The Last Supper

 

    It is Thursday in Holy Week.  Jesus and his apostles have had a great week so far.  They were relaxing and having dinner.  Jesus' apostles were completely unaware that in a matter of hours the great week would turn into a nightmare.  

    Jerusalem was celebrating the liberation from Egypt (Passover).  The lamb was the central animal of the celebration since the Hebrews had sacrificed a lamb and put it's blood on the door frames, so the angel of death would pass over their homes.  The lamb had to die to protect God's people.  The irony is Jesus became that pure white lamb.  He is the only one worthy or capable of being the sacrifice to give you the opportunity to be saved from the chains of sin and all it's consequences.

    Jesus and his apostles were in a home celebrating the Passover meal which is now called the Last Supper.  There is so much significance in it.  It was not an accident that Jesus chose that night to do something new and revolutionary to change religious culture.  He took the bread and had it represent his body.  He took the wine and had it represent his blood.  Together it represents fulfillment and the new covenant being made with God.

    If you believe in Jesus, proclaim your faith, repent from your sins, and start following Jesus then you are what we call today a Christian.  The name back then was "The Way".  Christian was a slanderous word applied to believers of "The Way" and they took as a badge of honor changing the title for God's children.

    The point of the Lords Supper is the same as the Passover.  It is to be done in remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice.  It is a reminder to rid yourself of sin and follow Jesus purely.  It is a reminder of what Jesus endured so you could have freedom.  It is a sacred assembly that remembers the covenant God made and Jesus paid out of love.  It is not just a ritual.  It hold great meaning and purpose.

Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26, Luke 22:7-30, John 1:29-34, 15:1-8, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, & 1 John 1:1-7