Jesus the Passover Lamb gave His very body and blood for us
Luke 22:7-22
7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”
9 “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.
10 He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”
13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table.15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 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.”
20 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. 21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22 The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!”
In this section of Luke Chapter 22, we have a view into the final night that Jesus had with his disciples, before He was handed over to the Roman soldiers. Jesus instructs His followers to organise a setting to share in the very holy Jewish feast of Passover. The disciples follow the commands of Jesus, and things fall into place just as Jesus commands.
The first Passover feast involved the sacrifice of lambs so that the Israelites could be spared God’s judgement as he passed over Egypt. The first Passover feast was held the night before the Israelites would gain their freedom and start their journey to the Promised Land. In this passage, Jesus describes the mystery of the bread and wine as the giving of His very own body and blood broken on the cross, linking the Passover Feast to himself. Jesus would sacrifice himself so that God’s people could be spared judgement, be freed from the enemy and start their journey to God’s new kingdom.
Jesus instructs His disciples to share in this meal again and again, to imitate this Last Supper, in order to remember Him. What an awesome invitation to imperfect people like us, to join in this meal, remembering the sacrifice of our Risen Lord! It’s such a privilege to share in the Lord’s Supper with brothers and sisters at Creek Road over two thousand years after Jesus instituted the very first Lord’s Supper. It is both a joyous and sombre invitation to remember that Jesus died on the cross for my sin – your sin – the sins of many, giving of his very body and blood for us so that we might be rescued. And then, to think of the glorious miracle of the resurrection of Jesus on that first Easter Sunday!
Head: Have you considered the awesome and wonderful sacrifice of Jesus, giving of His very body and blood on earth to rescue you?
Heart: How can you best prepare your heart for the Lord’s Supper? Take some time to meditate on this today, and on the next Sunday that we partake in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper together as a church family. If you are not yet a follower of Jesus, consider that Jesus invites us to follow Him “as we are” in the midst of sin and brokenness.
Hands: How does the knowledge of Jesus giving His very body and blood for us motivate us to live for Him? How can we express radical hospitality to others? Are there practical steps you can take this week to share your journey of faith with friends who may not yet know Jesus?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of your Son Jesus to an undeserving person like me. Thank you that Jesus gave His very own body and blood so that we might have the gift of eternal life. Please draw us closer to you in all that we do. Help us to meditate on Your Word today and always, and help us to understand the mystery of the Lord’s Supper in a new and wonderful light. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our rescuer. It is in His name we pray. Amen.
A song to listen to: Only You Can Satisfy
Creek Road Presbyterian Church- Carina
