The bread and wine has been one of the factors that has created divisions in the church of Jesus! Some churches say that anyone can take it, while others will only allow people who have been baptised or confirmed. Still others say that it cannot be given to young children.

Sadly many of us know of at least one family where there is one member who does not have a good relationship with another, whether because of inheritance issues or marriage breakups. In my limited experience, this is much more common with richer families than with poorer ones.

That Jesus knew where He was to hold this meal was no surprise to the disciples, they had learned to listen and obey. Ask yourself today if you have learned to do that too. Pray for more clarity in what Jesus is asking of you, and be prepared to obey.

It is hard for us to imagine God, an eternal spiritual being, and even harder to know His plan, and the fact that before the world began He existed and had the blue print for everything that would happen on this little planet in its position in the universe.

Realise afresh the importance of praying for and witnessing to all those who have not yet met Jesus, who have unknowingly made idols of people, and other spiritual beings. They are often the people who think life will continue as it always has done.

The problem was that the disciples did not understand that Jesus had equipped them to establish the Kingdom on earth! He began with those who were faithful supporters during His physical lifetime, baptising them with Holy Spirit when they were all in a room together not knowing what to do!

Many people across the world think we are in the last days. Many other believers will argue that people have been thinking that ever since the time of Jesus. The fact is that much of the Bible tells us that there will be a time when the world will end.

Yesterday we read about Jesus talking of the last days, but He was far from the first to do that. There are many references in the Old Testament to the last days. Jewish people were totally convinced that there would be an end to time as we know it.

Last day judgement is not something we like to talk about too much these days. If you mention it in many Christian circles, someone will jump in to the conversation and say that we have no idea when that will be, so there is no point in talking about it!

Martha and her sister, Mary, appear several times in the gospels, and have been the subject of many sermons, but their brother Lazarus is less mentioned, apart from this chapter where we read that the sisters sent word to Jesus to ask Him to come pray for their sick brother.