Matthew 26:26-30 (NIVUK)
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. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus has just revealed Judas is going to betray him, now he is talking about his death, his giving of his life. It could be seen as a very bleak passage, and in many ways it is, what happened to Jesus shouldn’t have happened, and we shouldn’t be the way we are, and yet we cannot help it. But within this bleakness is hope and light. Jesus takes his execution, his death because of us, and makes it an action carried out for us. He gives himself so that we might be forgiven. More than that, this isn’t the end. One day there will be another meal, another party, in God’s Kingdom.
Jesus, like those first disciples, in response we worship and then we go, go to serve you.
Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash
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