"When he had given thanks . . . after the same manner, also he took the cup." (I Corinthians 11:24-25.)

Participation at the Lord's Table should be a time of thanksgiving. ". . . he took the cup and gave thanks." To give thanks is to express gratitude. It is to acknowledge that He is our all in all, that we are nothing!! At the Table let us come humbly before Him and give thanks!

"Now when the even was come he sat down with the twelve." This was just a few hours before the crucifixion. It was the final assembly of this select group before the cross! Jesus and the twelve disciples!! In looking at them we can see ourselves.

It is at this gathering that Jesus makes the prediction concerning Peter. "I tell thee Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me." Listen to Peter as he proudly answers these words of Christ, "Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee." In the Garden it was Peter who drew his sword in defense Christ. Proud, boastful Peter had many lessons yet to learn. In a short while he trembles at the words of a damsel saying, "Thou wast with Jesus." Three times with cursing he denied he knew the Lord and he warmed by the enemy fire.

So many times we see the reflection of Peter in ourselves. Worshiping Christ in the church and denying Him in our home, in our work, in our play, has become a standard practice. So often we are afraid to lift a word of testimony in the face of a sinful world. Christians who cannot stand alone!!

Judas was present!! The one who betrayed the Lord for thirty pieces of silver. Judas sold out the Lord for money! Money meant more to him than Jesus! This seems unbelievable, yet how many today are worshiping the Almighty Dollar instead of the Almighty God. How many Christians are putting money and the pursuit of money ahead of Jesus. The Lord's Day is so often used to make a dollar rather than worship.

"And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest." So many have inherited this trait and are proud glory-seekers desiring to have the pre-eminence. So much of the worship of Christ is for the purpose of receiving the plaudits of men. Look at the envy and jealousy that manifests itself among church members. Notice the strife and divisions that come to churches because of this. Is it not easy to see ourselves mirrored in the lives of this group?

From the Upper Room Jesus went to the garden to pray. This was Gethsemane, the hour of agony. He took with Him Peter, James and John. He asked them to pray while He went a little farther. Three times He returned to them from His prayer and three times He found them asleep! Asleep at the cross!!! This is the picture today! May God help us! The world is on fire, sin is raging, souls are dying and Christians are asleep at the cross!!! Comfortable, complacent and content is the lot of Mr. Average Christian.

Thomas was there!! Thomas, the doubter, the one who found it hard to accept the reality of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Sometimes it is difficult to accept our theology as real. We have a head knowledge but not a heart experience. We are going head first instead of heart first!!

This is the picture and so far it's not very pretty. This group was proud, boastful, doubting, sleeping and even betraying. Yet listen to God's word. ". . . having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end." They were weak and sinful but Christ loved them with an unwavering love! This love made the difference! With the exception of Judas these men went forth as blazing evangelists and shook the world for Jesus.

Give thanks! We may be weak and unworthy but the Christ of the cross loves us and will use us!! We can do all things through Christ.