Questions and Curiosity
Scripture Reading — Exodus 12:24-27
“When your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord. . . .’”
A few years ago at a Good Friday worship service, my wife and I enjoyed the whispers we overheard as the pastor broke a loaf of bread and poured juice from a pitcher into a cup.
A little girl stood on her seat near us, peeking over the heads of the people in front of her. Suddenly she turned to her mom and asked, “What is that?” as the juice was poured out. She was told, “That is Jesus’ blood. It helps us remember that Jesus died for us.” The little girl paused to consider this, and then, perhaps not entirely satisfied with the answer, she turned to her dad and asked the same question. This time she was told, “It is some grape juice.” She then turned back to her mom and said, “It’s just juice!”
Little did this young child realize that she was stepping into a complex and intense conversation that has been going on for thousands of years.
I loved hearing her questions and seeing her curiosity. I hope we all can engage with questions and curiosity this month as we think about this beautiful, mysterious meal that Jesus gave us to remember him by. I like to call it “the Jesus-meal.”
What do you think? Is it really “just juice” and “just bread” that we take in at the Lord’s Supper (communion)? Or is there more to this simple meal than meets the eye?
Heavenly Father, whether we are very young or very old, we are all your children. Stir in us a deep curiosity about all that you want to teach us. In Jesus, Amen.
About the author — Kristopher Walhof
Kristopher Walhof is a minister in the Christian Reformed Church who lives with his wife and seven-year-old son in rural Kenya. He teaches Bible and theology courses to theological students seeking ordination in the Africa Inland Church (AIC) denomination.
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