FLIPPING THE SCRIPT
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“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.” 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. 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.”
Mark 14:22-24 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
A new directive by Jesus is given at the conclusion of the Passover Meal. The meal was a time of remembering the release of the Jewish slaves in Egypt. For hundreds of years the Jews celebrated Passover as a time to remember the miracle of deliverance from Pharaoh. But on this Passover Jesus was changing the narrative. Jesus will flip the script. The bread they were eating was now a symbol of His body. The cup was a symbol of His blood. His body would be broken. His blood would be shed. This act of death by crucifixion would be the eternal plan of God to free humanity from their slavery to sin. The early church would celebrate this communion experience not just annually but on a regular basis when they gathered for worship. Some make it a part of every worship service—others do it monthly. Like a lot of traditions they can tend to lose their significance after a while. We forget the full impact of the communion service. Sometimes we rush through the bread and cup as a formality with little thought. I think that dishonors the process. Perhaps I’m old fashioned but I think the act of receiving communion together as believers should be a holy and sacred moment. We should recognize anew the price that has been paid for our freedom. We should pause to say thanks to our Lord Jesus for His suffering in our place. We should renew our commitment to live a holy life. I don’t think the type of bread or juice/wine is crucial. They are just symbols to remind us of His body and blood. The meaning behind the elements is far more important than the elements themselves.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit help me to recognize the sacrifice of Jesus on my behalf. Help me to open my heart to a fresh dose of God’s grace and mercy.
“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”