GRATITUDE 

Daphne Powell 

Today's Scripture: “...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.’” 1 Corinthians 11:24, ESV  

Theme: Jesus instructs us to remember the way He sacrificed for us as we take the elements and celebrate Communion.  

THE BREAD 

At the Passover meal, when Jesus broke bread and told His disciples to take the bread, that it represented His body, I know now that they had no idea what true sacrifice Jesus would soon have to endure. His body was flogged, spat on, and pierced. The Bible states that He was unrecognizable.  

When He was buried and rose again, His body was new again. So, when we break bread, we are thanking God for making a covenant with us that we too, die, and are reborn with a new body. 

THE WINE 

At that Last Supper, when Jesus raised the cup and said to the disciples to drink the wine, that it represents His blood, we know now that Jesus would shed His blood on the cross, forgiving us of our sins. Jesus paid the highest price for our gift of everlasting life with God our Father.  

When the disciples drank from the cup, it was to be a reminder to them that their sins were washed. It should be a reminder to us that our sins were washed, also.  

GRATITUDE 

Jesus knew that He was physically leaving His disciples. He knew His suffering was for our salvation. So, when we take the bread and drink the wine, we should be filled with gratitude. We need to remember His walk with a heavy cross; we need to remember that some of His own disciples were not there; we need to remember the pain and suffering that He endured; and we need to remember the sacrifice that God made for us. We need to understand and remember the mercy and grace poured out on us in the Name of the Holy Spirit. We need to take Communion and be grateful.  

Make It Personal: I remember being a young child taking communion; I felt like a grown-up, but it was just a ritual. But as I have matured in my faith and when I read His Word and know the real sacrifice He made, I take communion with such gratitude. 

Pray: Dear Lord, thank You for Your sacrifice. Help me come to the Communion table with a heart of remembrance and gratitude. Thank You for loving us and offering redemption. Amen 

Read: Matthew 26:26 -28, 27:32-56; Mark 14:22-25, 15:21-41; Luke 22:14-20, 23:26-49; John: 19:16-37; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 

Weekly Memory Verse: “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:26, ESV