MAUNDY MEMORIES

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

Many of you who know me well know of my affinity for communion; the Lord’s Supper.

I grew up in a house where communion was priority. We always took communion with us on vacation just in case we couldn’t make a service while away. My father in law even hand-crafted some travel communion sets for when we all were together on a trip.

We took that “as often as you gather” command seriously.

Why? The Last Supper holds deep significance.

It was the final time Jesus would be with His closest friends.

It was the event when Jesus would both synthesize and commemorate what was to about to take place.

His body to be broken for us.

His blood to be shed for us.

Forgiveness offered for us.

GOD’s redemption provided for us.

Matthew 26:26-29 (MSG)

During the meal, Jesus took and blessed the bread, broke it, and gave it to his disciples:

Take, eat.

This is my body.

Taking the cup and thanking God, he gave it to them:

Drink this, all of you.

This is my blood,

God’s new covenant poured out for many people for the forgiveness of sins.

Today is what many refer to as Maundy Thursday, the day of that last supper; the day "communion" was birthed so to speak.  And now over 2000+ years later that last supper is to be remembered.

“Do this to remember me.” 1 Corinthians 11:24 (NLT)

It calls to mind the broken body and shed blood of Jesus; that amazingly powerful blood that cleanses us from all our sin. For GOD required blood to cover sin and Jesus poured all that he could on the altar of the cross: He took upon Himself all sin—past, present, and future—and died to pay the full penalty for us.

The Lord’s Supper and Maundy Thursday are now here to call to mind the amazing sacrifice that was to come on that horrific Roman cross; that “good” Friday when Jesus would give His all so that we might have it all. 

Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth. 

Ephesians 1:7-10 (MSG)

Pause today. Thank and “remember” Him for remembering us.

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For some, the service of communion is a sleepy hour in which wafers are eaten, juice is taken and the soul never stirs. It wasn’t intended to be as such. In Matthew’s account of the Last Supper, one incredible truth surfaces. Jesus is the person behind it all.  He selected the place, designated the time, and set the meal in order. And at the Supper, Jesus is not the served, but the servant. It is Jesus who put on the garb of a servant and washed the disciples’ feet. Jesus is not portrayed as the one who reclines and receives, but as the one who stands and gives.

He still does. The Lord’s Supper is a gift to you. The Lord’s Supper is a holy invitation. A sacred sacrament bidding you to leave the chores of life and enter his splendor. He meets you at the table. - Lucado

I love you all!

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