Heaven-Sent Hindsight
Matt 26:26-28
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying,
"Take and eat; this is my body."
Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying,
"Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom."
Hindsight is wonderful, isn’t it? How clearly we see in retrospect! Events and words have so much more meaning.
Think back to the night Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, and later broke the bread and gave them the drink, from which we get our present-day communion time. I’m sure they were not at all aware of the truest meanings of His words and actions. We have the blessing of reading about this event with full hindsight. We know what He was talking about and what was coming.
Yet, our hindsight leaves us a little handicapped. Let me explain:
What would it have been like for these men afterwards? How about each time they washed their feet or had them washed, (as this was a common custom)? Did their eyes tear up as they remembered? Every time they tore off a piece of bread, did they pause, looking at the bread in their hands, did a lump form in their throats as they thought of that night and Jesus handing them the bread? Did the very taste of the juice of the vine cause them to close their eyes in remembrance?
Unless we allow the Holy Spirit to touch our hearts in that same way, we will never come close to "remembering" as they did.
I love that we are often reminded of this night. There was a period of time as a child, I remembered what communion was all about everytime I drank any grape-flavored liquid. Every time I had something that reminded me of the communion crackers, I thought about Jesus and that night....and of His sacrifice for us. It is no coincidence that Jesus chose the everyday things of our lives to remind us of the deeply spiritual things. Had He chosen something we experience rarely, we would not have the opportunity to often remember Him.
The church I attend has communion every Sunday morning, and I love that I am given this opportunity weekly to remember because the "cares of the world" have been allowed too much of my thought life, and I desperately need this reminder!
Next time you are blessed to be in a service where Communion is served, I invite you to allow the Holy Spirit to touch you anew in this time of remembering.... let Jesus be the One who hands you the bread and cup...and thank God for the hindsight you have in knowing what He has done for you. Let His words echo in your ears:
Matt 26:26-26
"Take and eat; this is my body."
"Drink from it, all of you.
This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom."
Following are just two examples of of how He used the example of Bread to give some insight into who He is. There are many other places where He uses "bread" or "drink" or "living water" as examples. I encourage you to go on a search for what He has to tell you through these verses:
John 6:35
Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty"
John 6:48
"I am the bread of life."
Copyright 2002 Glenda Bell All rights reserved
