THIS IS MY BODY

Passage: Matthew 26:17-30

Key verse: 26

NIV

The Last Supper(A)(B)(C)

17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread,(D) the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”(E)

18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time(F) is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”(G)

22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”

23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.(H) 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him.(I) But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him,(J) said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”(K)

Jesus answered, “You have said so.”

26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it(L) and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

27 Then he took a cup,(M) and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the[a] covenant,(N) which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.(O) 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you(P) in my Father’s kingdom.”

30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.(Q)

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 26:28 Some manuscripts the new
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Passover with the Disciples

17 (A)Now on (B)the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, (C)‘The Teacher says, (D)My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.

20 (E)When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve.[a] 21 And as they were eating, (F)he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23 He answered, (G)“He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes (H)as it is written of him, but (I)woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! (J)It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, (K)Rabbi?” He said to him, (L)“You have said so.”

Institution of the Lord's Supper

26 (M)Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and (N)after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; (O)this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he (P)had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for (Q)this is my (R)blood of the[b] covenant, which is poured out for (S)many (T)for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you (U)in my Father's kingdom.”

Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial

30 (V)And when they had sung a hymn, (W)they went out to (X)the Mount of Olives.

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 26:20 Some manuscripts add disciples
  2. Matthew 26:28 Some manuscripts insert new
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Jesus celebrated the Passover feast with his disciples. He took bread and wine and transformed them into his body and blood and gave them to his disciples to eat and drink. In the past, theologians debated whether the bread and wine literally turned into Jesus’ physical body and blood. While it seems like a trivial thing to argue about, perhaps it hinged on a belief that God can really transform the mundane things of this world into beautiful and holy experiences that can even transform who we are.

Every day we wake up and experience the same things we always have. What if Jesus came to lift the veil off our eyes so that we may see the presence of God while staring at the beauty of nature or see the precious child of God when looking in the mirror or in the face of our enemies?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for offering your blood as a new covenant of grace. Help me to see what is beautiful and holy in the world and in myself by the transformative power of your love.

One Word: Take and eat.