Matthew 26:20-30 "In Remembrance"

Read Matthew 26:20-30.

"While they were eating Jesus took break, gave thanks and broke it.... Then he took the cup, and gave thanks...." NIV

A simple act performed daily by all people turned into one of the most precious symbols in the Christian body.

When Jesus broke the bread He said that it symbolized His body being broken for us. I keep remembering the movie National Treasure. At the end Nicholas Cage says to the FBI agent, "I really don't want to go to jail." (For stealing the Constitution to keep it out of the hands of a bad guy.) To which the FBI agent says, "Someone's got to go to jail, Ben." I know, I have a strange way of seeing things. But when we sin, someone's got to do the time for it. We have the most loving Father, but because He is loving, He is also just. Sin has a price and someone has to pay. Here's where the bread comes in. It symbolizes the fact that Jesus paid the price with His broken body on the cross. Under the old covenant, a lamb other animal could be sacrificed on an altar for forgiveness of sins. But under the new covenant, Jesus Christ becomes the sacrificial lamb for our sins forevermore. He paid the price so we don't have to. Isn't that amazing? And just so we don't forget that amazing act of mercy, we are reminded through the breaking of the bread in communion. I can't help but be overwhelmed with gratitude and humility every time I take the bread. My sins do not deserve His sacrifice; I should be the one paying. I choose those paths, not Him. But that's how great His love is for each of us.

The wine represents His blood. The blood becomes a covering to atone for the sins past, present, and future. Atone means to reconcile or appease, to make amends for a wrong done. As the innocent lamb atoned for the sins of those of the old covenant, so Jesus' blood atones for our sins. He is our covering for the sins of our past, present, and future.

We are undeserving. So was He. But His love won over and we must never forget. Take the bread and the wine....and give thanks.

Further Thoughts:

1. Research further the old covenant sacrifice for sins.
2. Spend some time in remembrance today and give thanks that you live under the new covenant.

Matthew 12:15-21 "A New Way"

Read Matthew 12:15-21.

"Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place." NIV

Why didn't Jesus just wipe all His opponents out? He knew they were plotting to kill Him. He knew the evil they were spreading in the name of God and religion. He knew their hearts and their hypocrisy. The same power that He used to heal and call out demons could have been used to wipe out His enemies in one breath. Why? Why did He withhold judgement?

Because of His great mercy. As I go back and read Isaiah 42-44, I see a God who wants to give us another chance. He already wiped out the world once minus Noah and his family because of the evil in men's hearts. But now, He sees a remnant that has some hope. Even in their sin, God sees His chosen people as the hope of the world. And He says, "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." (Is 43:19) It's our second chance; our new covenant. He is providing a way out of our sins other than destruction and giving us a hope -- for heaven and for the salvation of the rest of the world through our work.

That's why He endured the torment, persecution and ultimately death. Yes, He could have wiped them out, but for what? So the rest of the "righteous" people could flounder and probably, eventually turn towards their sinful nature. That already happened after the flood. But we now have victory over our sinful nature because the price for sin has been paid through the blood of Jesus Christ. We are no longer slaves to the sinful nature, but have the power to conquer it because Christ conquered sin and death through His resurrection. How much more powerful is a gift when you stop to think of what the alternative could have been.

Thank You, Lord, for a new way, a new covenant. Thank You for your grace and mercy which ultimately led to Your suffering and death. Thank You for second chances.

Further Thoughts:

1. Read through Isaiah 42-44 and remember that this was prophesied about 700 years before Christ. If you think your life is out of control, remember, God has a plan and is in complete control.
2. We are now the remnant, God's chosen people. Search the Scriptures for references to these names and read them knowing He is speaking to you.

Ephesians 1:7

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace...." NIV

The gospel in its simplest form -- clear and straight forward. Because of my sin and the sins of the world, a sacrifice had to be made to atone for them. A price must always be paid for sin. But Jesus chose to become the sacrificial lamb for us so that through His blood, I am free of the guilt and punishment of my sin.

The price has been paid, and I am forgiven. But this only occurred because of "the riches of God's grace." I did not deserve the sacrifice. I did nothing to earn it. In fact, just the opposite -- I chose through sin to oppose God's laws. I chose the path of death and separation from Him. But He loved me so much, even in my sinful state, to make a way for me. Glory to His name. How can I do anything else but praise and serve Him? His love deserves no less.

Further Thoughts:
1. What is the definition of atonement?
2. What process did God establish in the Old Testament for the atonement of sins? (See Leviticus 16)
3. Compare and contrast the process in Leviticus 16 to Jesus' death.
4. Who is now our high priest and what biblical evidence do we have of that? (See Luke 23:45 and Hebrews 10:19-23)
5. Read or recite John 3:16 then give thanks and worship Him.