Peter glanced around the room. Warm, brotherly affection filled him as he looked at these men. Some he had known for dozens of years…some, only three. They had sailed together, walked countless miles, witnessed miracles, survived storms, and had seen things Peter never thought anyone would ever see in a lifetime! All because of him.
Jesus.
Peter looked over at him.
He had given up everything for this man. His business. His family. But his faith in him, who he was, and what he represented was something he would always believe in.
It was Passover, and after an emotionally exhausting week, they were all looking forward to sharing this special meal together.
As they moved through each part of the meal with its customary observances, Peter thought of how grateful he was for rituals like Passover. With all the unsettlement of recent days, there was something about the yearly tradition that gave him a sense of security. The eating of the bitter herbs, representing the bitterness of slavery of the Israelites in Egypt, singing Psalms, drinking of the watered down wine, then eating the roasted lamb. The unleavened bread, as a reminder that their ancestors left Egypt in haste. After this, another cup was drunk and the singing of more Psalms.
But then Jesus did something, and said something that was out of the ordinary. Jesus took some of the bread and began to break it apart and divide it, giving each of them a piece. Then he said, “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Peter, a bit hesitantly, took his piece and ate it, as did all the others.
Then Jesus took a cup. After giving thanks, he handed it to them, and said, “drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many, for the forgiveness of sins.”
As the cup was passed, Peter looked around the room. If the look on his face was anything like the look on the faces of the other disciples, he knew he was not alone in his confusion. The meal wasn’t supposed go like this. What was Jesus doing? The bread his body? The wine his blood? And what did he mean exactly by a new covenant? Peter struggled to understand. Judging from the hushed murmurs and wrinkled brows around the table, all of the other disciples struggled too.
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Well. Peter and the disciples didn’t quite know what Jesus was talking about that night. Not yet anyway! But they would. They would come to understand that Jesus had just instituted a new tradition, a new mandate.
When Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me” he was saying, do this so that you will always remember what I’ve done for you. The bread, the cup…my body…my blood. Remember this!
How easily the human mind forgets.
In all our normal everyday, when people do, or don’t do what we think they should…when we get hurt. When work is…work. When those we love make bad decisions – or when we’re denied what we think is best.
We forget.
In the rush and busy of life, we forget.
We forget about that night.
That night in an upper room, a group of men who had no idea that they would soon change the world,
breaking bread with a man…
who would soon give his life for it.
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