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This week we continue our discussion of chapter 22 of Luke’s Gospel. Please read verses 14-30 every day this week and, if possible, use a different translation each day, asking God to open your eyes to fresh revelation from His Word.
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Luke 22:17-18 (New Living Translation – NLT)
‘Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come. He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people — an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.”’
As the years pass, it’s clear that age brings a lot of problems with it. The bones ache and the energy levels wane and if you don’t have the flu-jab, everyone insists that this winter could be your last! There are many advantages though because generally, people go out of their way to be nice to you.
I’m reminded of a joke I heard some time ago: “Poor Old fool,” thought the well-dressed gentleman as he watched an old man fish in a puddle outside a restaurant. So, he invited the old man inside and bought him a meal. As they sat there eating fish and chips, the gentleman thought back to the old man fishing in the puddle and in an attempt to humour the old man, he asked, “So how many have you caught today?”
The old man replied, “You’re the third.”
Perhaps some of you could try this to see if you have any takers!
One aspect of old age is often talked about – memory (or the lack of it!). It’s clear that short term memory definitely diminishes with time, but it’s possible to recall vividly things that have happened decades ago. The recollection is improved if there is some kind of stimulus. E.g. If I’m at the seaside and see an ice-cream cone and a seagull, I can remember with precise detail the time when a friend had a seagull ‘drop something’ on his ice-cream! This happened years and years ago, and yet my memory never fails me.
I believe that the gift of memory is given by God and allows us to look back at our lives and remember all that He has done for us. In our verses today, Jesus is asking for one thing in particular – “Remember me”. He is also using something that we are very familiar with in order to ensure we don’t forget.
There was no doubt that the disciples would be using bread and wine from that time on and with each occasion that they lifted the cup to their lips, I’m sure that they would vividly remember the Lord. Many things would happen in the very near future and would affect the way in which they remembered Jesus. They would see Him being beaten and crushed and crucified in sheer agony. Yes, it’s right that we remember His death and His resurrection, but I think that there’s something important about this last supper that needs to be foremost in our memories.
Jesus is saying that the old covenant is over and the new covenant has begun. The past has gone and we can look forward with eagerness and hope. He is promising that He will complete the work that He’s started. His death and resurrection is the means by which He is purchasing our salvation. This Easter time, don’t be distracted by the chocolate or the bunnies or the hot-cross buns. Jesus asks us quite simply to ‘Remember Me’. My prayer is that He is first and foremost in our minds.
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