Thoughts for another day

April 5, 2012

Today's verse: Mk. 14:22-24. And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Millions of Christians around the globe observe today as Maundy/Holy/Great/Covenant Thursday by recalling the wonderful sacrifice of the Lord and the Last Supper on the night before He was offered as the Lamb of God.  Looking at our Scripture, let's go back to that moment when Christ sat with His disciples in the upper room, His heart heavy with grief for He knew the immense suffering He would go through shortly.  In that moment of sorrow, He looked at them; He knew that though they were with Him now, in a few hours they would run away, deserting Him.  It filled His heart with sorrow, but it didn't come in the way of His love for them for He understood their nature as He Himself was 100% human and He took bread and gave thanks; committing to them His eternal Word, 'Take eat, this My body!'  Then He passed it around and they ate.

They hardly understand the significance of that offering as their minds had erased the memory of His Word, 'I AM the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this Bread, he will live forever. This Bread is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.' Jn. 6:51. They were dulled by the rigors of the world; and though He had explained Scripture and its fulfillment in Him, they did not understand that Scripture was coming alive right in front of them.   He then took the cup, giving thanks, gave it to them saying, 'This is My blood of the new covenant which is shed for many!'  Thus Jesus established the New Covenant, obliterating death as our due on account of sin, liberating us from its clutches that the devil held as 'legal' bind over man, asserting dominion over him.  Christ, in that significant moment, destroyed the rules which were against us and further submitting Himself to death, nailed them on the Cross and we were free, saved and redeemed.  Take a moment now to think of the greatness of Christ's sacrifice for us and every time you participate in this observance, think how much He loved you and return to Him.