7.5.26 – Sermon Notes – Sacraments “The Lord’s Supper”
Sacrament— A “Sacred Mystery” where God is graciously active
through tangible means
coupled with His Word and promises
for our good!
Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper as an ongoing encounter He would have with His followers.
Luke 22 14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer……... 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
The Prequel – Eating and Drinking, Passover, Covenant
Exodus 12:7-13 “Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it….. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.
Exodus 24
3 When Moses went and told the people all the Lord’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, “Everything the Lord has said we will do.” 4 Moses then wrote down everything the Lord had said.
He got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the Lord. 6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he splashed against the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.”
8 Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”
In the original Passover event all who are covered with the blood of the Lamb would be saved from the judgment of death! In the Sinai Covenant the people were “sprinkled with the blood” of the substitutionary animal sacrifices and entered into a relationship where God committed to “be there God” and they committed to “be His people” according to the words God gave Moses on the mountain.
In the ongoing Passover Celebration the people could have a “real physical” connection with the greatest “salvation event” in their history when God saved His people from the “angel of death” and the Egyptians. When they had the Passover celebration every year it is like they were connecting with the same God that had delivered their ancestors. This salvation event made possible relationship between God and His people sealed by a covenant on Mt. Sinai.
The Jesus Celebration
Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples about 1300 years after the original Passover event. He changes things. He is God – He gets to do that. He gives them a New Salvation Promise based on a New Salvation Event!
Matthew 26:26-28 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Jesus made use of the Passover celebration by changing it into a celebration and participation of His Presence and His sacrifice for the forgiveness of their sins. Jesus changed the ceremony with the words “This is my body” and “This is my blood of the covenant!”.
We still get to receive the Presence of Jesus in our lives and the forgiveness of our sins as we receive the bread and wine which is His body and blood!
Now people celebrating this supper “connect” with the salvation event of the Cross and Empty tomb!
The Sequel
1 Corinthians 10 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?
1Corinthians 11 23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
As I come to The Lord’s Supper I get to believe and act like...
1) Jesus brings His Presence!
The Lord’s Supper is a very personal and gracious connection between a big, Holy God and a little sinful person like me! Jesus is present in, with and under the bread and wine! This is a tangible encounter with the Risen Jesus for me to receive Him into myself.
2) Jesus brings His Gifts!
Where the risen Jesus is His “forgiveness of sins”, His life and His salvation … abound!
In the sacrament I am “covered with the blood” and am reconciled to God through Jesus.
3) I bring “real” needs for forgiveness and life and a “real” faith trusting Jesus only!
I believe I am a sinner and need what Jesus gives. I come repenting of my sins, renouncing my idols and trusting He gave His body and shed His blood for me!
“...that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words, ‘Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins’!” M. Luther
4) I leave “restored and renewed” in relationship with Jesus and with others in my church family because He is who We share.
“Because there is one loaf (Jesus) we are one body, although we are many individuals. All of us share one loaf.” 1 Cor. 10:17