Victory after dinner

Professional sports teams often have a pre-game meal.  The team nutritionists are tasked to choose just the right amount of carbs, protein etc… All of this to ensure the players will have the strength to endure and win that days game.  

God loves a good pre-game meal and it seems that whenever God is getting ready to defeat evil He plans a feast.

In the Old Testament, Exodus 12, the children of Israel have been in bondage for more than 400 years.  God wants to defeat the Egyptians and set HIs people free. Just before the last plague when God will deliver His people He invites all of His children to a meal, the first Passover Meal.  This meal preceded the defeat of the Pharaoh and his armies, and became the annual remembrance of God’s relationship with His people from that day forward. 

David in the Old Testament knew this to be true and writes these words in Psalm 23,

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;

Then we read in Revelation 19 just before Jesus is getting ready to return and put a final end to all evil for all time it seems that once again God is saying, “Hey just before the final victory, “let’s eat”. 

19:9 Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” 

On this Thursday of Holy Week we remember the meal that Jesus and his disciples had together just before Jesus great victory on the cross.  To celebrate that victory, Jesus invited His disciples to, you guessed it, a meal.

Mark 14:22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” (ESV)

On Maundy Thursday, when Jesus is about to go to the cross to “destroy the works of the devil”   He invites his disciples to set down with Him for dinner.  Actually they are celebrating that same passover meal of their forefathers.  Only now Jesus is updating its significance to reflect His own sacrificial work on the cross where He will destroy an even greater enemy than Pharaoh,  Sin! 

What is Jesus doing while the High Priest are plotting His arrest?  He is doing what David said the Lord always does, “He prepared a table in the presence of His enemies” and was having supper with His disciples.  

A good meal always preceded a great victory!

Today we are invited to join Jesus at the table of grace. He invites us to take into our whole being His power, His Spirit, His Word, His forgiveness, His grace and His character.   As we feed on Him, trust in Him and allow Him to dwell in our innermost being we are then prepared to experience victory over sin and find the strength we need for every battle ahead.  

Feed on Jesus today!  Victory always comes after a good dinner!  

BE ENCOURAGED, WE’RE CHRISTIANS!

Troy