Weekly Devotional 11th of April 2025
by Bruce Billington
Easter Devotional 3: The Last Supper
Please read Luke 22:1-23.
The Last Supper occurred during the time of the Passover Lamb celebration, also known as the feast of Unleavened Bread. At this time, Judas had betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to kill Jesus.
Jesus meets with the disciples and tells them how He had been looking forward to sharing this Passover with them before He had to suffer. After saying this, He took a cup, gave thanks, and instructed the disciples to share it among themselves, telling them that He would not drink any wine again until the kingdom of God came. Then He took some bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” He then took the cup, saying, “This cup, which is poured out for you, is the covenant in My blood (V 15-20).
It is impossible to overstate the importance of Jesus saying these profound words: “This is my body, which is given for you,” and “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” Here is Jesus, in that intimate final night with his disciples, proclaiming, “I am the hope of fallen humanity, for I am the promised, spotless Lamb of God.” All who put their trust in Jesus the Messiah are covered by His blood and, therefore, will not bear the punishment for their own sin.
If Jesus had not done this, there would be no hope for any of us. Not only would we be bereft of His power here on earth, we would also face a lost eternity. The things He did on earth, such as healing the sick, delivering those who were demon-possessed, confronting the Jewish leaders and those in authority for their misunderstanding and even deliberate abuse of Scripture, and revealing in person the nature and character of God, stood as testimony to what we, as His followers, are called to be and do.
1 John 1:7-9 – “7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Paul Tripp says, “His blood covers and cleanses us. All human history marched to this moment in the upper room and the sacrifice of Jesus’s life that would follow.”
He goes on to quote a hymn that was written in 1876 by Robert Lowry, who was a pastor in Philadelphia. The words say,
“What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Refrain: Oh, precious is the flow that makes me white as snow; no other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my pardon this my plea— nothing but the blood of Jesus!
For my cleansing, this I see— nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Nothing can for sin atone— nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Naught of good that I have done— nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Refrain:
This is all my hope and peace— nothing but the blood of Jesus!
This is all my righteousness— nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Now by this I’ll overcome— nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Now by this I’ll reach my home— nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Glory! Glory! This I sing— nothing but the blood of Jesus!
All my praise for this I bring— nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Refrain:
Oh, what a Saviour we have. Let this inspire you to worship His name.
God bless you.
Bruce Billington