“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.””
Mark 14:22-25 NKJV
One of the most sacred observances in the life of a Believer is the Lord’s supper, observed for the first time with Yeshua and His disciples at Passover.
Years ago I was introduced to the Greek word Euchariateo by author Ann Voskamp in her book One Thousand Gifts. Trigger Alert: The book wrecked me, but in a good way. It is a HARD read and was full of triggers for me. It’s a good read – but it is not easy. The gem I found as I followed Ann’s story was the power of giving thanks as a lifestyle opened my eyes anew to the what Yeshua taught in today’s reading.
He blessed the bread – which represented His body- then He broke it. (She has a book around that part too).
Then, He took the cup which represented His blood – the blood of the covenant- and He gave thanks (eucharistéō) before He presented the cup to His disciples.
Think back to yesterday’s devotion and the story of the Banquet of Wine when a cup was offered to the bride to be. The cup, a symbol to hope and future. The cup, that once consumed, sealed the covenant. The cup, a sign of commitment and sacrifice. The cup, His blood, emptied out for each of us.
He knew what He would face. He was distraught – “sorrowful unto death” (Mark 14:34). YET – He GAVE THANKS!
Anyone who knows me well knows my favorite movie is Ever After. It was during that movie that I had – for the first time- a revelation of His love for me. If you’ve seen it, this is the quote that undid me: “I kneel before you not as a prince, but as a man in love…” That is the posture I believe Yeshua took that day in the Upper Room. I believe He stood – or knelt – before His disciples as a Man in love. It was for love He came. Love for His Father. Love for you and me. I believe love is what gave Him the ability to face His impending death with thanks.
First He presented a symbol of a broken body. Then He gave thanks. He eucharistéō: to be grateful, to actively express gratitude; to give or to be thankful.
We face NOTHING compared to that. In the light of His suffering, anything I encounter pales in comparison. If He gave thanks in and through His brokenness, I will too. Not because I feel like it – but because He is worthy of it. He is worthy of my active expression of gratitude- my eucharistéō – day and night. No matter what.
Father – thank You for Your truth. Make me more like You. You are good and You keep doing good. Your leadership in my life is perfect and You can me trusted. Amen.
Daily Reading: Matthew 26, Mark 14
November 9, 2022