Daily Devotions – Not Just an Ordinary Meal

Daily Devotions – Not Just an Ordinary Meal

 

Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:

 

Mark 14:17-26 NIV)
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.

 

This meal happens every year in the lives of faithful Jews to this very day.  The whole house gathers: the very young to the eldest in a family.  That means, for most of the men seated around the table with Jesus, they have eaten this sacred meal for decades.  They know every part of it by heart.  Then Jesus changes the script.  The moment Jesus takes the bread and says, “This is my body”, (Mark 14:22b) everything changed. What do you think it was like for the disciples?  Suddenly, Jesus is not simply reciting the ancient words of this ritual, he has now placed himself in the midst of the history of God with his people.  I invite you to come to worship tonight at 6:30pm to experience what this ancient meal has become. Come, the table is ready for you to taste and see that the Lord is good.