When Lent begins, I know Easter is fast approaching. That usually means, family, friends, Easter lilies, new outfits, new shoes, and the reason for Easter: Jesus. I especially love Holy Week (the week leading up to Easter) because it helps me take into perspective just what Jesus did for us.

During Holy Week the traditional Last Supper passage is always read and a lot of times, if it's a story you've grown up listening to it, it's easy to zone out and think "I already know this". As I've gotten older, I've realized just how important that old passage is, and how tremendous and beautiful it is. So we're going to take a look at it.

I'm choosing Mark chapter 14:22-26. It explains what happened that night between Jesus and his disciples around the table. As we jump into this scripture, imagine yourself being a disciple during this time getting to eat with Jesus.

Presumably, Jesus and his disciples are eating, chatting, laughing, and enjoying fellowship together. When Jesus gets serious and stands up and starts thanking God for what is in front of them, then picks up some bread and breaks it. "Take it; this is my body" says Jesus as he splits a part the bread. This is my body? That would have been my initial thought. How am I about to eat his body, he's right in front of me? And what exactly does Jesus mean right now?

Jesus then picks up a cup, thanked God for that as well, gave it to each of the disciples, "This is my blood which is the new agreement that God makes with his people. This blood is poured out for many." So we're drinking and eating bread that's His body. Okay.

Then the chapter concludes by saying they all sang a hymn and retreated to the Mount of Olives. I'm not sure if the disciples at the time understood the full realm of what exactly was happening during that dinner. That was the last time they would all be together, laughing, talking, and being with Jesus, their mentor.

I'm a Methodist and there's a "script" so to speak, that the Pastor reads from every time we have communion, and the more times I've heard it, the easier it is to just tune out and respond accordingly. But those words that are muttered before communion are the scripture. It is the retelling of that night with Jesus and his followers, and I can't help but to put myself in that position and think "man, how awesome is this". So it goes like this:

On the night of which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples and said: "Take eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

Likewise, when the supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples and said: "Drink from this all of you, this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink of it, in remembrance of me."

Holy Week and Easter day are as good of a time as any to reflect on the sacrifice Jesus gave for us to have eternal life and a relationship with him. As Holy Week concludes, and we move forward, my prayer for each of you is that you don't just remember what Jesus did for us around Easter time, but all the time.

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.