January 8, 2007

“When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. And He said to the,” I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.” And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.” Luke 22:14-20

When we come to the Lord’s Table and reflect on the Scriptures that teach on the Lord’s Table, we are challenged to do three things. First, we have an opportunity to remember the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. Secondly, we have an opportunity to reflect on our walk with Christ and examine where we are in our journey. Finally, it is an opportunity to anticipate the return of Christ. Over the next several days, I would like for us to look at each of these a bit more carefully.

But as you read this account in Luke today, I want us to look back for just a few moments. Imagine, if you can, being seated at the table as Jesus explained to you and the other disciples what was getting ready to happen. Jesus took the bread and told them that it represented His body which was going to be broken for them. There is no doubt that as Jesus did this He was fully aware of the physical pain and suffering that was going to come upon Him over the next several hours of His life. He knew that He was going to be beaten and flogged. He knew that He was going to have to carry a heavy cross on His badly beaten body all the way to Golgotha. He knew that He would have nails driven in His hands and feet, and He certainly knew the pain that He would experience when His raw back and legs would rub against the splintered cross that He was nailed to.

But He also took the cup and reminded them that the cup represented His blood that would be poured out. Jesus was aware of every drop of blood that would fall to the earth. Whether from the crown of thorns, the beatings, the cross, or the spear stuck in His side, He knew this what was going to happen.

And yet He took the bread, that represented His body, and took the cup, which represented His blood, and told His disciples that they would be broken and poured out for each of them. He said, My body will be broken “for you” and my blood will be poured out “for you.”

We know full well that He didn’t just have the disciples in mind. He had you and I in mind as well. He did for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves, and inasmuch gave us the most amazing gift we could ever experience.

As you reflect on these verses just pause and give thanks for what Christ did…FOR YOU!