TLIC FAMILY. DAY 143. MAY 23: BLOOD OF THE COVENANT.

THINK TOGETHER

Have you ever seen the Lord’s Supper/Communion taken in church? What happens?

READ TOGETHER

Ever since the Exodus from Egypt when God rescued his people out of slavery, the Jewish people would celebrate the feast of Passover. Passover was the day that the Israelites painted blood on the doorposts of their houses so that God would “pass over” them and spare the firstborn son in each family. By Jesus’ day the Passover feast had become a big holiday celebrating their freedom from slavery.

Right before Jesus would die on the cross for our sins he too celebrated the Passover feast. But he didn’t do it with his family; he did it with his disciples. And when Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples he didn’t talk about Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt. He talked about himself.

In the Jewish Passover meal, they would eat bread together. They called it the “bread of affliction” (trouble), and the “cup of redemption.” This was to remind them of how God rescued them out of their trouble in Egypt. But listen to what Jesus calls the bread and the cup when he leads the disciples through the Passover:

Mark 14:22-24. ²²And…he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” ²³And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. ²⁴And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 

What did Jesus call the bread? What did Jesus call the cup of wine?

Jesus says that now the bread and the wine that we eat and drink together are symbols or pictures of himself, and his death on the cross for us. Jesus is saying that he is the new exodus, not from Egypt, but from sin. Through faith in Jesus we too can be rescued from our sins and the punishment that sin brings – separation from God. When we trust in Jesus we, like the disciples, are Jesus new family. And one day we will live forever with Jesus in “the kingdom of God.”

Because of Jesus we can know that we are forgiven and will live with God forever.

With Jesus we can take the Lord’s Supper and know how much God loves us.

DO SOMETHING TOGETHER

Talk about how the Lord’s Supper is taken in your church. What is said and done? How often? What does it mean to you personally?

PRAY TOGETHER

Jesus, you gave your life for me. Help me to remember that every day. Amen.