Good evening my friends! Today our lesson is a little different. It’s in the evening and it helps us to prepare our hearts for another story coming on Sunday.
This evening our story begins as Jesus and his disciples are seated around the table to begin dinner. They had all come together to celebrate Passover, when God saved the Isrealites in Egypt. I am sure that each year during this time of Passover the story of Moses and the first Passover was told.
God passed over their homes because the Isrealites followed God’s command to sacrifice a pure spotless lamb and spread it’s blood over their doors. God gave them a command and they followed it. God saved them from death because they did what was asked of them.
A few weeks ago we talked about Jesus being a servant leader and washing feet. That story happens on this night. Jesus knew this is a very special time of year to remember God’s promises and Jesus leads by example. After Jesus washes their feet they are ready to eat and celebrate!
How do you celebrate? Do you have a meal and sing songs? What do you do to celebrate something wonderful? One way people are celebrating Holy Week this year is to put something red over their doors. It helps us to remember even in this time of social distancing that there are many lovers of God all around us and that God always remembers his promises.
During their dinner Jesus told them many things. Jesus knew that he would die. Jesus knew that one of his friends would betray him. Jesus also knew that each of these things must happen. God had given him a job to do. As they ate together Jesus gave them each of piece of bread and wine and asked them to eat and drink, we call this communion or eucharist. This is important because they were showing that they wanted to depend on God and to live by God’s grace. Many churches across the world still take part in this ceremony. *If you choose to take part in communion please take part with your whole heart, opening yourself up to God and ask God to use the blood and body of Christ as your holy sacrifice. Ceremonies are only meaningful when you choose to give your whole self.*
After this Jesus gave the disciples a command and a promise. Jesus commanded “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples” John 13:34-35. Most weeks at church we focus on this command. We want each person we know to see how we treat each other so that they can see how much God loves each of us. When we follow God and Jesus’ commands we are able to receive what they promise. Jesus gave his friends a promise to send the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has come and did come just as he promised.
Today it’s okay to be sad that Jesus has talked about death. It’s okay to feel confused about why this had to happen. It’s okay to have lots of questions. Jesus’ disciples felt that why too. One thing we know for sure is that Jesus asks us to follow him and to love God, and to show love to others.
