Saturday, 3 June 2023
TESTIFY OF HIS DEATH
For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes (1 Corinthians 11:26).
The synoptic Gospels, Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, and Luke 22:19-20 capture for us the words of Jesus the night He was betrayed. Luke 22:19-20 tells us, “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”
The Apostle Paul, by the Spirit, reiterated this in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, part of which we read in our theme scripture. Notice the underlined word, “shew”; it’s the Greek, “kataggello,” which means to proclaim, declare, and make known. As often as you take communion, you’re announcing, proclaiming, declaring, and making known the Lord’s death. What’s the benefit of that?
First, understand the significance of His blood-which we will forever talk about-that He shed for us; that’s the blood that purges, cleanses and speaks for you when anything goes wrong. When we talk about “His blood,” we’re actually referring to His death.
1 John 2:2 says “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” He made a new will - the New Testament in His blood. And a will is of no effect until the testator dies. So, we proclaim His death because we know God raised Him from the dead. But He died that we might live. His death is the ratification of the will or testament of Jesus Christ, the Seed of Abraham and Son of God.
PRAYER: Dear Father, I’m forever grateful for the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed for me, which purges, cleanses, and rids me of all unrighteousness. Thank you for Christ’s vicarious death in my behalf and by whose resurrection I’m now an associate of the God-kind, ushered into the divine life of unending victory, in Jesus' Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 11:26 AMPC
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 18:1-27 & 1 Chronicles 11-13
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Mark 14:53-65 & Deuteronomy 1