THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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A little boy was helping his grandfather dig potatoes.
After awhile, the little boy became tired, and he asked, "Grandpa, what made you bury these things anyway?!"
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Mark 14:17-24
17 And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.
18 And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.
19 And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?
20 And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish.
21 The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.
22 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.
23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.
24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
KJV
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The last supper Jesus observed with His disciples was Passover. Passover was a memorial supper that Jewish people observed which symbolized the last supper they ate before God delivered them from the slavery of Egypt.
That supper, which Jesus observed with His disciples the night before His crucifiction, gave institution to what we now observe as "The Lord's Supper."
I could sit and look at paintings of "The Lord's Supper" for hours, just musing in amazement at the love of God! Because of Jesus' surrender to being the Lamb of God, we have access to the King of Kings! He BECAME the pascal lamb, the Lamb of God without spot, offered for the sins of the people. Without His surrender, we have no life!
And without our surrender to Him, there would be no physical "body of Christ" upon this earth. The "body of Christ" (the church) today is to observe His sacrifice and to be as He is to others!
Giving all, we are to do as He wants.
Jesus KNEW it was time for His crucifiction. Jesus KNEW about Judas' betrayal. Jesus KNEW He was to be "Servant of servants" to His people.
Jesus WASHED their feet! And He EXPLAINED that without His cleansing they could "have no part" of Him! (see John 13:5-8)
Jesus GAVE His body and blood for a "New Testament." It is a new covenant with God, by God for man's benefit. No longer is the blood of animals required, God has given His own Son as the ultimate sacrifice for man's sins. Man does not have to bring an animal to God. Man only has to bring HIMSELF!
Knowing of and observing the Lord's Supper is not blessed assurance in itself. For Jesus said in John 13:17, "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."
DOING is exhibition of obedience and brings blessed assurance. Being a living sacrifice exemplifies what Jesus did, and exhibits His "body" on this earth.
Sit in front of a painting or picture of the "Lord's Supper" sometime. And ask yourself the question, "Am I truly OBSERVING the 'Lord's Supper'?"
Love ya,
Bruce