He would not drink of the vine until they were together in His kingdom. As Christians, you are familiar with the part of the Passover ceremony you have come to call Holy Communion. You no longer question what took place during the meal. You know that what Jesus did leads to your salvation. The disciples didn’t know that at the time. They had questions without answers. Or answers they didn’t understand. Jesus talked to them at length about what would take place later that night while they were on the road to Jerusalem, but they didn’t comprehend what He told them. They didn’t expect He would die later that night and it would change everything in their lives. Right then, they followed along with the ceremony and watched as Jesus blessed the bread and cup and passed it to each of them. Lost to most Christians about the ceremony is the significance of the cup and bread Jesus chose in that part of the Passover ceremony. They had come to the last of four cups of wine and the last of the bread. The fourth cup was reserved for Elijah. No one drank from that cup. The last of the matzoh hidden in a pouch containing three matzoh at the beginning of the ceremony, was never touched as it was reserved for the Messiah. When Jesus took the bread from the hidden pouch, blessed it and passed it to the disciples, they knew something different took place. Jesus introduced a new covenant and tradition when He blessed the cup, which Christians would practice whenever they come together. When you partake of communion, you know Jesus freed you from slavery to Satan through His death on the cross. Passover celebrates freedom and redemption when Moses lead the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt to the Promised Land. Your freedom happened on the cross. Satan no longer has a hold on you. Jesus showed His disciples He was their Messiah when He blessed the fourth cup and the last matzoh. You know Jesus as your Messiah and should always bless the cup and bread when you partake of communion because He redeemed you from slavery to Satan. Let’s pray: Father, thank you for the death of Your Son, Jesus because He redeemed me and set me free from Satan’s bondage. Let me continually praise You for what Jesus did for me on the cross. Let me not take my freedom for granted but celebrate the new covenant in Jesus’ blood whenever it is offered. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 5 September 2023 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.