The Holy Grail 圣杯
Dexu Xia
This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:28
Today's Scripture. Matthew 26:20
Today's Insights Jesus commanded His believers to remember His death through which forgiveness has been secured (Matthew 26:26-30; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). In the observance of Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, believers take the bread and the cup as visible symbols of His death.
In 1 Corinthians 11:24-25, Paul instructs believers on how to observe Communion. The Corinthians’ conduct was out of character with what Jesus had done. There were reports of “divisions among” them (v. 18). They were inconsiderate and self-indulgent (vv. 19-22). The apostle highlighted the gravity of how they observed this remembrance (vv. 23-34). Today, as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we can thank Him for His sacrifice for us.
Today's Devotion For centuries, people have been fascinated by the Holy Grail—the cup Jesus drank from at the Last Supper. The legends surrounding King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table detail their obsession over the search for the cup. They believed it had magical powers. In film, Indiana Jones and his father, Henry, fulfilled Henry’s lifelong pursuit of the Grail.
While this makes for fascinating storytelling, the truth is much more straightforward. The cup itself has no special powers. The real power is found in what it represents. Matthew describes the scene in the upper room the night before Jesus went to the cross: “Then [Jesus] took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins’ ” (26:27-28). The cup is a picture of the blood that Jesus would shed on our behalf.
John the Baptist introduced Jesus as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Hebrews 9:22 tells us, “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” And Paul wrote that Christ himself is “our Passover lamb” (1 Corinthians 5:7). Jesus paid the penalty for our sins. How thankful we are for the shed blood of our Savior, the Lamb!
Reflect & Pray
What does it mean for you to celebrate Communion? How do you express your thanks for the sacrifice Jesus made for you?
Loving Father, left to myself I would be forever lost. Thank You for the provision of Your Son and His willingness to go to the cross in my place.
Listen to Discover the Word to learn more about the signifcance of Jesus' last supper.
By Bill Crowder
这是我立约的血，为多人流出来，使罪得赦。（马太福音 26:28）
今日经文：马太福音 26章20 节
今日灵修心得：耶稣吩咐信徒要记念祂的死，因为借着祂的死，罪得赦免的恩典得以成就（马太福音 26:26-30；哥林多前书 11:23-26）。在守圣餐（或称主的晚餐）时，信徒领受饼和杯，以此作为祂受死的有形记号。 在哥林多前书 11章24-25节中，保罗教导信徒如何守圣餐。当时哥林多信徒的行径与耶稣所做的背道而驰。有消息指出他们中间存在“分门结党”的事（18节）；他们既不体恤他人，又放纵私欲（19-22节）。使徒保罗强调了他们守这记念仪式时所涉及的严肃性（23-34节）。今天，当我们守主的晚餐时，我们应该为，祂为我们所作的牺牲献上感谢。
今日灵修：几个世纪以来，人们一直对“圣杯”,即耶稣在最后晚餐时所用的杯,充满好奇与向往。关于亚瑟王和圆桌骑士的传说，详细描述了他们对寻找这只杯的痴迷；他们相信这只杯拥有神奇的力量。在电影中，印第安纳·琼斯和他的父亲亨利最终实现了亨利毕生寻找圣杯的愿望。
尽管这些故事引人入胜，但事实却简单得多。这只杯本身并没有什么特殊力量，真正的力量在于它所代表的意义。马太福音描述了耶稣上十字架前一晚在楼房里的情景：“又拿起杯来，祝谢了，递给他们说：‘你们都喝这个；因为这是我立约的血，为多人流出来，使罪得赦’”（26:27-28）。这只杯象征着耶稣将要为我们所流的宝血。施洗约翰将耶稣介绍为“神的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的”（约翰福音 1:29）。希伯来书 9:22 告诉我们：“若不流血，罪就不得赦免了。”保罗也写道，基督自己就是“我们逾越节的羔羊”（哥林多前书 5:7）。耶稣为我们的罪付上了代价。我们是何等感恩，因着救主，那羔羊，所流的宝血。
反思与祷告 领受圣餐对你而言有何意义？你如何表达对耶稣为你所作出的牺牲的感激之情？ 慈爱的天父，若凭我自己，我必永远迷失。感谢祢赐下爱子，并感谢祂甘愿代替我走上十字架。 作者：比尔 克劳德