Blood Shed For Many

And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.

And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.
                                                                                 (Mark 14: 22-27 KJV)

Eat and drink. This is my body. This is my blood.

It is Maundy Thursday. Today we remember the last meal that Jesus shared with his disciples. It was the passover meal. The annual commemoration of the night that, by God's hand, the Israelites were to be delivered from bondage to Egypt. Every first born, both man and beast, would die that night. Every first born except for those who had placed the blood of an unblemished lamb upon their doorposts. Then the lamb itself would be eaten in its entirety by those who were present in the house.

Today we remember that the unblemished lamb of God, Jesus the Christ, was about to be slaughtered; that his body and blood were given so that we might be delivered from bondage to sin; from bondage to a sinful world. 

How sinful that world he lived in was! His friends; his followers, betrayed him, they denied him; they scattered and hid in fear for their own lives. Do we really do anything different today? 

Let us remember, that on this day, Jesus willingly committed his body and his blood as a sacrifice that we might live. The blood of Christ was poured out for us that sin and death would have no power over us. 

God grant that we should live in thankfulness and faithfulness to the one who lived and died and yet lives for us.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Stay Awake and Pray

  Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

  When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” 

                                                                                                              (Luke 22:39-46 NIV)

I remember a prayer vigil years ago that began following Worship on Maundy Thursday and ended on Good Friday at Worship. At least one person was signed up to be in the sanctuary every hour praying. No one signed up for the hours from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. so I took those hours. I probably didn't last an hour. I woke up a little after 6 a.m., on my knees, leaning against the baptismal font. The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes were Ken and Anita L., on their knees, praying, at the altar rail. They had not disturbed me. When they saw me sleeping, they just walked around me to pray. Now, Jesus, on the other hand had something to say to his disciples about sleeping while they should have been praying. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” 

What a lesson for me! I could not stay awake for those three hours. Sleep was too great of a temptation. Pray that we may not fall into temptation and may God help us sleepers to rise and wake up from the dead. (Eph 5:14).

God's Peace - Pr. J