Luke 22:14-20
14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.’
17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, ‘Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ 19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
Nothing about this evening was trivial or accidental. Just about every year my mom prepared a Passover meal for us, going through the meal as close to the traditional Passover as possible. (The original Passover can be found in Exodus 12:1-14.) The entire family is at this meal. Jesus is surrounded by those closest to him. The meal begins with bitter herbs (parsley soaked in salt water) and is done several times throughout the meal. I recall the bitterness as I write this now and the faces of everyone at the table as we partook. It symbolizes the suffering, the bitterness of slavery of the Israelites, the bitterness of death, and the bitterness of an innocent lamb’s substitution. Although all the parts of meal are symbolic, it would have no meaning without the lamb. This night the innocent lamb that is remembered from centuries before will now involve the lamb that would soon be fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The meal continues on to the story of the captives set free, spared from death by the blood of the lamb. As a youngster, I didn’t fully understand. Now I see how this directly relates to how God sent his son “the lamb of God” as a way of escape for us all.
I appreciate the connection on this day of the Last Supper, but how seriously do I remember every time I receive Holy Communion? I am reminded that when I participate in Holy Communion, I share this moment with my church family. I remember I am forgiven. I remember God has provided a way to es-cape my sin.
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