And God Said

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Posted by Priscilla Car, August 30

When the hour came, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. Then, He said to them, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then, He took a cup, and after giving thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” (Luke 22:14-18)

Worship through song was so powerful that Sunday. As I sat down, I asked the Lord to speak to me through the Pastor. Pastor Louie taught from Luke 22 about how Jesus went “above and beyond'' in giving us Himself as the sacrificial Lamb. He explained how His death during the Passover was the culmination of God’s plan described briefly in Genesis 3:15 (you will bruise His heel, but He will bruise your head) and metaphorically when blood from the sacrificed lamb, placed on the doorposts, saved those within the home. I marveled at God’s timing and plan and how He mercifully saved all those who trusted Him by applying the blood to the doorposts.

As the pastor continued to speak from Luke 22, my ears perked up when he read Jesus’ words, “I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” The authority of that statement filled me with longing, wonder, and fear. Jesus, knowing the events that would take place shortly (namely His persecution, wrongful verdict, suffering, and death on the cross), spoke with authority and conviction as He foretold a future kingdom where He would partake again of the Passover with His disciples. And yes, I long for that day.

But Jesus would be betrayed, suffer, and die. I wonder what the disciples thought about Jesus’ proclamation in light of those events. Did they even recall what He had proclaimed? That He would eat the Passover again in the kingdom of God? Jesus’ kingdom? When they all dispersed in fear when Jesus was taken, did any remember?

Jesus’ proclamation so impacted me because it hit me that He spoke, and it will be. Period. He said there is a kingdom of God coming and that Passover would be fulfilled there. And it will be so. Even though the events that followed His authoritative statement were a dark cloud, they shouldn’t have shrouded the Giver of the statement because “God is not a man, that He might lie, or a son of man, that He might change His mind. Does He speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19). But, the events most likely shroud the Promiser. The confusion and fear they felt caused them to run, hide, and doubt (for a time) who Jesus really was. And don’t we do the same?

But God, in His mercy and “faithful love,” reminded me through Luke of His authority (“Jesus came near and said to them, All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.” Matthew 28:18) and that there is a future kingdom coming—His kingdom. He also reminded me that He’s reserved a place for me and for all who have accepted His invitation of Life. We have a hope and a future, and we have an appointment where we will sit with the King of Kings and “sup” with Him. He said it, and it will be so because “It is impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18).

Father, sometimes the cares of the present threaten to block out the glory of Your promised future with You. Forgive us, Your children, for forgetting who You are—that You are omnipotent, in control and can’t not accomplish what You have declared. Thank You for Your mercy, kindness and love to remind us. And thank You for wanting us and for including us and for the place You have prepared for each one of us with You at Your table.

Priscilla Carr was born in NYC, but has lived in metro Atlanta since 1979. She is a Navy veteran trained in electronics which God used for a 30-year career at the FAA. She uses her training to provide audio support to Touching Hearts Ministries, and is the Editor and Producer of “A Burst of Hope” podcast. She began her adult new life in Jesus in 1990 right before leaving the Navy, and today she exudes her love for Jesus. She is the proud mama to two rambunctious fur kids, Gracie (Lab) and Faith (Pit-mix). Priscilla was encouraged by elementary teachers to write. She took creative writing courses in High School and college, but in the mid-eighties, she stopped writing. The desire to write has been recently reawakened, and she is thriving in her new writing adventure.