As you recline next to Jesus at Passover, you try to absorb what just happened. Jesus blessed and broke the bread and said, "Take and eat; this is my body." The bread was then passed to each of you at the table. Then He took the cup, gave thanks and said, "Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the new covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins."
What did Jesus mean when he said this is my blood, this is my body, which will be shed….Jesus looked at each of us with such love. His words were slow and perfectly enunciated. He chose these words very carefully and deliberately. The bread is His body. You remember the words He had spoken before. “I am the Bread of Life. “ You must eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood.” This is the new covenant. This all sounds amazing except for one word—shed. His blood will be shed?
Your thoughts are interrupted by Jesus’ next announcement, “One of you will betray me.” What? One of us is going to betray Jesus? That sounds impossible. You suddenly feel queasy, and the hair on your arms stands on end. How can this make sense? Think. Think. At the first Passover, blood was shed. The blood of the lambs. This blood protected them from death. John the Baptist called Jesus the Lamb of God. Jesus might have to die to save us from death? That can’t be! The Messiah is supposed to save us. Suddenly, another question comes crashing through your thoughts. What are we being saved from? From death? Wait, Jesus also said for the forgiveness of sins. Forgiveness of sins, saved from death. Eat my flesh and drink my blood, and you will have eternal life.
Your head starts spinning as you try to understand. You lean your head back against Jesus. You can hear His heart beating. Your fears begin to fade being this close to His heart. Jesus whispers to you, “Stay close to me, my friend. Soon you will see I love you more than you can understand.”
-Susan
