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			45 lines
		
	
	
	
		
			2.3 KiB
		
	
	
	
		
			Markdown
		
	
	
	
	
	
|  | +++ | |||
|  | title = "Luke 22:14–23" | |||
|  | date = "2023-02-05" | |||
|  | +++ | |||
|  | 
 | |||
|  | ### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Lk22.14-23)
 | |||
|  | 
 | |||
|  | The table is set, the preparations are complete, and Jesus is now ready to eat | |||
|  | the Passover meal with His disciples. And in the face of over a millenium of | |||
|  | tradition, Jesus adds some new elements to the formula. Before that, though, | |||
|  | Jesus expresses His gratitude that He gets to eat this Passover with His | |||
|  | closest disciples, knowing that it will be the last one He will have with them. | |||
|  | 
 | |||
|  | His first break with tradition is that He does not partake in the four cups of | |||
|  | wine that are traditionally served at different points during the meal. The | |||
|  | wine was diluted with water to keep anyone from becoming drunk at this solemn | |||
|  | occasion, but Jesus doesn't have even that much. Instead His cup gets | |||
|  | distributed to everyone else at the table. I'm certain there is significance to | |||
|  | Jesus's abstinence at this time, but I haven't read anything to indicate what | |||
|  | it is. Jesus did drink wine before, especially in comparison to John the | |||
|  | Baptist since His enemies accused Him of being a drunkard. I also don't know if | |||
|  | "until the kingdom of God comes" (_v. 18_) refers to after His resurrection, or | |||
|  | after His Second Coming. I suspect knowing why would help answer when. | |||
|  | 
 | |||
|  | The next thing Jesus does differently is to equate His body with the Passover | |||
|  | bread which is broken into pieces and given to everyone to eat. And He commands | |||
|  | them to "[d]o this in remembrance of me." (_v. 19_) Likewise, the cup of wine | |||
|  | after the meal is equated with Jesus's blood which is poured out for the new | |||
|  | covenant between God and man. This is how He could say in John 6:54, "He who | |||
|  | eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on | |||
|  | the last day." As He commanded us, churches around the world celebrate the | |||
|  | Lord's Supper by eating bread and drinking of the fruit of the vine, | |||
|  | remembering Jesus's sacrifice that makes eternal life with Him possible. | |||
|  | 
 | |||
|  | Before the disciples can wonder what Jesus means by all this, He throws them | |||
|  | another curveball by telling them that He will be betrayed by someone who was | |||
|  | there that night. He also lets it drop that all these things have been | |||
|  | determined beforehand, and yet the betrayer is going to be facing divine | |||
|  | judgement anyway. | |||
|  | 
 | |||
|  | * * * | |||
|  | 
 | |||
|  | You are the only One who can change our natures, so that we will willingly | |||
|  | follow Your instructions. |