THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus

Thursday, April 6, 2023

Lord, I would love to have seen the disciples’ expressions when You introduced Your New Covenant during that last Passover meal. Did they nod their heads with complete understanding? Hardly. Perhaps, in their confusion, their faces expressed “What in the world are You talking about, Jesus?”  For weeks, You told Your disciples that when they went to Jerusalem for Passover, You would be crucified, but would rise from the dead on the third day. Now we know how You, Jesus are the cornerstone of the New Covenant, but at that time, the disciples were clueless.

Since the inception of the Seder meal, when You brought the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, the symbolic Passover dinner has remained the same. The breaking of the bread symbolizes the sacrificial lamb slaughtered as a substitute for our sins, and the cup of wine represented the shed blood of the lamb that forgives our sins. God takes sin seriously and without the shedding of innocent blood, there was no forgiveness of sin. (Hebrews 9:22).

When You said the bread represented Your body broken for them (Luke 22:9), did that raise a few eyebrows? Were they wondering what You meant? You told them when they drink the wine, it is the blood of the New Covenant for the forgiveness of not only their sins, but the sins of the whole world.

What? This Passover meal was like none they had experienced. And one they would never forget.

But an unexpectedly bad Friday followed their Maundy Thursday celebration, and the disciples scattered, fearing for their lives. The symbolic bread and blood wine meant nothing now. Their world became dark and fearful. Their leader was dead. So were their hopes.

But, Lord, You had an unexpectedly glorious Sunday in store for them. Amen.