The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Luke 22:15-20, “And He said to them, ‘I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;

16 for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’

17 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, ‘Take this and share it among yourselves;

18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.’

19 And when He had taken some bread and 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.’

20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.’”

Eating in Jesus’ day was more than allaying hunger. It was a ceremony to remember important things of the past. Passover was the remembrance of the Hebrews days in Egypt. As Moses was preparing the people for their exit, he instructed them how to prepare. He warned them of the LORD’s coming plagues upon Egypt, the final of which was the Death Angel’s entry into every house and taking the lives of the first-born male child. To prepare, so that they might be spared the Death Angel’s visit, the Hebrews were to sprinkle blood on the doorpost of their houses. When the Death Angel saw the blood, he would pass over the Hebrew houses and not enter in. Thereafter, the Hebrews always celebrated the Passover with a supper.

What is also quite significant in verses 19 and 20 above is that after the Passover, Jesus introduced what we

now call The LORD’s Supper. Some, mistakenly call it “communion”; but there is no communion with God in

the LORD’s Supper. Rather, it signifies the transition from the Old Covenant Law to New Covenant Grace.

The bread was an emblem of Christ’s body that would be broken on the Cross where He was shortly to die.

The “fruit of the vine” in the cup was the emblem of Christ’s blood that was soon to be shed on the Cross.

When we partake of the bread and grape juice in the LORD’s Supper, we should remember His death on the

Cross for our sins.

On my first trip to Israel, I met a retired Canadian Royal Airforce Officer, who took me to the Garden Tomb where Jesus was buried. Later that same day, I went back to the Tomb alone. No one was there, and I entered the Tomb and prayed. Now, when I receive the elements at the LORD’s Supper, I always reflect on that Tomb experience and the suffering of my LORD for my sin. Whatever sorrow you experience at the LORD’s Supper, will be quickly extinguished in the joy of knowing that He is soon to Return and take us to be with Him in Heaven!

Our prayers are offered for you every day,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”