Breaking Bread Together
Jesus told his disciples to bring him some bread and wine. While they went to get it, he told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When the disciples came back with the bread and wine, he took the bread, broke it, and blessed it. Then he gave it to the disciples and told them to eat. After they had eaten and were full, he told them to share it with the crowd.
When everyone had eaten their fill, he said to the disciples: “One of you will be ordained with authority to break bread, bless it, and give it to the people who belong to my church—everyone who believes and is baptized in my name. Always do this the way I’ve done it—breaking bread, blessing it, and sharing it. “Do this to remember my body, which I’ve shown you. It will show the Father that you always remember me. And if you always remember me, you’ll have my Spirit with you.”
After saying this, he told his disciples to take the cup of wine and drink it, then share it with the crowd. They did exactly that. The disciples drank and were filled, then they gave it to the crowd, and everyone drank their fill.
When they finished, Jesus said to them: “You’re blessed for doing this. You’ve obeyed my command, and this shows the Father that you’re willing to do what I’ve asked. Always do this for people who repent and are baptized in my name. Do it to remember my blood, which I shed for you, so you can show the Father that you always remember me. And if you always remember me, you’ll have my Spirit with you.”
“I’m commanding you to do these things. If you always do them, you’re blessed—you’re built on solid rock. But whoever does more or less than this isn’t built on solid rock—they’re built on sand. When the rain pours down, the floods rise, and the winds blow and beat against them, they’ll fall. The gates of hell are already open, waiting for them. So you’re blessed if you keep my commands—the ones the Father told me to give you.”
Watch and Pray
“Listen carefully: you must always watch and pray. Otherwise the devil will tempt you and take you captive. Pray in my church the same way I’ve prayed among you—among my people who repent and are baptized in my name. I am the light. I’ve set an example for you.”
When Jesus finished speaking to his disciples, he turned back to the crowd and said: “Listen carefully: you must always watch and pray, or you’ll fall into temptation. Satan wants you. He wants to shake you like wheat. So always pray to the Father in my name. Whatever you ask the Father in my name—if it’s right, and you believe you’ll receive it—it will be given to you.”
“Pray with your families to the Father, always in my name, so your wives and children will be blessed.”
“Meet together often. Don’t turn anyone away when you gather—let them come to you. Pray for them, and don’t cast them out. If they keep coming back, keep praying for them to the Father in my name. So hold up your light so it shines for the world to see. I am the light you’re to hold up—do what you’ve seen me do. You saw me pray to the Father. You all witnessed it. You saw that I didn’t send anyone away. Instead, I invited you to come close, to touch me and see for yourselves. Do the same for the world. Whoever breaks this command opens himself up to temptation.”
Final Instructions
Then Jesus turned his eyes back to the disciples he had chosen and said: “Listen carefully. I’m giving you one more command. Then I must go to my Father to fulfill the other things he’s given me to do.”
“Here’s the command: don’t knowingly let anyone take part in my flesh and blood if they’re unworthy. Anyone who eats and drinks my flesh and blood unworthily brings judgment on himself. So if you know someone is unworthy, don’t let them eat and drink. But don’t cast them out. Minister to them. Pray for them to the Father in my name. If they repent and are baptized in my name, then receive them and share my flesh and blood with them. But if they don’t repent, don’t count them among my people. Don’t let them destroy my people. I know my sheep, and they are counted. Still, don’t throw them out of your gatherings or places of worship. Keep ministering to them. You never know—they might come back and repent, coming to me with their whole heart. Then I’ll heal them, and you’ll be the ones who brought them to salvation.”
“Keep these commands I’ve given you so you won’t fall under judgment. Anyone condemned by the Father is in deep trouble. I’m giving you these commands because of the arguing that’s been going on among you. You’re blessed if there’s no arguing among you.”
“Now I’m going to the Father. It’s time for me to go—for your sake.”
Jesus Ascends
When Jesus finished speaking, he touched each of the disciples he had chosen, one by one, until he had touched them all. He spoke to them as he touched them. The crowd couldn’t hear what he said, so they couldn’t testify about it. But the disciples testified that he gave them power to give the Holy Ghost. I’ll show you later that this testimony is true. After Jesus had touched them all, a cloud came and covered the crowd so they couldn’t see Jesus anymore. While they were covered by the cloud, he left them and went up into heaven. The disciples saw it and testified that he ascended back into heaven.