A celebration of freedom from sin

Today was the eighth day at Kaplan Medical Center with the Hesed project, and the Lord was boldly evident as we continued to be His salt and light.

I've been working in the dining room with my teammate, Tina. The activity in the dining room is on-going, including feeding the medical center staff breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We volunteers keep the tables clean and re-stock silverware, plates, and bowls for the Kaplan staff at lunch. At times I stand next to the silverware and greet the hungry crowd with a "Shalom," or, if I forget to speak Hebrew, a "Hello." The Kaplan staff are always gracious in responding to my limited Hebrew. At other times I'm wiping down tables with a song in my heart and a smile on my face, thanking God for the opportunity to serve His Chosen People in this humble way.

Today, after a day of working in the hospital dining room, our hotel, Yad Hashmona, prepared for our Hesed team a special meal, a biblical meal. Our host and hotel manager, Tzuri-el, gave us historical insights into Jesus' last meal - a Passover meal.

A U-shaped table could have been the type of Passover table Jesus and His disciples used. Tzuri-el, our host, shared Bible references and ancient customs that might possibly help determine where the disciples and Jesus sat around the table. Custom had it that the ones responsible for making preparations for the meal would sit at the ends of the table to help with meal needs. Scripture indicates that Peter and John were the two disciples sent to make preparations for the Passover meal (Luke 22:8). Therefore, Peter and John could have sat at the ends of the table.

Another thought our host shared concerned Jesus when he designated the bread and wine as symbolizing His body and blood, and the freedom we have in Him. At the Passover meal, Israelites celebrated their freedom from Egypt (Exodus 13:3-4). At the Last Supper, when Jesus broke the bread and drank the wine, he changed the focus to a celebration of freedom from sin (Matthew 26:26-28).

Being in Israel is making the Bible come alive for me.

Blessings and shalom,
JoAnn Spradlin - South Beloit, Illinois