Saturday 09 August 2008
- Bible Book:
- Luke
"Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me'." (v.19)
Background
This passage is Luke's account of Jesus' last supper with hisdisciples and part of the story of 'the passion' (the suffering anddeath of Jesus). Emotions would have been running high. On PalmSunday Jesus had entered Jerusalem on a donkey, cheered by manycrowds (Luke19:37-38) but he angered and posed a threat to the Phariseesand the Temple authorities.
In the midst of all this Jesus took the time to share a meal withhis disciples and explain his mission to them. He did this by usingthe bread to symbolise his body, his gift of life shared out foreveryone. Jesus and his friends were at the Passover feast, a mealthat celebrated the exodus of the Israelite slaves from Egypt. Butwhen he wanted to create symbolism he did not use the traditionalPassover lamb. Instead he used the bread and wine which were thestaple food for poor people of the time.
Jesus instructed his disciples to share bread and wine to rememberhim. He wanted them to gather in fellowship around a table wherethey could talk to one another. This meant they could support oneanother and become a community through sharing the bread oflife.
To Ponder
If you had been at the Last Supper what would youhave felt when Jesus broke the bread?
How would you have felt when Jesus said that oneamong you would betray him?