Holy Week: Thursday

hursday: The last supper.  Mk. 14:12-25, Mt. 26:17-29, Lk. 22:7-20, Jn. 13:1-30,

                                              I Cor. 11:23-26.

The Lord’s Supper is a time of celebration and self-examination.  As we remember what Christ has done for us we rejoice.   In Communion we express our faith in Him and we symbolically partake of Him.  Jesus is our life.  He died the death that He died so that we can live the life that He lives.  What we do during the Lord’s Supper is the acting out of how we should live every day.  He is the tree of life that gives us all we need for an abundant and meaningful life.  There are many examples in the Bible of eating and drinking as a picture of our trusting God.  “I am the manna that came down from Heaven.”  “If anyone is thirsty let him come to me and drink.”  The eating of food is an act of faith.  We take it in believing that it will give us energy and not poison us.  Once taken in, the food or drink does its job without our help.  Once we really trust Jesus, He comes in, spiritually energizes us, and gives us His life.

As we celebrate the reality of Christ in us, we should pause to examine ourselves to see if we actually have been living by His life and not by our own.  Our failures and sins can all be traced to a lack of faith which ultimately comes down to our not partaking of Him.  The actual wrongs we commit are a symptom of unbelief and poor “communion” with our Lord.  He can change us.

When you enter a typical Baptist Church worship center, you will see the Communion Table in the middle of the front.  Whether or not you literally take the Lord’s Supper that day or not, look at the table and let remind you of what Christ has done and wants to do for you, in you, and through you.

Farewell Address.  Jn. 14-16

Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to become His presence and power in our lives.  A Spirit-filled person not only will do great works but also will reflect the character of Christ.  It all works itself out as we abide in Him through regular and constant prayer.  Are you filled with His Spirit?  By faith you can be.  Just ask Him. 

The Lord’s Prayer.  Jn. 17

This prayer is for us!  In it Jesus defines eternal life(vs. 3),  says what His goal on earth was(vs. 4), tells how He protects us(vs. 12), defines our mission(vs. 18), says why He gives us His glory(vs.22), and tells how others will know that The Father sent Him(vs. 23).  In your own prayers you can know that if you pray what Jesus prayed for you, you will have the request.   Let this prayer be an inspiration for you to get your prayer life going strong.