“And as they did eat, Jesus took the bread and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to them, and said, Take, eat, this is my body. 

And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.

And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. Verily I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. 

And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But after that i am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.

And Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.

And Jesus saith unto him, Verily, (truly) I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice (three times).

But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with, I will not deny thee in any wise (way). Likewise also said they all.”  Mark 14:22-31

This was the grand mystery, that Jesus is the Lamb of God.

As the Hebrews had been instructed as God would deliver them from Pharaoh

Jesus is the Passover Lamb whose death was the sacrifice for all sins once and for all.

With his death, there was no longer the need for the priests to make intercession and offer sacrifice because he himself being the sacrifice reconciled us back to God.

And rather than only the High Priest accessing the Holy of Holies, we are also allowed access because his Spirit dwells in his children and our bodies are the temple of God.

We have only one High Priest, which is Jesus, and the new covenant which is in his blood and that allowed all that would accept him to have access to the throne of God for his presence and for our prayers.

“By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death (they had to be replaced because they died)

But this man (Jesus) because he continueth ever (lives forever) hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him, seeing that he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners and made higher than the heavens.

Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the peoples. for this he did once, when he offered up himself.” Hebrews 7:22-27

The priests of the Old Testament had to offer sacrifice for themselves and then offer it for the people.  Jesus being the sacrifice it was one time for all, once and for all.

We are also encouraged to take holy communion, we must be saved and committed to Christ to take communion.

If we are not saved and take it, we become guilty of the blood of Christ.

It is so simple to do, grape juice and cracker work perfectly, but you can also use bread. Just pray and ask him to consecrate it holy for you to use for communion.

When you begin, ask for forgiveness for any sins or transgression and ask his blessing,

This is an example prayer, “Dear Jesus your word says that we should do this in remembrance of you and your sacrifice for us. Father, please bless and consecrate my juice and bread unto you they that will be holy to use for communion with you.”

But you can tweak the words as you feel led, the main point is asking the blessing.

Then take the cracker or bread item and pray ” Thy body which was broken for us” and after you have eaten that, your juice is pretty much the same, but you would say “Thy blood which was shed for us.” drink that and ask it all in Jesus’ name.

You can actually do this straight from the Bible as he did it with the disciples if you would rather.

But this such an awesome way to strengthen your relationship with God, it is usually done on Good Friday, but you can take communion as often as you would like, and some people choose not to do it at all.

The Old Testament wasn’t done away with it, Jesus just added the New, it is still all part of the grand mystery and beauty of God.

I for one, am so thankful that we can have a personal relationship with him, and we no longer need a human priest to make sacrifice and intercede for us because we go to the high priest himself who forever is already praying on our own behalf!

Love & Peace! NBJ 2024/ Rev. N Brown Johnson /2025