Jesus’ Passover With His Disciples
Pray
Begin with prayer, opening your heart to God’s Word and Spirit.
Read Mark 11:15-18
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.
Reflect
The Passover feast for Jesus and the disciples would be a meal that would usher in a new paradigm for understanding sacrifice and deliverance. The disciples may have been puzzled or shocked at Jesus’ reference to his “body and blood,” but in the days to come they would understand their necessity for the deliverance of, not just Israel, but for the world. After this intimate setting, seated around this table, their faith would be sorely tested, and their lives would never be the same. It is in repentance and faith in Christ that we, too, find ourselves seated around this table.
Closing prayer
Father, we give you thanks for the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We commit our lives afresh to you. Amen.