In the evening Jesus arrived with the twelve disciples. As they were sitting around the table eating, Jesus said, “The truth is, one of you will betray me, one of you who is here eating with me.”
Greatly distressed, one by one they began to ask him, “I’m not the one, am I?”
He replied, “It is one of you twelve, one who is eating with me now. For I, the Son of Man, must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for my betrayer. Far better for him if he had never been born!”
As they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and asked God’s blessing on it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it, for this is my body.”
And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank fro it. And he said to them, “This is my blood, poured out for many, sealing the covenant between God and his people. I solemnly declare that I will not drink wine again until that day when I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.” Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
Mark 14:17-26Mark 14:17-26
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
17-18 . While Jesus and the twelve disciples were eating together that evening, he said, “The one who will betray me is now eating with me.” 19 This made the disciples sad, and one after another they said to Jesus, “You surely don't mean me!” 20 He answered, “It is one of you twelve men who is eating from this dish with me. 21 The Son of Man will die, just as the Scriptures say. But it is going to be terrible for the one who betrays me. That man would be better off if he had never been born.” The Lord's Supper 22 During the meal Jesus took some bread in his hands. He blessed the bread and broke it. Then he gave it to his disciples and said, “Take this. It is my body.” 23 Jesus picked up a cup of wine and gave thanks to God. He gave it to his disciples, and they all drank some. 24 a ; b Then he said, “This is my blood, which is poured out for many people, and with it God makes his agreement. 25 From now on I will not drink any wine, until I drink new wine in God's kingdom.” 26 Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
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Before the cross – before Jesus’ humiliation, rejection, scourging – we get a glimpse into what is going to happen. We have read the story innumerable times. But the disciples saw it fresh.
They are seated around the table. Jesus offers bread and tells them it is his body. A harrowing thought for these Jews, to consume his body and remember him being “broken” as the bread was. Then they are told to drink from the cup of wine. This will remind them of the blood Jesus will pour out for them. “What? Blood? Um, boss-man, I mean, Jesus; Are you sure you haven’t got your wires crossed? You’re the Messiah, we all believe it… Why in the world would this be the way to go?”
But the disciples see the writing on the wall. They knew that the religious leaders in Jerusalem had Jesus under close scrutiny. Lazarus had just been raised, and the envious leaders were clamoring to have him hung out to dry. Why would his healer be any different?
So sitting around the table – this is the calm before the storm. The disciples know something is coming. Jesus tells them as much as they eat. But to be told that one of them will be a betrayer? It is too much! Each begins asking if he is the one. Talk about personal uncertainty.
As we face the pending cross, we are asked to prepare ourselves. To come to grips with forgiveness. Forgiveness is not easy. It does not come free. We need forgiveness. But we also need to offer forgiveness. Jesus death was the price for that forgiveness, and the bread and wine is a visual reminder of the cost.
This Sunday, we are going to celebrate communion, the bread and the wine and all that it symbolizes. This week, during your times of prayer, get ready. Ask God to remove any root of bitterness that is eating into your life. Ask him to forgive you for your own sin: the daily acts of betrayal that hinder your growth, and keep you from accomplishing his purpose in you. Ask him to identify those individuals who need but have not received your forgiveness.
Seek them out and give it to them, so that you might take the bread and wine as they were meant to be taken. Not with foreboding, wondering if you are bringing judgment on yourself, but rather with joy, knowing that you are part of the tapestry of forgiveness. It has been extended to you so that you might extend it to others.
prayer
God, please help me forgive others the same way you forgave me! I don’t deserve your kindness, yet you give it to me so freely. Help me to serve you with my whole being, so that I will not be ashamed to stand before you!
Jesus, thank you for providing everything it took to pay my sin-debt. Help me to turn my sin over to you, so that you can transform my life into something beautiful, something that would bring others to you.
Lord, help me share the truth you have shown me. Make my voice loud and confident, and backed by loving actions. Help me to show others the love that allowed you to become my sacrifice.
Amen.
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