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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion March 20, 2008 The Last Supper |
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Frontline Devotion for Maundy Thursday, March 20, 2008 by Don Kress
Matthew 26:26-30
While they were eating, Jesus took some bread and thanked God for it and broke
it. Then he gave it to his followers and said, “Take this bread and eat it;
this is my body.” Then Jesus took a cup and thanked God for it and gave it to
the followers. He said, “Every one of you drink this. This is my blood which
is the new agreement that God makes with his people. This blood is poured out
for many to forgive their sins. I tell you this: I will not drink of this
fruit of the vine again 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.
(New Century Version)
In today’s text we see Jesus instituting the Lord’s Supper. The setting is an upper room of a house in Jerusalem, and the occasion is the Feast of Passover. Jesus and his disciples are gathered around a table, a scene that most of us probably associate with Leonardo da Vinci’s painting, “The Last Supper.” As the father or host did at any Jewish meal, Jesus took bread, blessed it, and broke it. The words he used were probably the traditional words, “Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, king of the world, who dost bring forth bread from the earth.” During the Passover meal the bread and the wine are circulated seven times, and it was probably at the last time, in connection with the “cup of blessing,” that Jesus added the words “this is my body” and “this is my blood.” As the bread is broken, so Jesus’ body will be broken; as the disciples eat the bread and are nourished by it, so Jesus’ death will be for their benefit. As the wine commemorated the sacrificial blood that was dashed on the altar and the book of the covenant to confirm the solemn agreement that the people had made to observe God’s law (Exodus 24:8), so will Jesus blood be poured out for the forgiveness of sins.
In addition to “The Lord’s Supper,” this Sacrement is known by many other names: “The Eucharist” (thanksgiving), “The Commemoration” (remembrance), “The Covenant” (pledge), “The Offering” (gift), and “The Communion” (fellowship). Whatever you call it, it represents a wonderful blessing and a powerful way for us to remember that on the night before his tragic death, Jesus said, “Take, eat.”
Let us now change our focus to the very end of today’s text. I’ve mentioned before that reflecting on a passage in preparation for writing a devotion on that passage often gives me new insights. I’ve read this passage many times before, but, until now, I’ve never paid any attention to the fact that it ended with Jesus and his disciples singing a hymn. Part of the Passover meal includes the Hallel Psalms – Psalms 111-118. Psalms 111-114 are usually sung before the meal and 115-118 after the meal. I encourage you to read this series of Psalms and, as you do, keep in mind that Jesus sang them on this special night. The Bible doesn’t tell us, but let’s assume that the hymn Jesus led them in before heading out to the Mount of Olives was Psalm 118:
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! Because His mercy endures forever. Let Israel now say, “His mercy endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron now say, “His mercy endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord now say, “His mercy endures forever.” I called on the Lord in distress; the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is for me among those who help me; therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. All nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me; but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. They surrounded me like bees; they were quenched like a fire of thorns; for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. You pushed me violently, that I might fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly. The right hand of the Lord is exulted; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. The Lord has chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death. Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, and I will praise the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord, through which the righteous shall enter. I will praise You, for You have answered me, and have become my salvation. The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We have blessed you from the house of the Lord. God is the Lord, and He has given us light; bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You. Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. (New King James Version)
The hymn that Jesus sang as he headed for his betrayal and the events that would follow was one of courage; it was a hymn about joy that is deeper than sorrow, about faith, and about trust in God. What a wonderful lesson!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for instituting the Lord’s Supper as a means for me to remember You and Your promise. Thank You, also, for lessons of courage, faith, and trust in God as You prepared to carry out Your Father’s plan. Through Your commitment I have forgiveness and salvation. What wondrous love! Amen.
Publishers’ note: This devotion should have been sent out this morning. I missed placed Don's and sent Pastor Dave’s as a substitute.
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