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THE
NEW LIFE by
John Marshall
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Chapter
4 • THE BREAKING
OF BREAD
Luke's record suggests that Judas was present at the drinking
of the wine and the breaking of bread. The two records can
be reconciled if it is assumed that throughout the service
of the four drinkings of wine and the several breakings of
bread Jesus referred to their relationship to his sacrifice.
Judas would then have been present when Jesus earlier referred
to them.
The departure of Judas on his treacherous mission led Jesus
to say: "Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is
glorified in him", for soon he was literally to suffer
the sacrifice that he was now, after the service dedicated
to the old covenant, to symbolize in the emblems which he
handed to the remaining disciples in token of the new covenant.
Of the bread he said: "Take, eat, this is my body."
And of the wine he said: "This is my blood of the new
covenant which is shed for many."
The Closing Hymn
Before the service came to an end the Hallel, Psalms 115-118,
and the Great Hallel, Psalm 136, were recited or sung and
the fourth cup of wine was drunk. Matthew records: "And
when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of
Olives." The hymn was probably from the Hallel Psalms.
In company with the eleven, Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane
to wait for the coming of Judas "with a great multitude
with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes
and the elders". Then began the processes that were to
result in the crucifixion, and were to bring upon the leaders,
the people and their children not only "the righteous
blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of the righteous
Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias..."
but the blood of the only begotten Son of God. None could
erase the memorial feast which Jesus left for all generations
of his disciples.
How vital it is, then, that every believer neglects no opportunity
of breaking of bread and drinking wine in memory of Christ,
our Passover, and as a reminder of that moment when he said:
"I will not drink henceforth of the vine until that day
when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."
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References
Luke 22v17-19, John 13v31, Mark 14v22,24, Matt 26v30,
Mark 14v43, Matt 23v35, Matt 26v29
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Chapter
5 • COUNTING THE
COST
FEW ever forget the deep emotions that were stirred as they passed,
in the waters of baptism, from death to the new life. But sometimes
we forget that the new life is a vastly different life, and that
we can return to old habits and desires only at the peril of losing
eternal life.
The new life means that we have completely to forsake former pleasures,
aims, ambitions and associations if they are likely to hinder our
spiritual progress. We have to be realistic in facing and accepting
the consequences of our act of faith. "If any man will come
after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and
follow me", said Jesus.
The void created by self-denial is filled by obedience to the command
of Jesus: "Follow me." Whilst akolouthein was the common
Greek word for follow, on occasions it was used to describe the
complete, absolute obedience to a leader; thus it was used of a
soldier implicitly following, or carrying out his Captain's orders;
or of a slave's duty to his master; or a citizen's implicit obedience
to the laws of a State. This is the sense in which Jesus used the
word follow: unquestioning obedience to his commands.
A Realistic Valuation
Jesus requires wise men to count the cost of the new life, so that
they will understand the responsibilities of his call. He illustrated
this in a realistic fashion by giving the multitude who listened
to him two examples: first the wisdom of the builder who worked
out what material he would require to build, and to finish, a tower
and how much it would cost; then he pointed out how foolish a man
would appear to his neighbours if he proceeded to build without
calculating the cost, and was unable to finish it. His second example
concerned a king going to war who is wise enough to get to know
the strength of the enemy forces, so that if he finds they are too
strong for him he can send an ambassage to sue for peace.
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References
Luke 9v23
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