Last Supper

From My First Read-Aloud Bible. Retold by Mary Batchelor & Penny Boshoff. 

Jesus was eating a special meal with his friends when he took some bread, thanked God, broke it in pieces, and handed it around. "This is my body," he said. "I give it for you." Then he took a cup of wine, thanked God, and passed it around. "Drink this," he said. "I will die for many people because God has promised to forgive them." (214-15)

From Mighty Acts of God: A Family Bible Story Book. Written by Starr Meade. 

As the disciples sat in the upper room with Jesus, enjoying the Passover meal, they savored the lamb and munched hungrily on the bread. No doubt their minds were flooded by memories of Passover meals they had eaten while growing up. At some point during the meal, though, Jesus did something different. He introduced something new. Jesus picked up a small loaf of bread from the table, thanked God for it, broke it into pieces, and passed it around. "This is my body, which is given for you," he said, "Do this in remembrance of me." His disciples did as he said, not really understanding at the time the importance of what was happening. Then he picked up a cup of wine. "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood." The disciples understood the idea of a covenant, and they understood that a covenant always involved the blood of a sacrifice. But what was this about Jesus making a new covenant, and what was this about his blood? That night turned out to be a busy, stressful one, and the disciples did not have time then to think through what Jesus had just done and said. Later, however, once Jesus had died and risen again, the disciples remembered that last Passover meal they had eaten with Jesus. They knew then that Jesus had died for them. His body had been broken for them, as bread is broken before it is eaten, and his death had brought them all the blessings they needed from God. Jesus' blood had been poured out on the cross, as he had established the new covenant God had promised through the prophets. Once Jesus had died and risen, the disciples realized that he had accomplished a rescue much greater than the Jews' deliverance from Egypt. Jesus had rescued his people from slavery to sin and from God's wrath. (233-4)

The Jesus Storybook Bible: Deluxe Edition. Sally Lloyd-Jones.

Then Jesus picked up some bread and broke it. He gave it to his friends. He picked up a cup of wine and thanked God for it. He poured it out and shared it."My body is like this bread. It will break," Jesus told them. "This cup of wine is like my blood. It will pour out." "But this is how God will rescue the whole world. My life will break and God's broken world will mend. My heart will tear apart--and your hearts will heal. Just as the passover lamb died, so now I will die instead of you. My blood will wash away all of your sins. And you'll be clean on the inside--in your hearts." "So whenever you eat and drink, remember," Jesus said, "I've rescued you!" Jesus knew it was nearly time for him to leave the world and to go back to God. "I won't be with you long," he said. "You are going to be very sad. But God's Helper will come. And then you'll be filled up with a Forever Happiness that won't ever leave. So don't be afraid. You are my friends and I love you." Then they sang their favorite song. And walked up to their favorite place, an olive garden. (292)

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible