The Lord’s Supper

-

 


Scripture: Luke 22:19-20 (ESV)

19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

Devotion:

            Tonight, the church celebrates the institution of the Lord’s Supper or Eucharist. Jesus deviated from the traditional Passover meal script to commemorate what was to come in the next few days: His death, burial, and resurrection. That this holy meal is still celebrated by the church some 2,000 years later is a testament to the power and meaning these events still have for the church today.

            Jesus already knew that His time on this earth was drawing to a close. Therefore, He sets in motion this meal as a Holy Spirit-infused memorial meal for the church. In many traditions, including mine, these words of institution can only be said by an ordained minister or specially commissioned elder. It is not that these are magic words but simply a recognition that this meal is special, Holy, Set Apart from common food for a sacred purpose.

            In this meal, the church gives thanks to God for sending His only begotten Son, Jesus, into the world to bring healing, peace, and power through His life, death, and resurrection. Let us mark this day as the church’s Thanksgiving day. On this day especially, we can stop and thank God for His marvelous gift to us. Let us lift our hearts, giving thanks to God for Jesus.

Prayer:

            Lord, we come before your throne today with hearts full of gratitude for your amazing gift of Jesus, who came to be our Lord and Savior. Let us take time today to celebrate and remember all that Jesus was, said, and did for us during His short life among us—giving thanks that He lives and reigns with you in heaven to this day. May this Holy Meal help us to remember all that Jesus has accomplished and celebrate that He lives eternally with you. Amen.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Welcoming the Unwelcome

-
  Scripture: Luke 7:36-38 (NIV) 36  When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37  A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38  As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them. Devotion:             First of all, some warnings to my readers. This post will exceed the 500 words I try to limit my posts. Second, this post will contain content people may find offensive or otherwise unfit for print. Please understand that my purpose is neither to offend nor upset but to provoke thought and, hopefully, respectful dialog.             We will use Luke chapter seven as an aid to interpreting the events that occurred last Thursday at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. On that da
Read more

Transgenderism letter

-
  This is a copy of my letter to my senators, representative, and President Biden. January 15, 2024 Dear President Biden, Senators T. Duckworth, R. Durbin, and Representative D. LaHood             I am writing to you because I am concerned about the situation affecting our children and grandchildren, namely transitioning them from one gender to another. This nation must adjust course concerning these “interventions” because they are dangerous, irreversible, and life-changing. Our country should not be permitting these procedures on minor children under any circumstances. We must also make sure that adults who seek this care are given informed consent as to the risks versus benefits of sex reassignment treatments.             There are many drawbacks to gender-affirming care for minors. Besides the loss of any ability to give or receive sexual pleasure and sterility these treatments cause, there are social and psychological effects that we have no way of identifying because these
Read more

The Hatred of the World

-
Scripture: John 15:18-20 (ESV) 18  “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19  If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20  Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. Devotion:             This scripture is compelling. It explains what happened to Jesus and His disciples some 2,000 years ago. The message of God is rarely welcome news for the world. It calls out many of the culture's favorite practices for what they are: sin. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, humankind has been adamant about trying to hide or excuse their sin. Sin causes a barrier between humans and God that humanity cannot overcome in its own power.             Things have not changed in the
Read more