Click Here - Matthew 26:17-74.
Today’s and tomorrow’s readings are longer. They cover the events of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday respectively. Read them over a couple of times, look at parts you never noticed before, try to put yourself into the narrative.
What has really struck me this year about this passage is the care that Jesus had for His disciples. He knew that one would betray Him and hand Him over to His enemies. He knew that another would deny Him not just once or twice, but three times. He knew that the other ten would abandon Him in His greatest hour of need. In spite of all of this, Jesus still gave Himself for them.
In that meal He somehow miraculously gave His body and blood in the bread and the wine so they could be forgiven – forgiven for abandoning Him, forgiven for denying Him THREE times, even forgiven for betraying Jesus into the hands of His enemies. Eleven accepted that forgiveness, one rejected it.
This meal, the Lord’s Supper is not for perfect people. It’s not for people who promise to be perfect. It’s for sinners in need of forgiveness, for those who desire to follow Jesus but fail. It’s for you and for me. I hope to see you tonight as we receive this wonderful gift of forgiveness and love.