Crossroads - Acts 13:38-41

Welcome to Eat This Bread Drink This Cup

The communion meditation today is based on a passage of Scripture from the New Testament, Acts 13:38-41. In this passage of Scripture, we read about how Paul and Barnabas travel to Pisidian Antioch, an important Roman colony that stood at the junction of the Via Sebaste and a major east–west highway across the southern Anatolian Plateau (Turkey), making it a strategic crossroads for travelers, merchants, soldiers, and government officials. As a result of Paul's preaching, this colony became a spiritual crossroads for all who heard the good news of the gospel, whether to choose Jesus or join the ranks of the scoffers foretold by the prophet Habbakah. This spiritual crossroads reminds of our own decision to believe in Jesus and receive the forgiveness of our sins. As we partake of the bread and drink the fruit of the vine in the cup, we remember Jesus and His suffering for us. As Apostle Paul explains, Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promises to humankind. All Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV) and are used with permission.

As you listen to the episode today, my hope is that you will be encouraged from the time spent meditating on what Jesus has done for you. You are a special person; the one Jesus died to save!

Transcript

Welcome to Eat This Bread Drink This Cup. The title of my communion meditation today is "Crossroads." I read from Acts 13:38-41 (NIV). All Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV) and are used with permission.

38 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses. 40 Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you: 41 “ ‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’ ”

Paul and Barnabas departed from Antioch in Syria on their first missionary journey. Arriving in Perga, they likely traveled about 150 miles north on the Roman Via Sebaste through the Taurus Mountains to Pisidian Antioch. This important Roman colony stood at the junction of the Via Sebaste and a major east–west highway across the southern Anatolian Plateau (Turkey), making it a strategic crossroads for travelers, merchants, soldiers, and government officials.

On the Sabbath, they entered the synagogue and were invited to speak. Paul accepted their invitation and delivered an awe-inspiring sermon. The Scriptures I read today are the conclusion of this sermon in which Paul delivered God's promise, "Through him [Jesus] everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses." The following Sabbath nearly the whole city assembled to hear Paul's message. When the Jews began to contradict his message, he said, 

“We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For this is what the Lord has commanded us:

“ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,

that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

As result of the preaching of the gospel, this city became more than a strategic crossroads, it became a spiritual crossroads for all who lived there and it reminds us of our own spiritual crossroads; each person has to decide to accept Jesus or join the ranks of the scoffers of old. I love this story because it shows us how the good news of Jesus sets people free! We know that this great blessing came at great cost to Jesus. When we partake of the bread and drink the fruit of the vine from the cup, we remember His suffering and death on the cross for us; we remember we made the right choice. Let us pray.

Abba, Father. Today we bless and set aside this bread and the fruit of the vine in this cup to remember Your Son, Jesus. We know that the bread represents His body that was nailed to the cross, and the fruit of the vine represents His blood that He shed for us. As we pour out the wine from the cup, we are reminded of how Jesus poured out His own blood that our sins might be forgiven. Abba, Father. We feel Luke's excitement as he recounts this story to us. The good news about Jesus is good news indeed. In Him we are free. We can stand up straight as we no longer carry the burden of sin. We can take a deep breath of the fresh air of freedom. We feel the embrace of Jesus instead of stiff hands that push us away from God's grace. We live in the light. Thank-you so much for sending Jesus to save us. We remember Him and His sacrifice just now as we partake of the bread and drink the fruit of the vine from the cup. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Today, Jesus invites you to partake of His supper. I read from Matthew 26:26-28 (NIV).

26 As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.” Let us partake of the bread.

27 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, 28 for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many." Let us partake of the cup.

And the assembly of believers said, "Amen!"

Until next time, from Numbers 6:24-26, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

Artist's Note: If you have questions about the Lord's Supper, I invite you to visit my website, https://eatthisbreaddrinkthiscup.com, for a brief overview. The Eat This Bread Drink This Cup podcast is listed in most podcast directories, and I invite you to add my podcast to your favorites and be notified of new posts. There is a written transcript that accompanies each podcast, and you are free to use the transcript in accordance with US copyright law. My prayer is that you will benefit personally from this time with Jesus and encourage others to observe the Lord's Supper. In these trying times, we need to keep our eyes on Jesus!