Read (parts adapted from 1 Corinthians 11)
The Feast of Unleavened Bread, also called Passover, had come. Wanting to celebrate the Passover with his disciples, Jesus retired with them to a borrowed guest room.
Jesus, on the night of his betrayal, took bread. Having given thanks, he broke it and said,
This is my body, broken for you.
Do this to remember me.
After supper, he did the same thing with the cup:
This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you.
Each time you drink this cup, remember me.
Every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you reenact in your words and actions the death of the Christ, who died as the ultimate Passover Lamb, to wash away the sins of the world not just for one day, not just for one year, but for all time—forever.
We will now come to join in God’s redemption story by breaking bread together. In this simple meal, the people of God, first in the Passover, now in Communion, have given thanks to God for the ultimate sacrifice. A Lamb. A Cross. A World Forgiven.
There are a million emotions and thoughts one can be feeling now. On that night, almost two thousand years ago, one person was thinking about betrayal. Another was thinking that he would never, ever betray. A few doubted. A couple were confused. And one was preparing to take the wrath of the world upon his shoulders.
Pray
Take a few moments to collect yourself and enter into the story of that first communion Jesus shared with his disciples. Pray that God would continually remind you of Christ’s presence in you, your words, your actions and your daily activities.