Meditation

01/06/2020

“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to he, say, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant which is poured out fro many for the forgiveness of sins.’” (Matthew26:26–28)

The shared Passover concluded with Jesus’ revelations that bread and cup represented His body and blood, symbols of the gift He offered by His willingness to die for all. Connecting His own life and death with the Jewish meal of sacrificed lamb, Jesus revealed Himself as an offered lamb.

Although the Passover ritual required separate prayers for the elements, the prayers in Mark 8:6-7 indicate that Jesus ‘ attitude was of blessing and gratitude throughout the meal. The wine in the Lord’s supper represents the blood of Christ which was poured out for the forgiveness of sins (Hebrew 9:22). Christ’s death on the cross was an atoning sacrifice for sins and established God’s new covenant with His people.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Precious Abba, the actions of Jesus revealed to all His disciples the true sacrifice on the Cross, to atone for our sins, because He was without sin. It is a reminder to us, every time we partake in the Lord’s Supper, of just what He did and why. We partake in this reminder to honor our relationship with You Abba, through our relationship with Jesus, and this is why we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.”

KNOWING GOD:

“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take it; this is my body.’ then he took the cup gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,’ he said to them.”

Jesus fulfilled the covenant of the Old Testament. His life and ministry tied the covenant people of the Old Testament to God’s new work in the church in the New Testament. Jesus came to fulfill the old covenant and to issue in the age of the new covenant. Many people believe that Jesus referred to Jeremiah’s message of the new covenant. What Jeremiah proclaimed as coming in the future, Jesus brought to fulfillment. The names of he two divisions of he Bible get their names for the covenant concept. In the life of Jesus, the grandest hopes of the old covenant and the brightest possibilities of the new covenant came together.

I AM:

“Prayer, Thanksgiving”: (Luke17:16–19)

Ten lepers, at least one of which was a Samaritan, asked for healing. In response to His charge to show themselves to the priest, they went—-in faith. All were cleansed. Only one, a Samaritan, returned to thank Jesus. This action expressed greater faith. Miracles should increase our faith and cause us to thank and praise God. Praise and gratitude must be expressed in the same kind of faith as petition. Believes acknowledge God’s work in our world and in our lies with thanks.

Second Thought of the Day:

“Jesus said, ‘Have the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.’” (John6:11)

In Israel, there are many digs going on, and I do my best to keep up with what is being sought in each. Recently, in a place on the banks of the Sea of Galilee, the site of the feeding of the 5,000 was located. Once again, another story in the Bible has been confirmed through archaeology. In truth though, the count was only of men, and there were unnumbered women and children there, which makes this story even more incredible.

Jesus already knew what He was going to do, but to test him, he asked Philip, “Where shall be buy bread for these people to eat?” His response was, “8 months of wages would not be able to buy enough bread for one bite of bread each.” Even Andrew stated there was a boy there with two small fish and five loaves of bread. “How can this little feed so many.” Jesus simply prayed over the fish and then directed them to begin feeding. When all were filled, they gathered up twelve baskets of fish and bread left over, after the whole multitude had eaten their fill. Miracles come in many ways, beloved, but you must be looking for them, when they occur.