Nehemiah 2:1-5
“…in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king.  I had not been sad in his presence before; so the king asked me, ‘Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill?  This can be nothing but sadness of heart.’  I was very much afraid, but I said to the king, ‘…Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers were buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?’…Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, ‘If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.’”

Esther 7:1-4a
“So the king and Haman went to dine with Queen Esther, and as they were drinking wine on that second day, the king again asked, ‘Queen Esther, what is your petition?…Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.’  Then Queen Esther answered, ‘If I have found favor with you, O king, and if it pleases your majesty, grant me my life—this is my petition.  And spare my people—this is my request.  For I and my people have been sold for destruction and slaughter and annihilation.’”

1 Corinthians 11:25
“In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’”

Almighty God, you rule in power in order to disperse all fear.

Over wine, Christ the King lays a request before us.  He asks us to remember that he has absorbed all crimes of destruction, and we his people can be saved.

In taking the cup, help us honour this petition.  May we humbly acknowledge the restoration that has already been accomplished by his blood.

For Jesus’ sake we pray, whose table we share and with whom we drink in remembrance.

Listen to ‘When I Approach My God’ by Wayfarer