A Meal Worth Remembering – Family Devotion – April 13, 2022

Read: Luke 22:7-20

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
Luke 22:19-20

A Meal Worth Remembering

 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today is part of a very special week called Holy Week. There’s even a special meal with it—usually on Thursday. It’s called the Lord’s Supper because the one who invites us to it is the Lord. The one who prepares the meal is the Lord, because he’s the only one who could pull off this kind of supper. If Jesus isn’t present, this meal isn’t happening. It’s also called the Sacrament of the Altar because the meal is served from the table or the altar at the front of church. The church altar reminds us of the sacrifice Jesus made for our sins.

If you’re a child listening, someday, you will be invited to this meal after you learn more about it. Until then, be encouraged to learn all you can by watching. Here’s what you will see: little pieces of bread and swallows of wine are handed out by your pastor or church leader. Listen carefully and you will hear, “Take eat, this is my body… take drink, this is my blood.” If your mom or dad or grandpa or grandma said those words, you would think they were joking! But because Jesus is saying those words, then what he says must be true.

Still, how strange this sounds, right? If you can’t understand it, remember this: Jesus is preparing the meal, Jesus is serving the meal, and Jesus is speaking throughout the meal. This is a Jesus’ meal. Who does he want to come to his meal? He invites moms and dads, sons and daughters, teachers and students whose mouths got smudged with dirt from arguing and back talking; whose faces are red from getting angry; whose hearts feel heavy from it all and are truly sorry for it all. “Come on in,” Jesus invites as he motions us to his table. “From the look of things, you need to eat and drink for the forgiveness of sins.”

No one else may know what you have done. No one else may know exactly what you’re feeling. But Jesus knows. And that’s why every Holy Week and every week you see the Lord’s Supper in church, Jesus motions again and again for you to come to his table… as often as you hunger and thirst for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus wants you to know that what he did on the cross for the whole world, he did for you. For you. It’s in that meal.

Now that’s a meal worth remembering!

Closing Prayer:

“Jesus is the Word that spoke it;
Jesus took the bread and broke it.
And what His Word makes it;
This I believe and take it.”
(John Donne, adapted from “On the Sacrament”; 1654 edition, p. 352.)

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What is the name of the special meal that was talked about today?
• Describe to your parent(s) what they smell like when they sit back down after the Lord’s Supper. Then ask them how they feel and what they’re thinking after the Lord’s Supper.

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Because of God’s Word, what did Jesus promise would be added to the bread and the wine in the Lord’s Supper?
• Why is Jesus’ body and blood connected with forgiveness in the Lord’s Supper?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Why is receiving the Lord’s Supper something to take seriously?
• Discuss with your parent(s) how often you want to receive the Lord’s Supper and why.