Matthew 26:20-30
Now when
evening came, Jesus was reclining at the
table with the
twelve disciples. As they were eating, He said, “Truly I say
to you that one of you
will betray Me.”
Being
deeply grieved, they each one began
to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” And
He answered, “He who dipped his hand
with Me in the bowl is the one who
will betray Me. The Son of Man is to go, just as
it is written of Him; but woe to that man
by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” And Judas,
who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus *said to
him, “You have said it yourself.” While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the
disciples, and said, “Take, eat;
this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup
and given thanks, He gave it to them,
saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for
this is My blood of the covenant,
which is poured out for many
for forgiveness of sins. But I say
to you, I will not drink of this
fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” After
singing a hymn, they went out to the
Mount of Olives.
In this fast pace world people are used to everything quick. A short message of encouragement is
good, its like a vitamin; it brings nourishment where we lack. But, rest assure we must sit down and eat;
eat a good meal ( a long message; profound; causing us to think deep on the
Word of God); a meal where you must get your hands dirty to get to the inside
of that chicken piece even as you savor every bit (lol).
Meals are meant for us to sit down with the Master, our Lord, and stay there
a while.
Imagine if the
disciples decided that sitting with Jesus at
the last supper was way to much. "Come
on Jesus can you just wrap this up quickly", imagine that.
"Jesus all this stuff about
body and blood, what are you saying, can we just
stick to the Law, just refresh it for
us" (you know a quick vitamin). Never! That would
be ridiculous, besides it was the Passover, that which was required by the Law. How incredible that God himself sits with
those that are hungry, those that want to hear from him. Here
at the table where this feast is being enjoyed,
they learn that betrayal was lurking even at the
table, the Lord showed us how to give
thanks and still today we remember his
command, "do this in memory of
me". At the table during this elaborate meal we see glimpses yet again
that He, Jesus our Lord, would be betrayed (it had been said so many
times, so many different ways,
through the Prophets, via Christ
words) and so he says it again.
Sometimes we just don't get it. Sitting
for a while at the table is a place of rest! Hallelujah! Though he knew he was about to die, he did not rush off the table; he sat; the Bible says he reclined (now that's
not someone who is in a rush). Hmmm,
even
after all that, they
sang a hymn and then went out. Glory to God for the "meals" and the
"vitamin". I'll take them both!
God bless you!~Liz
www.lizrod.com
