This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins

 Matthew 26:17-30

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

So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”  Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.”

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

Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave 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 from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

On the first evening of the festival. Jesus and is close friends meet as a family to eat the Passover meal together - and the old Passover is transformed into the Lord's Supper as the Lamb of God prepares to la down his life for the world. This is as the scriptures said it would be, but that does not remove the guilt from Judas.

To the familiar words of the blessing: 'Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who bringest forth bread from the earth. 'Jesus adds his own startling words, 'this is my body. He is going to be killed. And by his death, a new covenant will be made, in place of the old covenant between God and Israel made at the exodus. His blood is 'poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. By eating and drinking, his disciples share in the benefits of his sacrifice.

Why?

Jesus knew the time of his death is near, so the Passover is the old festival, but it also means a new covenant will be established between God and his people. 

Jesus knew Judas who betrays Him, but most disciples did not know it, or they did not sense it is real.

Jesus shed his blood for our sins, and his sacrifices become our salvation, through his body and blood we may be free from the sins.

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1.耶穌要門徒預備逾越節宴席

   逾越節的宴席，耶穌早就好了，表面上是門徒去想辦法。我們常常擔心一些事，其實耶穌已經預備好了。

2.耶穌指出有門徒出賣他。跟耶穌說和他一起吃飯的人當中有人要出賣他。在中東能一起吃飯表示關係很好，卻有人要出賣他。猶大想要30兩銀子且不是他所期待的彌賽亞。我們今天所信的耶穌、上帝是合乎我們的期待。我們希望自己的心意、自己喜歡的，被主認同，耶穌也喜歡。今天我們應該是耶穌所喜悅的，是我們所喜好的。不是為了滿足自己的好處。

3.聖餐：說明他這是最後一餐了，他早知這件事，也知道猶大要賣他。他在要死之前都還在門徒的事，教導門徒。耶穌把自己奉獻給我們，我們還和神計較什麼?

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How?

Jesus is my salvation, my Lord, and my way in my life. Please give me a humble heart to follow the way God gives to me.