Broken and Spilled for You Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: Broken and Spilled for You Keywords: "body” “blood” “bread” “wine" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passage: Mark 14:22-25* 22. And while they were eating, He took [some] bread, and after a blessing He broke [it]; and gave [it] to them, and said, "Take [it]; this is My body." 23. And when He had taken a cup, [and] given thanks, He gave [it] to them; and they all drank from 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 shall never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." Questions 1. What was Jesus’ point about the bread being his body?   2. What is a covenant?   3. Where was blood poured in the Old Testament?   Practical help Eating and drinking are common activities you and I engage in all the time. If we didn’t we would soon die of dehydration or starvation. Yet for the most part, we don’t think about this aspect of food and drink. Instead we enjoy the activities, especially in social settings with our friends and loved ones. This eating and drinking at what later became known as the Last Supper was what the disciples had come to do. Sure there were some clues that Jesus dropped around this time that all was not well, but at dinner time, it is time to forget those sorts of problems and just socialize a little. In the middle of this meal Jesus breaks some bread — a normal, routine act. But then He says, “This is My body. Go ahead and eat it.” Now that’s a show-stopping statement. But think about this: What Jesus was about to do for them and us was to allow His body to be broken and His blood to be spilled out like an animal sacrifice. Why did He do this? Obviously not for the fun of it. No, He did it simply because He loved us and knew it was what we needed to live. In fact, we needed His sacrifice to live longer and better than possible with any other bread or drink. Material nutrients are good for a while, but what can you and I ever consume that is able to sustain us forever? Just one thing: Jesus. Jesus allowed His body to be broken to free us from a dependence on images of naked bodies on a computer screen or video monitor. Think of that the next time you are tempted. His naked body bleeding and dying for you is your cure. Fix your eyes on the cross, and be healed. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2004 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission." ---