
Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Matthew 26:26-29
The Bible indicates that on the night that Jesus was betrayed, He shared a Passover meal with His disciples – a Passover meal that He had longed to share with His disciples – a Passover meal that truly looked back to the first Passover meal.
In Exodus 12, we read that the Israelites were to slay the perfect lamb that they had selected 4 days earlier, take some of its blood and spread it on the two doorposts and lintel of their houses, roast the lamb, and eat it along with some bitter herbs and unleavened bread.
The firstborn of any family in the land who did not have the blood on the doorposts and lintel of their houses would be slain. The Passover lamb saved the firstborn males in Israel if the families had their doorposts and lintels covered with the Passover lamb’s blood. This Passover ushered in their freedom from slavery in Egypt.
With this meal, Jesus shows the disciples the true meaning of the Passover. On this day (the Jewish day began at sunset), the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, the Holy Sacrifice, Jesus, dies on the cross to free the world from its sins.
… “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19
In just a few hours, Jesus’ body is ripped open, beaten beyond recognition as a man, and nailed to a cross. He takes on the sins of the world – past, present, and future. He experiences excruciating pain and shame. He experiences the wrath of God.
And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” Luke 22:20
The new covenant brings eternal life, life with Jesus face-to-face, if we accept this free gift.
We celebrate the Last Supper regularly. We understand that Jesus is our Passover Lamb. We understand that He died on the cross for our sins. We understand that He rose from the grave three days later. Head knowledge.
Jesus gave everything, so that we could live with Him in righteousness forever. From the heart of His being, Jesus gave everything for us.
I wonder, do we really understand the true goodness that this Friday brings?
We must receive this precious gift. We must abide in Jesus – from our hearts, our minds, our souls, and our spirits.
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. John 6:53-56
My prayer
Father, we cannot fathom the great love You have for Your people. It is too high for us to understand. Help us to comprehend more as we learn of You and Your Son and let it sink deep within our hearts, our minds, our souls, and our spirits. Teach us to abide in Jesus, for He is our true food, our true drink, our true salvation, our true freedom. Jesus is the reason this Friday is Good. Thank You for this Good, Good Friday! In Jesus’ name, Amen
Related Links:
7 Reasons Why This Friday is Good
The Agony of Jesus on Good Friday and His Triumph on Easter Sunday
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