“Behold,
the Lamb of God,
who takes away the sin of the world!”
(John 1:29)
This week is Holy Week, the week leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection. It’s a week to reflect on our need for a Saviour, the depth of our sin, and how God went about saving us - something He was at work doing from the beginning of time; through the whole of history, the Old Testament, He was looking ahead to Jesus, who came, just at the right time, to accomplish salvation for the world…
The Passover
The Passover day came. Jesus’ disciples were sent to prepare the upper room for the final meal that Jesus would share with them before he would be arrested and crucified. Most of the disciples likely thought they were just celebrating the Passover, while one had other plans that he would execute later that night. Jesus knew all that lay ahead of him in the next 24 hours, and it began with this time in the upper room with his closest followers.
There, he washed their feet, demonstrating servanthood (John 13:1-16).
He taught them about his need to return to heaven, the coming of the Holy Spirit, remaining connected to Him, and suffering in this world (John 14-16).
He shared with them the Last Supper - for us to do in remembrance of Him (Matthew 26:26-29).
We read in Mark 14:12-25:
And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”
And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
Click here for a reflection on this passage
Questions for Reflection
-What caused Jesus sorrow? What causes you sorrow in this time? How do we bring that to Him?
-How did Jesus give his body and blood for us?
-How do we remember Jesus’ death and resurrection?
-How do we keep the Lord’s Supper from becoming rote and routine, but be meaningful each time?
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
We see your final meal with your disciples before you went to the cross. Little did they know that they would be scattered and hiding as you were crucified and died. We remember Your death, Your body sacrificed, Your blood shed for us, bearing our sin, bringing us forgiveness and cleansing from sin. In your death, we find life.
What sorrow You felt. Lord, give us the same sorrow for our sin, for our forgetfulness of you, for our turning to other things for satisfaction and joy. Lord, we confess our sin and look to You for our forgiveness. As we see Your great sorrow, give us hearts to love You more, taking You more seriously, You becoming more and more and we becoming less and less.
Lord, keep us alert and awake to You, keep us abiding in You, connected to You for our very lives.
We pray this in Your name,
Amen
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power
and wealth
and wisdom
and might
and honour
and glory
and blessing!
(Revelation 5:12)