Fervent Desire

Before CoVid, our church would invite a few members to hold a basket of bread and a cup of juice for the congregation to file by and take communion.

As each person took the elements, the person holding the basket would say, “This is His body, broken for you” and the person holding the cup would say, “This is His blood, shed for you.”

One such Sunday, as my husband and I were asked to do this, and we said these words, over and over, perhaps one hundred times… I found myself overcome with emotion.

As my mouth formed the words again and again, tears filled my eyes as I couldn’t help but think that my Savior knew all that was coming at the Cross, and the agony of all that would mean.

Yet, He kept walking toward the Cross for us.

And as He sat in that upper room, so long ago with His disciples, and prepared to take the Passover, He knew He would be their perfect Lamb. (Luke 22:7-20)

It would be His body that would be broken and His blood that would pour out.

Knowing every detail of all that would happen, knowing the nails would violently pierce His hands and feet, Jesus looks at them, at the Last Supper, and says, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;” (Luke 22:15).

FERVENT desire. Can you imagine?

And then, Jesus gives thanks. (Luke 22:17).

The One who is about to die.
Gives thanks.
Let that sink in.

Jesus was fully God, and knew all that would come, but He was also fully man and would feel each whip tear His skin, each nail pierce His flesh, and He would hear each mocking word from those He was dying to save.

And, with FERVENT desire, He was thankful to do this for us.

Jesus tells the disciples that He would not eat of the bread or drink of the cup again until the Kingdom of God comes (Luke 22:16,18).

What a day THAT will be—The Marriage Supper of the Lamb!

And that day will certainly BE!
It will assuredly BE!

One day, all who are made clean by the blood of the Lamb will sit with the Savior at a great celebration.

John, was there at that Last Supper. He had watched his Savior die on the Cross and comforted His mother, Mary—that same John, years later, would be exiled to the rocky, barren island of Patmos for preaching Christ.

It is there that the Lord would reveal to him, through His angel, what is the book of Revelation.

Listen to the words of John record what he heard and saw,

“Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” (Rev 19:6-9)

These are the true words of God. The very words of God.

What He said would happen, happened.
Likewise, what He says will happen, will happen!

Oh friend, let’s hold on with FERVENT desire.

Yes, we may occasionally suffer for our faith this side of Heaven. Let’s not let this rock and us—

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.“

“Therefore, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good”. (I Pet 4:12-13,19)

In this hard world, let’s keep trusting our faithful Savior, who keeps His promises, and let’s keep doing good as He did… with fervent desire!

His body broken for YOU.
His blood shed for YOU.