Matthew 26, The Message

The Bread and the Cup
26-29 During the meal, Jesus took and blessed the bread, broke it, and gave it to his disciples:

Take, eat.
This is my body.
Taking the cup and thanking God, he gave it to them:

Drink this, all of you.
This is my blood,
God’s new covenant poured out for many people
for the forgiveness of sins.

“I’ll not be drinking wine from this cup again until that new day when I’ll drink with you in the kingdom of my Father.”

30 They sang a hymn and went directly to Mount Olives.

Random Thoughts…
*This is the last Passover Meal Jesus will physically share with his friends on earth.
*Judas, the betrayer, is at the table.
*This meal, steeped in tradition for the Jews, is a celebration, a remembrance of being passed over from death and destruction many centuries before in their history as God’s people.
*Jesus, is at the head of table.
*The cup. More than one…Significance Of Passover Cups:

The First Cup
This is regarded as the “cup of sanctification” that represents the first ‘I Will’ of God – his promise to free Israelites off from the slavery under the Egyptians. It is believed that the Messiah lifted the cup to remind people of this promise of God. Every person attending this ritual should focus their attention to the incident when God freed His people, keeping his promise.

The Second Cup
Known as the “cup of judgment”, it is filled with wine and people dip their fingers into the cup making a drop of liquid fall on their saucer for ten times, reducing the fullness of the cup of joy. While dipping fingers people remember the death of Messiah and consider that his blood would spill in Calvary within hours. People drink this cup of wine after going through a section of the Seder and recognize that it was no one else, but God who affected the salvation of the people of Israel.

The Third Cup
Known as “the cup of redemption,” this cup is filled after the supper. It is believed that Messiah lifted this cup and said “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”

The Fourth Cup
Also known as the “Cup of Praise or Restoration,” it is believed that Messiah said that he would drink this cup of wine in the new kingdom of God and would not take it until then. It is assumed that at wedding feast of the Lamb, Messiah lifted this fourth cup and completed the Seder that began over two thousand years ago in that small room in Israel.

Yes, there is more to this powerful moment in time, with His closest followers, before our Lord was taken to be beaten and nailed to a cross for our sins.

Dear Heavenly Father, Today I want to avoid the sin that often entangles me and I desire to see clearly the righteous acts that You would have me to do. I pray that you would strengthen my faith as I focus on You, and that You would give me the wisdom to align my priorities properly. I want my heart to be in sync with Your heart, so help me to sow righteousness in all that I do today! In the powerful Name of Jesus, I pray! Amen. Yes, I believe.