Issue 833 – A Work of Art – August 22, 2022
On Saturday, Kathy and I explored a leg of Fish Trap Creek Park (Abbotsford) that we hadn’t walked before. We encountered many people picking big, ripe blackberries from the abundant bushes. Since we walked that park a few weeks ago, I was surprised to see how thick the grasses had become in the shallows.
Numerous family flocks of mallards napped in the shallows and onshore in the shade. I took several pictures, but the shade was so thick it was nearly impossible to see the ducks in my images. The ducks are pretty habituated to humans; they barely stirred even when I was only a few feet away.
I loved the artwork done by beavers and humans on this stump. The beaver had been making good progress towards falling the tree. Someone from the parks department cut the top down to prevent it from falling onto the nearby walking trail.
The remaining stump reminds me of a giant goblet or perhaps a stylish round table.
The “goblet” got me thinking of the much sought-after “Holy Grail.” Stories about the grail first appeared in the tenth century, telling of its miraculous healing powers. Over time, the legend intertwined with the story of the Holy Chalice, supposedly the cup that Jesus enjoyed with His disciples on the night of the Last Supper.
Several relics reported as the Holy Chalice have been reported starting as early as the 6th century. All are best regarded as spurious.
No one knows what cup Jesus used, but it is probably safe to assume it was a typical Middle Eastern drinking vessel made of glazed or fired clay from the first century. It is improbable that it was a bejewelled goblet of gold.
The superstitious fascination with holy relics has always baffled me. Untold fortunes were made in supposedly sacred relics, which gave special healing powers, answers to prayers or grace to those who held them or at least prayed near them.
The Bible doesn’t ascribe such powers. There was no magic in the drinking vessel that Jesus and the disciples used that night so long ago.
The Lord’s supper doesn’t have magical powers, and the bread and cup do not actually become the physical body and blood of Christ.
The ordinance of Communion (or Lord’s Supper) is taken as a memorial act, a remembrance.
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 1 Corinthians 11:23-25
We partake as a recommitment, a remembrance and a proclamation of what the Lord has done.
There are times when the Spirit might move in us powerfully as we remember and proclaim through partaking of the elements. Yet there isn’t some extraordinary power in the vessel we use.
Any and all power in the blood is because of the propitiation made by Christ, the sinless lamb of God who gave His life for us. No vessel can ever replicate that.
No goblet, vessel, or work of art will ever compare to what Christ has done for us. Praise His name.
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed.
Kevin.
Gleanings From The Word.
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (for the glory of God alone.)
_____________________________
All contents are © 2001, 2022 K. F. “Kevin” Corbin and Gleanings From The Word.
Check us out on the web at https://gleaningsfromtheword.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Never miss an issue. Subscribe to our email version today https://mailchi.mp/f27bbeb09c22/gleanings-1
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV).
____________________________
#Gleanings #devotional #biblestudy #dailybible #bible #love #joy #gleanings #KevinCorbin #jesus #god #faith #christian #Christ #Father #bibleverses #prayer #church #forgiveness #Holyspirit #pray #jesuschrist #worship #Biblereading #believe #dailybiblereading #dailybible #devotional #discipleship #scripture #gospel #hope #truth #worship #encouragement
#beaver #artwork #goblet #Fishtrap #abbotsford #relic #holygrail #holychalice #communion #Lordssupper
#1 Corinthians11:25