Maundy Thursday Meditation
Maundy Thursday
Meditation
Genesis 3:1-7
Now the serpent
was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.
He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You
shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And
the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the
garden, 3 but God
said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the
garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not
surely die. 5 For
God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be
like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So
when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight
to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of
its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and
he ate. 7 Then the
eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked.
The
story of the fall from Genesis 3. The naive humans believed the serpent and
paid for it with their lives. Something as simple of eating fruit and humankind
would be condemned to a life of misery and sin. Pretty depressing isn’t it. Listening
to a few lies from the serpent and it was over for the human race. “Well God,”
an inquiring angel might ask “what is plan B the humans didn’t last very long I
hope you have something better in mind”. God answered saying not to give up
hope on the humans just yet. God had a better plan in mind all along.
Fast
forward and we see Abraham and Sarah have their miracle baby Isaac. Isaac had
Jacob and the twelve tribes come forth out of that. Then they moved to Egypt
and ended up as slaves. God sent Moses to gather the people out of slavery.
Then they had Judges, Kings over them but no one quite fit the bill of a savior.
To
make matters worse they were defeated militarily and carried off into exile
perhaps never to return to their homeland again. There were prophets who
encouraged the people that a savior was on the way, but things looked pretty
bad.
Then
a man named Jesus happened on the scene. He produced a long list of miracles
from walking on water to raising the dead. He looked like the one to rescue Israel
from the dreaded Roman empire. But he seemed reluctant to use his followers to
start a revolution. Time came when he was in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover,
he met with his closest 12 followers in an upper room. “26 Now
as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave
it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup,
and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of
you, 28 for xthis is my blood of the
covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will
not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new
with you in my Father’s kingdom.” [1]
Just
as the first couple fell victim to the serpent in the Garden of Eden. The
disciples had now eaten bread in place of Jesus flesh and drank wine in place
of Jesus blood with the Son of God The curse placed upon humankind so long ago
had been lifted. The only thing lacking for our salvation was Jesus’ sacrificial
death and resurrection! The disciples remembered this meal long after Jesus had
ascended. In fact, we eat a holy meal in celebration of that meal tonight. Come
quickly Lord Jesus!
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