Distracted
“But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.” ~ Mark 14:28
Have you ever received a gift that was so meaningful you couldn’t throw away the card it came with? The value wasn’t in the paper or the wrapping. It was in the love behind the gift. Every time you looked at it, you remembered the person who gave it and why they gave it.
Communion is much like that. The bread and the cup are not ordinary elements. They are powerful reminders of the greatest act of love the world has ever known.
Since I grew up in church, I’ve heard the account of the Last Supper hundreds of times. I’ve taken communion more times than I could possibly count. But, as I read this passage again, the Lord showed me something I hadn’t noticed before.
When Jesus handed the bread to His disciples, they had no idea what the next twenty-four hours would bring. They couldn’t fully understand what He meant when He said, “This is My body.”
To them, it was another Passover meal. To Jesus, it was the beginning of the greatest demonstration of love in history.
The bread represented His body that would soon be beaten, bruised, and broken for them and for us.
For years, when I read this passage, my attention was usually drawn to Jesus’ obedience. I marveled at His willingness to fulfill the Father’s plan even though it meant unimaginable suffering.
While that is certainly true, there was an even greater motivation behind His obedience. Love. Jesus didn’t go to the cross simply because He had to. He went because He wanted to rescue us.
He wasn’t satisfied with leaving people separated from the Father so He willingly laid down His life so every person would have the opportunity to receive forgiveness, experience God’s love, and spend eternity with Him.
Love was the reason He paid that price. Everything Jesus endured was motivated by love. That truth changes the way I see communion.
Communion isn’t simply a memorial of the Lord Jesus’ suffering. It’s a celebration of His amazing love. Every time we receive the bread and the cup, we’re reminded that we are deeply loved by the Savior who gave everything so we could have everything that truly matters.
That love should never stop with us. It should overflow into the lives of those around us. If we’re only sharing the Gospel because we know we’re supposed to, people will notice. But when we share because our hearts genuinely ache for others to experience the love of Jesus, they notice that more. People may argue with our opinions, but it’s much harder to argue with genuine love.
Here are some ways to live out this passage in your life:
- Approach communion with gratitude. The next time you receive communion, don’t rush through the moment. Thank Jesus for His sacrifice, but also thank Him for His incredible love that made the sacrifice possible.
- Receive His love personally. Don’t simply believe Jesus loves the world. Believe He loves you. Spend time thanking Him for the forgiveness, mercy, and grace He has freely given.
- Let His love shape your relationships. Ask yourself each morning, “Lord, who can I encourage today?” A kind word, a listening ear, or an unexpected act of kindness may be exactly how someone experiences God’s love through you.
- Share the Gospel because you care. Instead of feeling pressured to witness, ask God to fill your heart with compassion. Love is the greatest motivation for telling others about Jesus.
One of the things I’ve learned is that the more I understand God’s love for me, the easier it becomes to love difficult people. That doesn’t mean everyone suddenly becomes easy to deal with. Some people still require extra prayer, and maybe an extra cup of coffee! But when I remember how patient Jesus has been with me, it becomes much easier to extend that same patience to others.
I’ve also realized that communion isn’t meant to leave us looking backward only. It reminds us of what Jesus has done, but it also sends us forward with His love. Every time we receive it, we’re reminded that His body was broken so broken people could be made whole. That includes us, and it includes everyone we’ll meet today.
Today I want to encourage you to never let communion become just another church tradition. Every time you receive the bread and the cup, remember the abundant love that led Jesus to the cross. Receive that love deeply, thank Him for His sacrifice, and then carry His love into the lives of others. The greatest testimony we have is not simply what we know about Jesus, but how faithfully we demonstrate His love to a world that desperately needs Him. As you remember His broken body, let your heart be filled with gratitude, compassion, and a renewed desire to share His love wherever He leads you.
Today’s scripture reading: Mark 14:27-31
27 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’
28 “But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”
29 Peter said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.”
30 Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”
31 But he spoke more vehemently, “If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”
And they all said likewise.
Journal:
- When I take communion, do I focus more on Jesus’ suffering or on His incredible love for me?
- Have I fully received God’s love, or do I still struggle to believe He delights in me?
- Who in my life needs to experience the love of Jesus through my words or actions this week?
- Am I sharing my faith out of obligation, or because I genuinely love people?
- What is one practical way I can demonstrate Christ’s love to someone today?
The Daily Dose 