Time is fulfilled, believe the gospel

Ingrid Wijngaarde
2018, 06-16

It was dark outside.
The oil lamps burned softly in the Upper Room.
Twelve men with depressed hearts were gathered around the Son of Man.

The simple Easter meal had ended.
There was a strange, intangible atmosphere.
Calmly He spoke to them about love, unity and power of the Spirit.
His calling and the way He had to go alone.

He took the cup and gave thanks. It was a cup of sorrow.
The agony of Gethsemane was in it.
The mockery of the crown of thorns was in it.
The thirst of Calvary was in it.
Yet He gave thanks.
It was the cup of death.
It held the symbol of His blood.
The shadow of the Cross was upon it.
Yet He took the cup and gave thanks.
And then, and then, He invited them to drink.
He gave thanks, for He had eyes to see.
Eyes that needed not the dim light of lamps.
Eyes that saw right through the darkness.
He saw the cup as the cup of life.
The symbol of His power was in it.
The promise of forgiveness was in it.
The emblem of His love was in it.
He saw the cup as the cup of triumph.
The joy of the redeemed was in it.
The glory of His crown was in it.
The vision of His kingdom was in it.
And so, He took the cup and gave thanks.
And invited them to drink.
It was the cup of their sanctification.

Then He took bread from the platter.
And thanked for it.
He saw the bread as a symbol of His broken body.
Yet He thanked.
For the torture that He would endure.
The spitting, the pulling out of His beard.
The stumps in His face, the scourging of His back.
The mockery of the crown of thorns.
Yet He took the bread and gave thanks.
Because He knew that only that sacrifice would be our salvation.
He looked past the shame of His naked, broken body.
Gasping for breath, hanging on a cross.
He took the bread, thanked for it.
The symbol of His infinite love was in it.
The promise of the resurrection from the dead was in it.
The crushing of His heel.
But also the shattering of the head of the snake.
The joy of the wedding supper of the Lamb.
That's why He took the bread and thanked.
Broke a piece for Himself and passed it on.
And invited them to do the same.
It is the sign of your salvation.
Take it and share in My misery.
It is the bread that you sanctify.
And do this in My remembrance until I come back!

But My soul is saddened unto death.
Because tonight I will be betrayed.
One of you, it hurts so much!
I must die, there is no other way.
Sin demands death.
But beware, it does not have to be one of you.

Astonishment, sadness: Is it I, Lord?
Stop me, Lord, that it would be me!
He knows, I know, I say no more.

Simultaneously, they dipped their bread in the gravy.
They looked each other straight in the eye.
Judas, my friend, do what you have to do.
Let it be over soon.

What is He talking about now, they did not understand.
Judas got up, and without saying a word he walked away, no looking back.
Into the darkness of the night.

Come, let us sing. A song of praise and a prayer for strength.
Because you all will be irritated by Me tonight.
What is about to happen, will not be easy for anyone.
Let us go. The darkness awaits.
My time has come.
Pray that you will not be tempted.
.

This poem is taken from "Seventh-day Adventist Believes",
#16 Holy Communion, adapted and expanded

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Time is fulfilled, believe the gospel