April 3, 2017
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Passover Remixed

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Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus, in Your love for me, assure me when I need assurance, but disturb me where I need to be disturbed.

Read Mark 14:12–26

[12] On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” [13] So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. [14] Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ [15] He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” [16] The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. [17] When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. [18] While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me-one who is eating with me.” [19] They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?” [20] “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me. [21] The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” [22] While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” [23] Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. [24] “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. [25] “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” [26] When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

“For the promise to father Abraham, fulfilled in our Lord Jesus Christ and celebrated at this table with our own covenant symbols of blood and flesh, wine and bread, we thank You as we celebrate Your continuing promise of hope and redemption” (Israel Galindo).

This was not a comfortable meal for the disciples. The preparations were furtive, the atmosphere uneasy, the subject betrayal and their self-confidence undermined (19: “Surely not I?”). This Passover was not like any they had celebrated before. They were invited to drink Jesus’ blood (horrific to a Jew). Because we are familiar with the accounts of the Last Supper our minds go quickly to the Lord’s Supper, the Holy Communion, inaugurated that night. The keywords found in the other New Testament accounts are here also. Jesus “took” the bread, “gave thanks,” “broke” it and “gave” it to them to eat (22). However, in Mark he does not tell them to repeat it in remembrance of him. His purpose is immediate, to help them to understand the reason for his impending death.

Jesus’ betrayal was in fulfillment of Scripture, and his words echo Psalm 41:9. The Passover celebrated God’s great redemption of his people Israel. Jesus’ death would fulfill it and surpass it, with the act of redemption for all people. Like the covenant with Moses, it would be blood-bought (Exod. 24:8); and the blood of God’s servant would be “poured out for many” (24; cf. Isa. 53:12). Through this action, God’s kingdom would be established. As they ate and drank they were being taught that they must benefit from his death. 

Should Holy Communion be a source of comfort or a profoundly disturbing experience? Ultimately, it is a comfort because of the fact of the cross, but it is also profoundly disturbing, making us question the depth our understanding of Scripture and the strength of our loyalty to Jesus, as well as reminding us of our need of the cross. A friend once said, “We need to be upset in order to be reset.” That’s what Holy Communion is for.

Apply

Through Jesus’ death we have salvation. Do I use that certainty to evade my sin, or allow it to free me to face myself and my need of the cross? Be honest.

Closing prayer

Lord, You keep Your promises. Forgive me for my fluctuating devotion to You. I’m grateful for new beginnings with You.

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