Key Thought

Today's Prayer

Almighty God and eternal LORD, thank you for the presence of your Son as we share in the Lord's Supper. Thank you even more for the promise that we will share the victorious meal with our Savior when he returns and takes us home to you. In Jesus' name I thank you for all of your blessings. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

It was now the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread. This was the day when the Jews killed the lambs for the Passover. Jesus' followers came to him. They said, "We will go and prepare everything for you to eat the Passover meal. Where do you want us to have the meal?" Jesus sent two of his followers into the city. Jesus said to them, "Go into the city. You will see a man carrying a jar of water. The man will come to you. Follow that man. That man will walk into a house. Tell the person who owns the house, 'The Teacher asks that you show us the room where he and his followers can eat the Passover meal.' The owner will show you a large room upstairs. This room is ready for you. Prepare the food for us there." So the followers left and went into the city. Everything happened the way Jesus said. So the followers prepared the Passover meal. In the evening, Jesus went to that house with the twelve apostles. While they were all at the table eating, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth. One of you will be against me—one of you eating with me now." The followers were very sad to hear this. Each follower said to Jesus, "Surely I will not be against you!" Jesus answered, "The man who is against me is one of you twelve. He is the one who dips his bread into the same bowl with me. The Son of Man will go {and die}. The Scriptures say this will happen. But it will be very bad for the person who gives the Son of Man {to be killed}. It would be better for that person if he were never born." While they were eating, Jesus took some bread. Jesus thanked God for the bread and divided it. He gave the bread to his followers. Jesus said, "Take this bread {and eat it}. This bread is my body." Then Jesus took a cup of wine. He thanked God for it and gave it to the followers. All the followers drank from the cup. Then Jesus said, "This wine is my blood. My blood (death) begins the new agreement {from God to his people}. This blood is given for many people. I tell you the truth. I willnot drink this wine again until that day when I drink it in the kingdom of God and the wine is new." All the followers sang a song. Then they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Related Scripture Readings

They came near the town of Emmaus and Jesus acted like he did not plan to stop there. But they wanted him to stay. They begged him, "Stay with us. It is late; it is almost night." So he went in to stay with them. Jesus got ready to eat with them and took some bread. He gave thanks for the food and divided it. Then he gave it to them. At that time, the men were allowed to recognize Jesus. But when they saw who he was, he disappeared. The two men said to each other, "When Jesus talked to us on the road, it felt like a fire burning in us. It was exciting when he explained to us the true meaning of the Scriptures. " So the two men got up then and went back to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem they found the followers of Jesus meeting together. The eleven apostles and those people that were with them said, "The Lord (Jesus) really has risen from death! He showed himself to Simon (Peter)." Then the two men told the things that had happened on the road. They talked about how they recognized Jesus when he divided the bread.

Then a voice came from the throne. The voice said: "Praise our God, all you people that serve him! Praise our God, all you people small and great that honor him!" Then I heard something that sounded like many, many people. It sounded like the noise of flooding water and like loud thunder. The people were saying: "Hallelujah (Praise God)! Our Lord God rules. He is the All-Powerful. Let us rejoice and be happy and give God glory! Give God glory, because the wedding of the Lamb (Jesus) has come. And the Lamb's bride (the church) has made herself ready. Fine linen was given to the bride for her to wear. The linen was bright and clean." (The fine linen means the good things that God's holy people did.) Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Those people who are invited to the wedding meal of the Lamb are blessed (happy)!" Then the angel said, "These are the true words of God."

Every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you make known the Lord's death until he comes.