Jesus took and asked the disciples to take as well. These takings represent the basic elements of the foundation of our salvation. Jesus did it so we can be his and reconciled to him.
Mark 14:22-26King James Version (KJV)
22 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.25 Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.26 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
Jesus said when you go this remember me. He was heavy because of all that was before him. The disciples were merrier remembering how God had worked in the first Passover. When God saw the blood on the doorposts of everyone who partook in that first Passover, he passed over them. Their lives were spared. Jesus fulfilled the law in every respect for himself and us. Because he took, we can partake.
Many Christians have never taken the cup and the bread or washed someone else’s feet. They misunderstand the meaning behind it. This is for everyone just like baptism is for all. Jesus baptized the 12 he called and in turn they baptized subsequent followers. Jesus didn’t baptize to save. His blood was required. He knew that for us to escape hell he would have to take his body and his blood and offer them as a sacrifice for our sins. Our release from the satanic grip of evil depended on Jesus. This embodies what Jesus bought for us. It represents what he took so salvation could exist. From salvation to death or the trumpet we can live a victorious life by following what Jesus took for us.
Jesus took a whole loaf of bread and gave thanks for it and the ability to break it in pieces for those in the Upper Room. He was thankful there was bread to be broken. He was the bread and he thanked God for it. The representative bread was there in a loaf, but the Bread of Life sat at the table. He broke himself for us. He broke this bread himself. He said at one point that no man took his life; he gave it. He broke it at the whipping post, at the cross, in the Garden all so we could partake. We should have been broken for our condemnation but Jesus did it for us. Jesus passed out the bread saying take, eat: this is my body.
He then took the cup into his hands. It represented the blood that flowed through his veins. Our blood is corrupt. It keeps us physically alive but because of sin we were dead in trespasses and sins. Jesus’ blood was human but also perfect, sinless, and divine. He knew every drop would drain to the ground within the next 24 hours. The trail of blood started in the Garden and went to the courts, the whipping posts, and the cross where he hung for six hours. It flowed and the final amount came out when the soldier pierced his side. We deserve for our blood to be shed but instead of us Jesus allowed his blood to be shed. He took it so we could partake. We can be washed in his blood and be as white as snow.
After supper was over he took the towel and a basin. These were used to wash and dry. It was symbolic of servants who washed the feet of guests entering a house. Jesus didn’t do this upon their entrance but after supper. The only way to be a Christian is to be saved first. Jesus took the basin and towel and began to wash their feet. They protested, but he was giving them an example. It’s possible to love our brothers and sisters. It’s possible to love the lost. We can come together and be of service to each other as we serve. Jesus said the world would know we are his disciples by our love for each other. Through his servitude we see a way to serve others.
It’s all why we remember him. By being part of it, we indeed are part of the kingdom. In that assurance we can serve. In these fearsome times this is a refresher that we can face whatever threatens us. We can overcome. We can win others to the Lord. That’s our mission—win people to the Lord. We do that by daily partaking. Through our witness others will see the Lord.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 