Thursday Scripture for today: Matthew 26:17-29. You may wish to read the other Gospel accounts for the Last Supper in Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:17-20 and 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.
Matthew 26:17–29 (NASB95) 17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” 18 And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.” ’ ” 19 The disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.
The Last Passover
20 Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. 21 As they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” 22 Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23 And He answered, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. 24 “The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” 25 And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus *said to him, “You have said it yourself.”
The Lord’s Supper Instituted
26 While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. 29 “But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
Jesus had spent Tuesday disputing with the Jewish leaders and teaching the crowds of people, perhaps He had spent time Wednesday in solitude, but Thursday He spent with His disciples.
Jesus showed them, by His own example, what it meant to be a servant and that true greatness can only be found in servanthood (Luke 22:24-30; John 13:1-17). It was at this time Jesus told His disciples that He was the only Way to the Father. He taught them about the coming power of the Holy Spirit and victorious life in Jesus Christ (John, chapters 14, 15, 16). Jesus also told the disciples that they would all fall away during His time of suffering (Mark 14:27; Matthew 26:31-35).
Most of the conversation that is recorded for us took place during the Passover meal. During this meal the minds of the disciples were to be focused on God’s deliverance of the Jewish people from Egypt.
Passover celebrated the “passing over” of God’s avenging angel who went throughout Egypt killing the first-born of every man and animal. Every house which had, according to God’s command, killed the Passover lamb and placed its blood around the door way, was “passed over”. The houses that had not killed the Passover lamb and applied its blood were struck with death.
Now Jesus was attaching new significance to the elements of the meal. The bread was to be His body, which was to be given for them. The cup would be the symbol of the New Covenant in His Blood. He said that His shed blood would bring forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:38). Jesus’ blood would save those who applied it through faith, just as hundreds of years before the blood of the Passover lamb saved the lives of their forefathers. Jesus said we are to participate in communion to proclaim His death until He comes again (1 Corinthians 11:26).
Think of the deliverance from Egypt that God provided for His people and think of the deliverance from sin that God provides to us through the shed blood of our Passover Lamb, Jesus.
Prayer: Thank you, God for loving us enough to send Jesus to die for our sins. Thank you for the remembrance of communion, the commemoration of His payment for our sins. Amen.
