OCT 28

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” ²⁷ And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, ²⁸ for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. ²⁹ I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”  Matthew 26:26-29

“He gave his all!”  Statements like that are said when someone win’s a championship, a gold medal in the Olympics or even a tough wrestling match.  But, do these people, these teams really give it their all?

Jesus did.  He gave it His all.  In fact, He gave us His all.  He gave to His disciples (and to us today) His all.  His body and blood, given and shed for the forgiveness of our sins.  Jesus gave His all so that we could truly be forgiven.

Churches across the globe still celebrate this fact as they take the Lord’s Supper, aka Holy Communion.  In my flavor of Christianity, we believe in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Lord’s Supper.  Not a symbolic presence, only in our minds via remembrance, nor some sort of cannibalistic presence in which we chew on flesh, but an actual sacramental presence, a Real Presence of Jesus, “in, with and under the bread and wine.”  I can’t explain the mystery; but I do believe the mystery.  Real Presence for Real Forgiveness.  Real forgiveness . . . because Jesus gave His all.