Jesus has
gone off-script. First, he revealed a betrayal was in the works by one of his
disciples, which raised the roof on the upper room. Second, instead of following
the way Passover has been reenacted by each generation, Jesus blesses the
elements, then brings forward and ratifies a new covenant.
This Passover
is like none other before.
And these
four verses create questions. Did Jesus give the bread and cup to the disciples
as his body and blood? "Take; this
is my body." "This is my blood." Were his statements to be
interpreted as compensatory death and satisfaction atonement? "To die or not
to die" -- was that the question?
Jesus
knew he was going to die. Without question. Those in opposition to his message
of Good News wanted to annihilate him, and in so doing, bring death to his
ministry and actions. Their grand scheme -- wipe Jesus off the face of the
earth, to be forgotten like so many other "so-called Messiahs."
Ultimately,
what was at stake? The fate of the kingdom of God.
At that
time, the covenant between Israel and God was entirely dependent on obedience
of the law -- Exodus
24:3-8. Break the law; break the covenant and thereby break the
relationship with God (as judge). Failure would be the constant result. No relationship
could ever truly exist and thrive.
At Passover
with his disciples, Jesus introduces a new covenant -- one that isn't
dependent upon the law. "He took a
loaf of bread, and after blessing it, he broke it." The new covenant
is "poured out for many."
Not just a select few. Not just for Israel. For all of us.
Jesus
will die and his blood will be shed. Yet, he also knows the new covenant is
dependent on love, not the law.
Did
You Know...?
The
Gospel of Matthew follows the story as written by Mark (the first gospel) but
adds "for the forgiveness of
sins." The Gospel of Luke (composed after Matthew) adds "do this in remembrance of me."
What else
is significant and can be gleaned from "the Lord's Supper" passage?
MARK
makes no mention of lamb being eaten at the table, which was part of Passover. Maybe
the writer was allowing for something else to be considered. Maybe it was because
the "Lamb of God" was at the table.
What does
the bread and cup represent beyond the body and blood of Christ? The kingdom of
God.
Jesus
"gave" the bread and cup to his disciples. He provided them with a
gift. What does one do with a gift after receiving it? They open it, then put
it to use. The gift which the disciples received, they consumed and were to
live out. It opened them to new life -- no longer bound to "old."
They became one with God; they identified with Jesus.
Taking the
bread and cup isn't passive; it's active. By partaking in communion, the
disciples will carry out Jesus' ministry and mission.
Does not
the same apply to us? It's not without cost. Our lives are transformed from old
to new. What "was" dies; what "is" lives.
Reflecting
further on select verses (from the Gospel of John):
* "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes
to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be
thirsty." [i]
* "I have come down from heaven, not to
do my own will, but the will of him who sent me." [ii]
* "Those who eat my flesh and drink my
blood abide in me, and I in them." [iii]
* "This is the bread that came down from
heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who
eats this bread will live forever." [iv]
The Study
Group shared their thoughts about this passage, some of which included:
*
"Jesus did this because of God's love for all of us." -- Brenda
*
"By accepting these elements, we're responsible for paying it
forward." -- Patrick
* "When
I've given myself to God, I'm not #1 anymore." -- C.J.
Jesus
said, "Follow me." With the bread and cup, he said, "Take."
What do we do now?
NEXT
Three
times
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