areliablefaith

Matthew 26; Mark 14

A shorter word today, written from the Centurion Club in Atlanta as I travel.

Both readings today take us to the Last Supper. Before we get there, a woman anoints Jesus, and He says, “She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial” (Mark 14:8). It’s amazing how many details God arranged to point to Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. Most of them the people around Him didn’t understand until afterward. The Passover lamb, first slain before Israel left Egypt, was coming to its true fulfillment. “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7).

Two takeaways stood out to me.

First: Lord, or Rabbi?

When Jesus says one of them will betray Him, eleven disciples ask, “Is it I, Lord?” (Matthew 26:22). Even before they fully understood, they gave Him the place of supremacy in their lives. The Holy Spirit would later open their eyes to all that meant.

But one asks differently. “Judas, who would betray him, answered, ‘Is it I, Rabbi?’” (Matthew 26:25). Teacher, not Lord. Judas had walked with Jesus for three years. He likely believed Jesus was special, even sent by God. Yet he had never surrendered to Him as Lord, as God in the flesh. At that moment, the silver was already in his pocket (Matthew 26:15). Scripture makes clear that financial gain mattered more to him than following the Messiah.

It reminds me of Jesus’ earlier warning: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

Second: A Ring of Remembrance

Jesus took the Passover meal and transformed it into the Lord’s Supper. Communion, the Eucharist, whatever we call it, He gave it with these words: “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19).

A good friend and I are building curriculum to help young men live as faithful believers. One idea we keep returning to is giving men touch points, reminders of who they are, so they don’t drift into sin when temptation is all around. My friend described his “ring of remembrance.” Whenever he heads out, he touches his wedding ring and remembers who he is: joined to his wife, the two become one flesh (Genesis 2:24).

The Lord’s Supper is that kind of remembrance. Each time we take it, we remember that we belong to Him, adopted into the family of God.

And yet Judas was at that table too. He took the bread and the cup without having given his life to the Lord. Our churches are full of people who acknowledge Jesus and the Christian way. But acknowledgement isn’t the same as relationship.

I learned at age 23 that a real relationship with the Lord was being offered to me. It takes complete surrender: believing in your heart, confessing with your mouth that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9), and turning from a life built on what I want to one that says, “Yes, Lord, whatever You want.”

So, two takeaways: a ring of remembrance, and Jesus as Lord.

When Jesus looks at you across the table, do you call Him Teacher, or do you call Him Lord? Have a blessed day, and be a blessing.