Tuesday 11 Mar 2014

Tuesday Reading: Matthew 26:26-30

Key Verse: Matthew 26:28
For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Devotion:
At the last supper Jesus instituted what we now know as the Lord’s Supper where we do the same thing in remembrance of all that He did for us. It is a very special time for us because we can relate to this moment when Jesus Himself was sitting down with the disciples and said these words. But it is also a reminder of the promise that Christ gave us to show that He would return and take us home to be with Him in heaven one day.

This act of the breaking of the bread was a separate thing to the rest of the Passover meal that they were celebrating and we do need to remember it for what it is rather than just being part of this last Passover meal they were having together. Jesus wanted them to remember the fact that He was giving His own life for their sins. Just before this He reminded them that Judas was about to betray Him, and immediately afterward told Peter that he would deny Him as well. This is about the forgiveness of sins.

But none of this is done without God the Father. Jesus lifted the bread up and asked God to bless it before they took it so that they would remember that it came from God even though it was in remembrance of Him. The reminder was that Christ would be broken just as the bread was so His forgiveness could be shared by all around the table and not just the ones sitting each side of Him at the table. Jesus paid this price for all of us who come to Him.

Jesus also reminded them that they were to share in the wonderful and eternal life in heaven which awaits all of us who invite Jesus into our lives. Each one would be given the chance to see Him again in a restored and resurrected state to show the power of our awesome God. Jesus set aside drinking in celebration with men from this time onward knowing that He would have to face so much pain and suffering in order to take on our sin debt. We must remember all of what he has done for us and we should do so in celebration of what is to come.

Points to Ponder:
Do you thank God for your food?

Do you celebrate what He has done for you?