1 Corinthians 11: 23 – 24  For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night 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.”

This passage of Scripture ministered to me once in a way I was not expecting. It is recited by clergy during the observance of Holy Communion or the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper in most churches. The observance which consists of the breaking of bread and sharing of wine or grape juice takes place in direct obedience to the Lord Jesus’ instruction to “do this in remembrance of me” as a way of honoring his death till he comes again.

In his last few days on earth Jesus had been careful to prepare his disciples mentally for the events which were going to take place. He would be arrested, tried, condemned and crucified; they would be scattered and persecuted. He had told Peter, one of his most beloved that even he would deny him. He revealed to Judas that he knew what was going on in his head and heart, how he would be the one to betray the Son of God. He taught them about the Holy Spirit who would come to comfort and be with them after he was gone. And he had prayed for them.

In his last private gathering with his disciples Jesus shared in the breaking of bread with them. John paints the picture for us: “…Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.” (John 13:1). Jesus got up from the meal and stooped down and washed his disciples’ feet. He was demonstrating to them and us that it is okay to be humble. Not only that, we should expect to be humbled and when that happens, we have his example to follow.

The night of that last supper with them was also the night of his betrayal and arrest. No more opportunity for any of them to have a private moment with him. I got to thinking about that in the context of forgiveness. “That is a flying leap” you say. Yes, I know. But the Holy Spirit doesn’t isolate Scripture into little morsels like we do. He will interrupt your thought pattern and insert his truth. So who has betrayed you and what have you done about it? What if this is your last opportunity to make things right? Jesus humbled himself in front of his disciples, he washed their feet! Do what you must. As a child of God, you have been given a ministry of reconciliation.