This Is

It was truly the last supper for Jesus and his disciples. Gathered around him, the disciples had no idea it would be the last meal they would have with Jesus before he died. As they partook of the Passover, they didn’t know how suddenly things were going to change. The past three years with the Master had not always been easy, but imagine traveling with him. It would change and seem to for the worse, but it was the plan of God.

Matthew 26:26 “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom. 30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.”

As long as the church age lasts, Jesus asked that all believers do this in remembrance of him. It’s plain and simple. The whole meaning of being the Messiah, the remedy for the problem of the soul, would be typified by a piece of bread and a cup of grape juice. Without this there wouldn’t be a church. If we forget the cross, what Jesus did and who he is, church is a waste of time. We can’t continue as a church if we cease to remember Jesus and what he did.

It was Passover. This was how it was to be done. Jesus blessed the bread. He passed it out. He blessed the cup and told them to drink. Plain actions, but with his words it would never be the same. God instituted Passover in Egypt. They were to remember their freedom from Egyptian bondage each year by keeping the Passover. The bitter herbs with the meal helped them. It typified it. This particular Passover was like it but unlike it. This one was the fulfillment of Passover once and for all. In the center of it all Jesus said “this is.”

He was careful in what he said. The bread: “this is my body.” The cup: “this is my blood of the new testament.” He didn’t mean the bread became his body or the cup his blood. They were tokens of remembrance. We remember who the Savior is and how we need to treat him. This is. As we partake tonight, realize what this is.

It’s a piece of bread. It’s a cup of juice. This is a physical reminder of what is. In this crazy time, we can believe, accept and remember Christ. The devil can’t take out of our hearts what Jesus did for us. We see it in the symbols of his earthly life. In conception he became human. He was born in Bethlehem and grew up in Nazareth. He was baptized and began his earthly ministry. We see his earthly life in its entirety. We know the agony of the cross. We know how his body was treated and broken. That’s what Jesus did with the bread. He broke it in two. He allowed his body to be broken when it should have been ours. He allowed his blood to be shed, and it should have been mine and yours instead. He gave his all so we won’t have to suffer. I’m so thankful for the bread and the cup. We are reminded we have a Redeemer who bought us with himself.

If there is ever a story that is known throughout history, this is it. I’m familiar with bits and pieces of many religions, but the world is familiar with this. What Jesus did is so profound that our minds can never understand it, yet it’s so simple. He gave his body and his blood. This is it.

So, what is this to us? He didn’t say imagine this is. He said this is. It wasn’t a transference. He was simply saying this is what salvation is—my body and my blood given for you. No doubt he looked at his body as he spoke. They could see the link. It’s real. Where all other religions fail, we have the truth. Jesus is Truth. This is truth. There is no other salvation. We have the real thing.

Our trust in Jesus, in this, is it. His body and his blood did it. His death set us free so we can live. This is all he could give, and he was willing to give it all. He did it for everyone of us. Our body and our blood belong to us. Jesus’ belonged to him, BUT he gave it. His body was broken for you and me. It was his blood that was shed for you and me. God loved us so much that he gave. It was all he could give, and it was all his. It was enough.

This is still enough. Do you think you need more? It makes me feel low to participate in a service like this. I don’t deserve what he did. If all he asks is that we do it in remembrance of him, then that’s what I want to do.

The bread and the cup. His body and his blood. This is it. Do it in remembrance of Jesus.