It’s pretty tough stuff.
When Jesus got together with His disciples (even Judas) for what would be His final Passover meal before He was to return to Heaven, He made some statements that we may have become a little numb to over the years of our Christianity. I’m talking about when Jesus handed out the bread saying, “…Take, eat; this is my body.” (Matthew 26:26 KJV) and then followed that up with His statement on the cup “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:28)
We can go back to the original observation of the Passover to remind ourselves of the harsh reality of it all, “Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the Passover must be killed.” (Luke 22:7) Yes, the death of the Lamb was “a must” as dictated in Exodus 12:6 “And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.” Jerry Lee Lewis was known as “The Killer” but Jerry Ray Mitchell not so much. I’ve never been a sportsman hunter, never been in combat, and the only thing I know that I killed was a groundhog that made a wrong turn in front of my ’65 Mustang Fastback on an empty Maine backroad some 50 years ago. (And I may have occasionally killed the good vibe at a gathering with a thoughtless comment). Yes, I do like a good steak, so I guess I’m an accessory to the fact on that one, but I don’t like to see things suffer or be killed. I just don’t like it. I’m sensitive to it.
Jesus referenced His own death in Luke 9:22 “Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.” The Bible says that we “must” be born again (John 3:7) but it’s pretty harsh to know that "our must” leading to life, required "His must” leading to death. It’s pretty tough stuff.
On Sunday, LORD willing, members will celebrate the LORD’s Supper. Jesus said “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.” (1 Corinthians 11:26). It’s tough stuff alright, and it hurts me terribly to think of My Saviour’s torture on that cross those years ago. He also said to us, “this do in remembrance of me.” Jesus' body was literally broken for you and for me. Included in our remembrances needs to be John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Let’s never become numb to the reality of it!
Love to all,
Pastor
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