As we prepare to celebrate the Resurrection, we are teaching the children accounts relating to Jesus’ last day of ministry. This weekend we taught the children the story of the Last Supper. We helped the children remember Jesus and his great love for them.

In this story, we see how Jesus showed his love to his disciples during his final evening with them. When the time came for the meal to begin, Jesus told the disciples how happy he was and how eager he had been to share this meal with them before leaving to face his suffering. Then Jesus gave the disciples a concrete way to remember him when he was gone. He took some bread and gave thanks to God. He broke the bread and shared it with the disciples. He said, “This is my body broken for you. Whenever you are together, eat this bread as a way to remember me.”

The Bible says the disciples and Jesus then shared the Passover meal. As a part of the meal, the bread and wine would have been passed around the table several times, remembering different parts of the Exodus story. Jesus used bread before the meal as a way for the disciples to remember him because they would understand the use of food to remember something special. After the meal, Jesus decided to give the disciples another way to remember him. Jesus waited until the last cup of Passover wine had been shared. He then took the extra cup of wine and said, “This is my blood poured out for all. When you drink this wine, remember the new promise of love God has made with you through me.” By giving them bread and wine, Jesus gave the disciples a way to remember his love for them, even after he was gone.

At the end of the story, we see the true depths of Jesus’ love. Jesus had known there was a betrayer at the table during the whole meal. But Judas was offered a way to remember God’s great love for him as well, and he was included in that love. The story of the Last Supper tells us that Jesus wanted his followers to have a concrete way to remember God’s love for them. Today we still remember God’s love this way when we have Communion. At Communion, we share bread and wine or juice as a reminder of God’s covenant of love and forgiveness.

This week as you interact with your children, think about your experiences with Communion. How does Communion help you remember God’s love? Think of ways to help your children remember God’s love for them. This week concentrate on having a spirit of happiness and thankfulness, eager to remember the good news Jesus shared about God’s love for us and the children.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. John 3:16