Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
Mark 14:12-26 (NIV)
The Last Supper
12 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” 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.
What is your focus when you partake of communion?
Lord, I miss going to church, but You have given me the ability to hear the Word from Pastor Mike online. I miss singing and worshiping but I can join singing online and am blessed to have resources on the radio that allows me to sing praises to You. I miss learning and fellowship time with others during bible studies, but You have enabled us to meet online with Zoom meetings and email, text or call each other to stay connected and to continue to study Your Word together. There are still opportunities to share Your love and to serve, volunteer for people who need help during this time. The one thing that I desperately miss is taking communion. When I take communion, I am in contact with You, my precious Lord, Jesus. Communion is a way for me to participate with the disciples when You broke the bread and shared the wine as Your body and blood poured out for me for my forgiveness of sins. Communion is a real tangible way that I can touch You. I know that through Your Spirit I can be close to You and through Your Word, I can hear You and have a relationship with You, but it is through Communion, where I feel the closest to You. Thank You for this precious gift. Lord, please heal the world of this pandemic so that we can come back to Your table. Amen