A parting gift

Knowing your death is approaching focuses the mind. You 'get your affairs in order' and leave meaningful gifts to people, eitehr in person or in your will.

That is exactly what we find Jesus doing today.

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it all or you. 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 from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.Matthew 26:26-30

Jesus is having a meal with his disciples. He knows it will be the last one he has before he dies. Yet his mind is not consumed with all that is going to happen to him, rather he is filled with love for his disciples, and he gives them a gift so that can remember his great love for them.

The gift? A meal. A simple meal of bread and wine. Broken and poured out - to remind them that Jesus body was broken and his blood poured out. That's a really strange gift. They loved Jesus, and as such they did not need a reminder of all that happened around his death. We can often replay the death of those we love. Every breath. So this meal is not to remind them of details, it speaks of the purpose of Jesus death.

The new covenant. The forgiveness of sins. Hope that we shall be together again, feasting in my kingdom. Now that is worth remembering.

But there is more. You see the meal is not simply a picture or a sensory feast to trigger our memories. It is a gift of grace. In which we taste his grace. Every time we eat. Each time we drink. We reach out and take the bread. We feast on Jesus. We trust afresh in all he has done for us on the cross.

It's not possible to celebrate this meal together during COVID-19 crises. But the one this meal proclaims, is still present with us. We can still reach out to him in faith. We must turn to him daily and know the forgiveness of our sins, and the sufficiency and strength of his grace.