Key Thought

Jesus speaks of his anticipation to eat two special meals with his disciples. The first is the Passover meal he is sharing with his disciples as he utters these words. This is the beginning of his Passion -- his journey to the Cross in obedience with his Father's will. What lies ahead of him is a horrible ordeal involving great suffering, humiliating rejection, and the anguish of abandonment by his friends. However, this meal is Jesus' last with his earthly disciples before his passion -- the great suffering he endured in his betrayal, abandonment, arrest, trials, and crucifixion. Jesus wants to use this time to prepare his disciples for all that lies ahead. In addition, Jesus anticipates sharing in another meal with his disciples beyond his death at the fulfillment of the Kingdom. He gives a sense of hope for them to reflect back upon after the worst has come. For those of us who live on this side of Jesus' death and resurrection and celebrate the Lord's Supper, Jesus gives us the basis of our three-fold understanding of the Supper for us. We recognize our Savior's agony in offering his body and blood to save us. We celebrate his victory over death as we celebrate the Supper on the day of his resurrection -- Sunday, the first day of the week. We anticipate the glory of his return and our sharing in a victory supper with our Savior.

Today's Prayer

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O holy and righteous Father, thank you! I praise you for your love in sending your Son to suffer and die so that I could be delivered from my sin. I praise you for the faith Jesus demonstrated as he stared death and suffering in the face. I praise you for the great supper that lies ahead when I get to share in the victory of Jesus' return. Thank you for your love, mercy, and grace. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

The time came for them to eat the Passover meal. Jesus and the apostles were together at the table. Jesus said to them, "I wanted very much to eat this Passover meal with you before I die. I will never eat another Passover meal until it is given its true meaning in the kingdom of God." Then Jesus took a cup of wine. He gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, "Take this cup and give it to everyone here. I will never drink wine again until God's kingdom comes." Then Jesus took some bread. He thanked God for the bread and divided it. He gave it to the apostles. Then Jesus said, "This bread is my body that I am giving for you. Eat this to remember me." In the same way, after supper, Jesus took the cup of wine and said, "This wine shows the new agreement {from God to his people}. This new agreement begins with my blood (death) that I am giving for you." Jesus said, "One of you will soon be against me. His hand is by my hand on the table. The Son of Man will do what God has planned. But it will be very bad for that person who gives the Son of Man {to be killed}." Then the apostles asked each other, "Which one of us would do that to Jesus?" Later the apostles began to argue about which one of them was the most important. But Jesus said to them, "The kings of the world rule over their people. Men who have authority over other people make the people call them 'great helpers {of the people}.' But you must not be like that. The greatest person should become like the youngest person! Leaders should be like servants. Who is more important: the person sitting at the table or the person serving him? You think the person sitting at the table is more important. But I am like a servant among you! "You men have stayed with me through many struggles. My Father has given me a kingdom. I also give you authority to rule with me. You will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. You will sit on thrones and judge the twelve tribes (family groups) of Israel.

— Luke 22:14-30 (ERV)

Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.