Maundy Thursday - Seder of the New Covenant

New Guest: Like this one, most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching the blog archives for that title. You might start with 'Welcome,' the first post, dated November 12, 2008, where I introduce myself and the blog. As you read, I encourage you to record any reflections or comments you may have. The entries here serve best as the first remarks in a conversation.

Easter blessings,
Dr. Will

Thursday, April 1, 2010
Devotions: Ps 102, 142, 143; Lam 2:10-18; 1 Cor 10:14-17; 11:27-32; Mk 14:12-25

Let my cry come before You, YHWH. I am a passing mortal, and have all the troubles to which mortal flesh is heir. I wither away like dry grass. But You are enthroned forever, Master of everything. Have pity on me, Lord, and on all Your people. Let the Gentiles fear You, and let the poor benefit from Your kindness. Help the rising generations to hear Your story and come to You for salvation: God Is, and we live in God’s holy love. I am weak, but God is almighty. The world and all in it are His, and our children and grandchildren will dwell secure, by God’s grace. When I come to the end of my energy, God is still there. You, my Lord, are my Refuge. Deliver me from my persecutors, and let me be in the community of the righteous. Answer me according to Your faithfulness. Let me hear this morning of Your steadfast love, as I put my trust in You. Teach me how to live, and how to do Your will; let Your good Spirit lead me on a level path for Your name’s sake. I am Your servant.

The leaders and citizens of Jerusalem sit in mourning before the Lord. The prophet’s eyes are spent with weeping, and his soul is in torment; his heart is poured out in grief. Zion’s ruin is as vast as the sea; only God can restore her. God’s wrath exalts her enemies; let the holy Lord be obeyed.

Shun all idols. As the Christians gather, we partake of one cup of blessing, and participate in the blood of the Messiah. The bread we break and share is a participation in the body of the Messiah. Since there is one bread, we who are many are made one body. And anyone who takes the Lord’s bread or drinks His cup in an unworthy manner is guilty of profaning the very body and blood of othe Lord. So let each person examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup in a reverent manner. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment upon himself. That is exactly why many of you are weak and sick, and why some of you have died. However, if we judged ourselves truly, we should not be judged. But when the Lord must judge us, we are chastened so that we will not be condemned along with the unbelieving world.

On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Jesus, ‘Where will You have us go and prepare for You to eat the seder?’ He sent two disciples, with these instructions: ‘Go into the city; a man carrying ajar of water will meet you; follow him, and at the place he enters, say to the householder, “The Teacher says, Where is My guest room, where I Am to eat the Passover with My disciples?” And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; prepare for us there.’ The disciples did what they were told, found things just as Jesus had said, and prepared the Passover. At eventide, Jesus arrived with the twelve apostles. As they were eating, Jesus announced, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me.’ They became sorrowful, and one after another asked Him, ‘Is it I?’ He went on, ‘It is one of the twelve, who is dipping bread into the dish with Me. For the Son of man goes as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.’ As the meal continued, Jesus took bread, blessed, and blessed it, and broke it and gave it to the disciples, saying ‘Take. Eat. This is My body.’ He took a cup of wine, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, ‘This is My blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I tell you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.’