Getting Personal with Grace

Luke 22:19-20

And He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant, established by My blood; it is shed for you.”

This was the last meal Jesus had with His disciples before He died, and it was their Passover celebration. They gathered there that night to remember how God had led Israel out of bondage in Egypt and into the Promised Land of Canaan. During the journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, God gave Israel the law through Moses. The people were to follow it completely and bring sacrifices to the temple each year to atone for their sins. At this meal, however, Jesus introduced a new covenant – one established by His blood, which was shed for us.

Passover required a perfect lamb as a sacrifice. Jesus was the perfect lamb and final sacrifice needed for our sins. The new covenant He described was a covenant of grace that allowed us access to the Father – depicted by the veil that was ripped in two in the temple upon His death.

When we read the account of the Last Supper, we see can easily see how Jesus died for the world. He instructed His disciples to do this in remembrance of Him. When we take communion individually, it represents the fact that He died for us personally. Knowledge recognizes that Jesus died for the whole world; faith understands He died for me. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. We must take the necessary step of faith and recognize that His sacrifice was made for us, personally and individually, before the covenant of grace is applied. Jesus wasn’t just a universal sacrifice – He was my sacrifice! He took my sins upon the cross! Unless I make this personal, I will never walk in the covenant of grace.

Many people in this world don’t recognize their need for a Savior, but most recognize a definite void. They need this covenant of grace applied personally. Even in the church we find those who do not fully recognize that Jesus died for their sins. If they did, they would not reject the covenant of grace by allowing sin to have dominion over them. His death was not a blanket approval for sin. We come to know Jesus personally when we accept and acknowledge this covenant of grace for which He gave His very life. You do not go to heaven because you know who Jesus is. You go to heaven because He knows who you are. Grace will change you. Have you been changed?

Have a blessed day!