Mark 14:12-26 New Living Translation (NLT)
The Last Supper
12 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go to prepare the Passover meal for you?”
13 So Jesus sent two of them into Jerusalem with these instructions: “As you go into the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 At the house he enters, say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ 15 He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal.” 16 So the two disciples went into the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover meal there.
17 In the evening Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 As they were at the table eating, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, one of you eating with me here will betray me.”
19 Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one?”
20 He replied, “It is one of you twelve who is eating from this bowl with me. 21 For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!”
22 As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it, for this is my body.”
23 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many. 25 I tell you the truth, I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.”
26 Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
When they woke up on that Thursday morning I wonder if the disciples had any inkling about how the day would end. They knew that they would share with Jesus in the Passover meal and all was made ready for that. No doubt they had a good time of fellowship at the meal and then Jesus drops the bombshell. One of them will betray him. We know that it is Judas, the others do not, we know the outcome of his actions, the others do not. What we do not know is just how Judas would have felt on hearing these words. Whatever it was he still goes through with the betrayal and I cannot help but ask why? All I can respond is that if he had not, history would perhaps have been very different.
Then Jesus shares bread and wine in what has come to be called " The Last Supper". Through it and what is to follow a new covenant between God and humanity is established. On this Maunday Thursday we would usually have a communion service to remember this. This year our cups will remain empty and our bread remain unbroken, but this does not mean we cannot still give thanks for all we recall when we take communion. I do believe that when we share in this sacrament we are not only united with Christ but with all of the company of heaven in some special way. In times like the ones we now face I also believe that God finds other ways for us to be united with Christ and that all those who have gone before us in faith are in some way with us as we face the future.
Dear God
As we remember on this
day the Last supper
we give thanks for all
that Jesus has done for us.
Help us to feel united with Him
during these challenging times.
Show us ways that we can
be united with each other
through prayer and
new means of being in fellowship.
Today we pray for all care and NHS
workers. As the nation once more "claps for carers"
may this be a symbol of
our unity with each other.
May your love surround us all
in the name of Jesus.
Amen
I hope to post a short service of readings and prayers for Maunday Thursday this evening.
No comments:
Post a Comment