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Listen: Luke 22

 

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ”This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19

The night before his crucifixion, Jesus gathers his disciples for their final Passover meal together. The Passover itself is a feast of remembrance instituted by God to remind Israel of their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Jesus transforms this meal into something new. He gives the bread and wine new meaning, pointing to his coming sacrifice on the cross. Just as Moses instructed Israel to remember God’s provision as they entered the promised land (Deuteronomy 8:16-18), Jesus tells his followers to remember his death through this meal. He knows remembrance fuels gratitude, and gratitude protects against pride and forgetfulness.

We regularly celebrate communion to remember and give thanks. The simple act of eating bread and drinking juice is a powerful reminder that we cannot save ourselves—that salvation comes through Christ’s sacrifice alone. When we remember the cross, pride crumbles as we recall our complete dependence on God’s grace. Then, this foundational gratitude for salvation spreads into all areas of life. We begin to see each blessing—from daily bread to deepest relationships—as gifts from the God who gave his Son for us. The communion table is our training ground for gratitude, teaching us to remember God’s grace in every circumstance.

TODAY: Focus today’s entries in your gratitude journal on Christ’s work in your life. Thank him for his death and resurrection specifically and for the people who shared the gospel with you and for the forgiveness you’ve experienced.