“‘I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.’ And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” Mat. 26:29,30
Devotional Thought For The Day
It had already been quite a night when Jesus and His disciples headed out to Gethsemane. They had celebrated the Passover – a huge annual festival reminding the children of Israel of God’s precious love and powerful deliverance. They had experienced the sorrow of Jesus speaking about being betrayed by one of them, and the reminder of what lay ahead of Him. Jesus had wrapped the Passover celebration into a new solemn and joyous meal – the sharing of His body and blood, the new covenant, for the forgiveness of sins. The institution of this meal went fairly quickly; the disciples likely did not have opportunity to ask questions or to mull over what it all meant, but they certainly remembered. Contemplation would come later. We all know what transpired in the Garden, and at the high priest’s residence, and the next morning before Pontius Pilate. Tomorrow we will contemplate again what was written in regard to the Son of Man, Jesus, our dear Savior.
Those who know the significance and meaning of Christ’s suffering and death as “the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world” are so thankful and joyful of the accomplished realities, that it is sometimes difficult for us to take our eyes off of the past. This is reasonable, in that all of our present and future blessedness is based solidly and securely on what Christ has already done for us. He is our Savior; we are saved. He has reconciled God to us; by faith we are reconciled to God. “Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that He might present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” [Eph. 5:25-27] Note the past tense in regard to what Christ has done, and the present reality and blessedness asserted of us, those who are joined to Christ in faith through baptism. This is what we celebrate today on Maundy Thursday, and tomorrow on Good Friday. Remember that it is good, very good, in that it is God’s work! [Gen. 1:31]
While Jesus obviously had in clear view these momentous things that would be accomplished over the next 24 hours, He also had in mind a “joy” that was set before Him – the heavenly fellowship of the children of God in the Father’s kingdom, drinking the fruit of the vine anew with His disciples, His friends. Does it seem remarkable that with all that was weighing on Jesus’ mind and heart, that He would thus encourage Himself and His disciples with this short and simple assertion regarding the future? This same promise is made to each of us, to all who believe in Jesus, for “he that believes the Son has everlasting life.” [Jn. 3:36] The goal, the will and counsel and plan of God, will be brought to full culmination when we are also with Him in the Father’s kingdom – celebrating fellowship and friendship with Jesus with the fruit of the vine that makes glad the hearts of men. [Ps. 104:15] Obviously this is no drunken party, but neither is it some quilter’s tea. It is finally an opportunity for God’s beloved children, those whom He created, and who allowed Him to renew them in love, to properly and sinlessly enjoy in all of its fullness the wondrous things He created for us.
The Sacrament of His body and blood, also a fellowship with Him utilizing “fruit of the vine,” is a foretaste of this wonderful heavenly fellowship with Christ. As we participate, we obviously consider all the blessedness that has been permanently cemented to us in Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection. We experience blessed peace and joy in receiving His “blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” [Mt. 26:28] But there is also promise that the present realities assure us of – based on the sure and certain promise of Christ, the fulfillment of which is guaranteed by Christ’s own Word – of coming bliss and joy in the fellowship of Christ in heaven, in the Father’s kingdom. This reality succored and strengthened Christ in the face of His imminent suffering; this reality can also succor and strengthen us in all circumstances of life, and it should. It is our ultimate goal – all earthly goals are temporal and unimportant in comparison. So whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s possession, and will live with Him forever. [Rom. 14:8; 1 Thess. 5:10] So in our celebration of God’s great gift of salvation and restored fellowship with Him, we remember the past, enjoy His wondrous blessings even here and now, and look forward to the utmost joy in the fulfillment of His kingdom, and we triumph in all our challenges and trials!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, as we celebrate once again all that You have accomplished for us in Your redemption of the world, help us to keep in mind how these very blessings come to us within Your church today. Give us proper joy in our fellowship with You in Your Sacrament, and eager anticipation of the even greater joy of the heavenly fellowship we will join shortly, with You and all of Your blessed disciples. In this way keep us firm in faith and courage in the face of all of our challenges and trials in this life. Amen.