Thursday, December 3, 2015
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.
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.
The teaching that I gave you is the same teaching that I received from the Lord: On the night when Jesus was given to be killed, he took bread and gave thanks for it. Then he divided the bread and said, "This is my body; it is for you. Eat this to remember me." In the same way, after they ate, Jesus took the cup of wine. Jesus said, "This wine shows the new agreement {from God to his people}. This new agreement begins with my blood (death). When you drink this, do it to remember me." Every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you make known the Lord's death until he comes.
On Sunday, we all met together to eat {the Lord's Supper}. Paul talked to the group. He was planning to leave the next day. Paul continued talking until midnight.
The believers met together in the temple yard every day. They all had the same purpose. They ate together in their homes. They were happy to share their food and ate with joyful hearts. The believers praised God, and all the people liked them. More and more people were being saved every day; the Lord was adding those people to the group {of believers}.
What Jesus Did is a one-year devotional guide through the gospels, using one short passage each day and following the Gospel in consecutive order. Each devotional consists of a passage, reflection and a prayer which opens up the day's scripture and shows how it challenges you to live for Jesus.
What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware.
Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.
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