A free gift
Jesus shared a piece of bread and a cup of wine with his disciples and so began a memorial which has continued for over 2000 years in Christian communities.
Why do we do it?
The bread and the cup had been part of the Jewish Passover Feast for hundreds of years as they remembered their escape from Egypt under God’s hand.
But Christ gave it new meaning.
No longer did the people have to offer sacrifices; Jesus was the “Passover Lamb”. (John 1:29, 1 Corinthians 5:7, Revelation 5:12) He had made the ultimate sacrifice when he gave his whole life even to death.
The bread was now a symbol of his mortal body given in love; the wine was a symbol of his blood and the life he gave for us so we can be forgiven. It represented a new covenant with God and a promise of a new life.
Jesus said to his disciples that night,” For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”. (Luke 22:18) “And just as my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I now grant you the right to eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom.” (Luke 22:29,30)
“…the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
Many seek for the ‘free’ materialistic gifts that the world offers; how much more should we seek the real and meaningful gift that God has offered us.