May the mumbling commence!
“Do this in remembrance of me,” Jesus told his disciples. Let us take some time to examine the recording of the Lord’s Supper in the gospel of Luke. You will find it in chapter twenty-two.
When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God."
After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him." They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this. (Verses 14-23)
Luke records two sayings of Jesus during the Last Supper that are missing from all the other gospels. They are underlined above. Jesus was eager to eat that Passover meal with – it would be his last until the kingdom of God came into fulfillment.
Indeed, Passover would not have the same meaning after Jesus’ work was completed. Passover celebrated when the angel of death passed over the homes of the Israelites. They were given life for a time. But they all died. Jesus was extending the Passover for eternal life. Death itself would be defeated. That is something to remember.
It was the last Passover meal before Jesus’ sufferings. We remember the suffering of Jesus on his path to the cross and on the cross itself. This is a hard remembrance…
The second saying of Jesus that Luke alone recorded was that Jesus would not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. What a statement from someone who was often accused of being a glutton and drunkard! The mirth was gone. In comparison to the joy of the coming kingdom of God, all other joys pale.
Then, there is the bread. When we partake, we eat in remembrance of the broken body of Jesus. His body was broken for me and for you.
And the wine was in remembrance of the blood Jesus spilled in history’s only perfect sacrifice. As we drink, we remember that his blood was poured out for many people. His blood is poured out for everyone. But who will accept this gift? That is the only question remaining.
In this remembrance, there is much to sustain us through times of suffering. There is the promise of the complete fulfillment of the kingdom of God. There is comfort in knowing that Jesus walked the earth and knows the sufferings that we go through.
And, in Luke, there is the challenge of looking inwardly at ourselves. There is betrayal. Jesus said, “The hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table.” Luke joins Mark in not singling out Judas in the Last Supper story.
Do you and I claim to have fellowship with Jesus and his church? When we claim such fellowship, we must also examine our lives. How do we betray Christ Jesus? To depart in any way from full obedience to the call of God in our lives (to depart from the way of Jesus) is betrayal.
We depart in this way everyday! That is why we need Jesus’ broken body and spilled blood! Without Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection, we would remain in our sin.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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