220925 Communion: The Gratitude of God

The Gratitude of God

The Communion passage in 1 Corinthians 11 is familiar, but each month I find myself pondering over different aspects of what was written.

I think about:

The command to remember

What the symbols of the Body and Blood of Christ communicate

What bread and wine do when we consume them - how they give life and energy, joy and strength when eaten

I think about the ordinance to proclaim the Lord’s sacrifice until He returns

We have considered all of these elements in our obedience to the ordinances set forth by Christ but today I want to consider another one… The thankfulness of Jesus - The God-Man's Gratitude

That is quite a profound concept… that Jesus, in the night in which He was betrayed gave thanks to His Heavenly Father for what was going to take place.

in the night He was betrayed, in His apartness, in His sanctification, in His loneliness, in His alienation, He gave thanks because Hebrews 12:2 “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

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

His Body and His blood are the means by which we are made right with God and He was well pleased to crush Him Isaiah 53:10 “But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand.”

You see, Christ did not go unwillingly to the cross to die for our sins. He died willingly, grateful for the opportunity to make us right with God. God was pleased that He went willingly and because of Christ’s sacrifice He has been elevated to the right hand of God - He has placed all things under His dominion.

1 Cor 11:23-26 “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”

Matthew 26:26–28 “While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.”

Mark 14:22–24 “While they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.”

Luke 22:15-20 “And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.” 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.” 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.”

Christ was thankful

Gave thanks to God and then broke bread - calling it “My body” and gave it to His disciples

Took a cup and gave thanks and gave it to them and called it My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many

He was thankful for the symbol?

To remember

He was thankful for the opportunity?

for the cup poured out for many for forgiveness of sins