Significance

As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.” And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. [Matthew 26.26-28]

What a time to be alive! What a time to be with Jesus! What a time for all history!

The significance of the events recorded around this Last Supper is paramount. Nothing in history has mattered more than the period of time begun at this meal and into the next hours.

I am sure the disciples' heads were spinning from all that had transpired up to this point. There was just so much that needed to be understood. So much that still didn't really make clear sense to them. So much that they would not (could not) understand until later...

And, even in this time, Jesus continued to amaze the disciples with actions and statements. The bread and the wine were just another case in point. What did it mean?

I feel so fortunate to have the Bible. As confusing as the timing of events surrounding Jesus' life and ministry on earth (as portrayed in the 4 Gospels) are, there is still a 'common thread' of God's love for mankind throughout. There is no mistake about Jesus' journey to the Cross. There is no misunderstanding about His mission and His commission of those who would follow Him. There is no vagueness about Jesus' focus on the Kingdom and His instruction that we should do likewise. Jesus made no mistakable mandate that His followers must die to self.

And here, Jesus related to His followers. He gave them bread and wine representing His body and His blood. He signified to them that they would forever be part of Him. But He also signified that one of them would fall away and fail to realize the benefit of what was being portrayed in the bread and the wine.

Father, I want to absorb as much as I can from the Gospels of Jesus. Help me to receive all that You give!