After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

The feeling of betrayal cuts deep – it wounds for more than a moment, and it hurts more than any wound from a known enemy. Why does betrayal hurt so much? It is because the love and care bestowed on another, the trust given and loyalty expected … is cast off in utter selfishness. And it not only hurts the one betrayed but so many around them.

These are some of the more infamous historical betrayals: 1) Marcus Brutus’ Assassination of Julius Caesar, 2) General Benedict Arnold’s betrayal of the Americans to the British during the Revolutionary War, and more recently, 3) FBI agent Robert Hansen, who over a span of 22 years sold US state secrets to the Russians and in return received $1.4 million.

But far and away the biggest and most impactful betrayal was the betrayal of Jesus Christ by Judas Iscariot. And yet, Jesus was so calm as to start to have supper with him. Could I accept God’s plan so completely to love and have dinner with my friend turned betrayer – and to know he was about to betray me? What unbelievable faith and grace Jesus exhibited.

In this portion of the dinner, he gives two instructions to his disciples: 1) Drink of the cup and remember me, for I will not drink of it again until the day of God’s kingdom comes (at the end of time). 2) Eat this bread, it represents my body broken for you.

It is as if Jesus is saying, “The drink represents my blood split for you and ushers in a new covenant of life with God. This blood sacrifice will change your heart. It will create a way to a personal relationship with the Almighty God.”

And also as if he is saying, “The broken body represents all of the ways I have been crushed, betrayed, prosecuted, and tortured out of love for you and to save you. And when you are broken in life, disappointed, let down, betrayed, and persecuted, remember that I am with you and I can give you THE POWER OF MY BROKEN BODY to stay faithful to God in the midst of the trial.”

Ephesians 1:18-21 reinforces this, saying: “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.”

It is a power that Jesus was handing off to his disciples, symbolically here, and in fire and truth at Pentecost. This power is like no earthly power, this power to love and sacrifice can only be given from God and his Son, Jesus Christ!

Lord, thank you so much for giving me access to your blood and your flesh. For through it I access the power of an indestructible life – the power of the forever living priest of my soul, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7). I claim it today. I will claim it tomorrow and the next day. I will keep claiming this power as long as you give me breath: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. (Romans 1:16)