17-20) Preparations for the Passover: remembering redemption.
Now on the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread: This must have been a very moving commemoration for Jesus. Passover remembers the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, which was the central act of redemption in the Old Testament. Jesus now provided a new center of redemption, to be remembered by a new ceremonial meal.
(21-25) Jesus gives Judas a last opportunity to repent.
"Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?” He answered and said, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me. The Son of Man indeed goes 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.” Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?” He said to him, “You have said it.”
Even it was terrible hypocrisy for Judas to ask such a question, Jesus did not say this to condemn Judas, but to call him to repentance. It is fair to assume that He said it with love in His eyes, and Jesus showed Judas that He loved him, even knowing his treachery.
(26-29) Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper
"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission 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.”
This is how we remember what Jesus did for us. As we eat the bread we should remember how Jesus was broken, pierced, and beaten with stripes for our redemption. As we drink the cup we should remember that His blood, His life was poured out on Calvary for us.
This is how we fellowship with Jesus. Because His redemption has reconciled us to God, we can now sit down to a meal with Jesus, and enjoy each other’s company.
The new covenant concerns an inner transformation that cleanses us from all sin. This transformation puts God’s Word and will in us and this covenant is all about a new, close, relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
In the last verse, we see Jesus looked forward to a future celebration of the Passover in heaven, one that He has not yet celebrated with His people. He is waiting for all His people to be gathered to Him and then there will be a great supper. This is the fulfillment in My Father’s kingdom that Jesus longed for.
We as His people also look forward to meeting our Savior and Redeemer!!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
It' strange how we do communion every month but most times it turns into just another ritual because we tend to mindlessly look past the meaning behind it. Jesus wanted to signify the greatness of God's plan for him on the cross through the Lord's supper.
Thank you for your reflection.
thanks kwijung for such a wonderful and moving reflection on such a wonderful and moving passage. i was especially affected by your comment on judas's question: "is it i, Lord?" the question itself is strange, as if judas is disassociating himself from his actions. it never seems to have occurred to judas that Jesus would see his action as betrayal. but Jesus simply says to judas,"you have said it".
we can call our own sin by any other name, but if we don't recognize our sin as a "betrayal" of our Lord, then we prove our affinity and kinship with the one of whom Jesus said "it would have been good if he had not been born".
Post a Comment