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Helps With Wandering
Helps with Wandering
Restraining my wandering mind, to force it to focus on anything for long is a challenge. This sadly includes the Lord’s supper. His memorial meal is more a spiritual feast than physical; but there is an undeniable physical aspect. Here are three of my “helps” on focusing to make historical ordeal and meaning more tangible, more physical.
1. When the bread is physically broken, or more personally when my teeth tear through bread; I focus on Jesus’ flesh torn apart several times and ways.
[ ] Think of the phrase, “there they crucified Him” (Luke 23:33; John 19:18). That’s nails violently ripping through flesh.
[ ] Think of the crown of thorns tearing through the thin and tender flesh on Jesus’s scalp (Matthew 27:29, Mark 15:17, John 19:2, 5).
[ ] Think of the scourging (Matthew 27:26). Many men died just from this, as a whip with bone pieces or metal at the end flays open Jesus’s back.
[ ] Think of the spear piercing His side (John 19:34). Although already dead, our Lord’s body undergoes one more desecration.
So when you teeth tear through the bread, think on these things.
Jesus’s flesh was not the only physical thing torn. Representing God’s holy acceptance by purifying the unholy holy, the veil leading to the presence of God was torn from top to bottom, at the ninth hour or 3 pm (Matthew 27:45–50; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45).
So when you teeth tear through the bread, think on the veil.
2. Fruit of the vine, specifically grape juice, can taste bitter at times.
[ ] Exactly who is unknown, but when crucified, someone gave Jesus wine mixed with gall (Mt 27:33-34). Opinions differ as to why. Is this another form of mockery? Is the myrrh an analgesic? Regardless of why, gall would make the drink bitter.
[ ] Mark’s gospel (Mark 15:23)account uses a different word – myrrh. Jesus’s life on earth began being worshipped as a king and given as a birthday present, myrrh (Matthew 2:11). From king to “criminal”, what a bitter end.
When the bitterness hits your tongue, think of the bitter drink and bitter apparent failure.
3. With both the bread and drink, we must swallow, which is the end.
[ ] This reminds me of Jesus’s end: of suffering, of indignity, of life.
There’s a saying connected to various thoughts that says, “that’s a hard pill to swallow.”
[ ] The innocent dying for the guilty,
[ ] The Creator taking the place of the created,
[ ] Both of these make Christianity unique.
As the partaking in a physical manner ends, remember Luke 23:46: “And Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit.” Saying this, He breathed His last.” (HCSB)
These are 3 helps for my wandering mind. I hope they benefit you.
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