Passover is an 8-day celebration for the Jews. This is the freedom celebration from slavery. It is a time of rejoicing over their freedom. The Exodus story. Reflect on the mindset of the disciples. They are in festival mode, granted it is low key but, nonetheless, it is a time of joyful freedom. Now think on what weighs on the mind of Christ. He is soon to be facing betrayal, denial and lack of support by those He loves. He is going to be striped, humiliatingly broken, beaten and his blood will be spilled for all those that He sits at the table with. This is our Lord's last supper. This is the last moment of fellowship before the brutality of the cross and the heartbreak from those He loves.
I wonder which pain was the most unbearable for Him? Think on it. Christ's last meal was a celebration meal. Thus His disciples, unaware of the events that would be soon transpiring, had a light and happy heart. However, Christ was all too aware of what was going to happen to them and to Himself. He knew one would betray him with a kiss and another would deny him thrice before the cock crowed. Yet he still sat in their company and loved them.
I wonder if He even partook of the food? However, I know what he did do. He broke the bread, blessed it, and told those at the table that this is the body broken for you, even the one that would betray and those that would deny. And they ate the bread. He then took the wine and blessed it. This is the blood that is spilled for you. Once again, it was for all that sat at the table. He excluded no one. Even the three that cannot give him an hour of their time.
This was the beginning of an evening of humble servitude. He removed his clothing and garbed himself in servant cloth. He took on the lowest position and washed their feet, knowing the heartbreak that was soon to come. The pity of it is that the disciples had no idea, no understanding until after. However, we do understand. We know. So why have we lost the reverence of communion, this time of worship and reconciliation, this time of refreshing ourselves in the holy presence of our Lord?
Too often when we come, we take a piece of cracker and our cup, go back to our pew, and have a moment of prayer. Our minds begin to wonder, and then our words start to do the same. We have reverted to the idleness of the disciples during the Passover meal. What excuse have we for this? We are not ignorant. We know what happened. This is the time when we stop hiding the part of our soul that has rejected the bread of the broken body from entering. Let it in. Let it bind the brokenness in our soul. Take the juice. Let it refresh you. Let it reconcile you into the embrace of Christ.
This is not intermission. This is the time to enter into the Holy of Holies. This is coming into the courts and worshiping in His presence. This is loving the one that betrays you. This is loving the one that denies you. This is loving the one that wants from you but does not give back. There is nothing that is hidden that will not come into the light. The table before us may be small, but the broken body and the blood that was spilled is mighty and great. Remember this love, this sacrifice. Stay in the refreshment of reconciliation and the reverence of worship of our Lord and Redeemer.
I wonder which pain was the most unbearable for Him? Think on it. Christ's last meal was a celebration meal. Thus His disciples, unaware of the events that would be soon transpiring, had a light and happy heart. However, Christ was all too aware of what was going to happen to them and to Himself. He knew one would betray him with a kiss and another would deny him thrice before the cock crowed. Yet he still sat in their company and loved them.
I wonder if He even partook of the food? However, I know what he did do. He broke the bread, blessed it, and told those at the table that this is the body broken for you, even the one that would betray and those that would deny. And they ate the bread. He then took the wine and blessed it. This is the blood that is spilled for you. Once again, it was for all that sat at the table. He excluded no one. Even the three that cannot give him an hour of their time.
This was the beginning of an evening of humble servitude. He removed his clothing and garbed himself in servant cloth. He took on the lowest position and washed their feet, knowing the heartbreak that was soon to come. The pity of it is that the disciples had no idea, no understanding until after. However, we do understand. We know. So why have we lost the reverence of communion, this time of worship and reconciliation, this time of refreshing ourselves in the holy presence of our Lord?
Too often when we come, we take a piece of cracker and our cup, go back to our pew, and have a moment of prayer. Our minds begin to wonder, and then our words start to do the same. We have reverted to the idleness of the disciples during the Passover meal. What excuse have we for this? We are not ignorant. We know what happened. This is the time when we stop hiding the part of our soul that has rejected the bread of the broken body from entering. Let it in. Let it bind the brokenness in our soul. Take the juice. Let it refresh you. Let it reconcile you into the embrace of Christ.
This is not intermission. This is the time to enter into the Holy of Holies. This is coming into the courts and worshiping in His presence. This is loving the one that betrays you. This is loving the one that denies you. This is loving the one that wants from you but does not give back. There is nothing that is hidden that will not come into the light. The table before us may be small, but the broken body and the blood that was spilled is mighty and great. Remember this love, this sacrifice. Stay in the refreshment of reconciliation and the reverence of worship of our Lord and Redeemer.
No comments:
Post a Comment