His Body was broken
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Mark 14:22
Since I grew up in church, I probably heard and read the “communion” passages hundreds of times. The words that Jesus spoke to His disciples at His last supper with them. However, considering what to write about this passage today, brought me an entirely new perspective on the event.
Jesus explains the elements of bread and juice to the disciples, but since this was new to them, I’m sure they didn’t understand the depth of what Jesus was teaching either. He gave them all bread and said: This bread represents My body that is going to be broken. For you. He was talking about what was about to happen to Him when He was going to be taken away from them to pay the punishment for their sin and ours today. He didn’t do it for Himself and He didn’t do it just for God His Father. He did it for people. My mentality when reading about this has always tended toward Jesus’ faithfulness to go through with this horrible event because it was the plan and reason that He came into the world. And it was, but there was so much more to what was in His heart when He did it.
We know this. In fact, one of the first verses that we teach children is that God demonstrated His love toward us while we were sinners in Jesus’ death. There was a greater reason that Jesus went to the cross than because He wanted to obey God and fulfill the mission He was sent here to accomplish. The main reason Jesus suffered and died the way He did, was because of love. He loved us and wanted to ensure that people all would have the opportunity to receive His love and live with Him and His Father for all eternity. He was not willing or satisfied to let us die and be cast into the pit with His enemy forever.
Today this is what compels us to share God’s love with those around us, because we love others. If we are giving our testimony and telling the gospel because of obedience and faithfulness, we are not going to be as effective. The real motivation is because we love others the way Jesus taught us to love. Everything we do today and everyday should be because we are giving God’s love freely, just like Jesus did on the cross, but we do not have to be the one that suffers.
Today I want to encourage you to remember His love the next time you celebrate communion. Yes, you remember His death until He comes back for us, but also remember how much He loved us when giving His life. He willingly laid it down to show how much He loved all people. Start taking steps today to show your love for people by walking in that love each day.
Today’s scripture reading: Mark 14:22-26
22 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
24 And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many.
25 Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
The Daily Dose 