Jesus said:

“Do this in remembrance of Me”

Luke 22:19

 

Jesus spoke these words as He shared the Passover meal with His disciples.

“With fervent desire I have desired to share this Passover with you before I suffer.”(Lu.22:15)

 

Ø     The Passover Meal is:

a celebration of deliverance from the bondages of Egypt.

God instituted this feast of Passover  (Exodus 12:1-14) as He prepared the people for their deliverance from bondage and death

 

A celebration: “So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.” (v.14)

 

Deliverance from death: “For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you.” (v.23)

The Passover meal is a celebration of the salvation given by God to His people.

 

Ø     The New Covenant

 

Jesus became the sacrificial Lamb whose  blood ‘covers’ our sins.

“This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”

(Lk. 22:20)

It is now His body and blood that brings salvation to mankind.

He takes the Passover bread – unleavened to represent the absence of sin – and says: “This is My body which is given for you.” (Lk.22:19)

 

Promise of resurrection life. Jesus said: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.  Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

 (John 6:53-53)

 

Promise of His abiding presence.

“For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.  He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.” (Jn. 6:55-56)

 

Ø     A kingdom celebration

 

The breaking of bread and drinking of the cup is a reminder that Jesus has established his kingdom on the earth.

 

“I will no longer eat of it (the Passover meal) until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” (Lk.22:16)

“I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

(Lk. 22:18)

During this celebration of the Passover meal Jesus said to His disciples: “And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me.”

(Lk. 22:29)

 

Ø     The New Testament church celebrates

 

The breaking of bread kept their focus on Jesus and what He had done for them.

After the Day of Pentecost, the believers met regularly, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”  (Acts 2:42)

“So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their bread with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favour with all the people.  And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:46-47)

 

Ø     Conduct at the Lord’s Supper

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

The apostle, Paul, writes that which he has received from the Lord. (v.23)

 

There should be no divisions among those participating. (v.18)

This meal is “to proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” (v.26)

The focus is always to be upon what Jesus has accomplished through His death and resurrection.

 

“Till He comes” is a reminder to the believers that Jesus will return.

 

In this context, the apostle, Paul, warns the believers:

“Therefore, whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.” (v.27)

“But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” (v.28)

 

Are there divisions? Are there judgemental thoughts about any other part of the body?

“For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgement to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.” (v.29)

 

Are we proclaiming the death of the Lord and reminding the believers of Christ’s return?

 

God’s judgement and discipline are the results of partaking in an unworthy manner:

 

“For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.” (v.30)

 

“For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.  But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.” (:31-32)

 

How much of the church is “sick” or “asleep” because it has mishandled the table of our Lord?

 

Jesus said:

“Do this in remembrance

of Me.”

As we celebrate (remember Jesus) according to the word of God:

 

·        God saves us out of bondage

·        God keeps the destroyer from our households

·        God adds to the church daily those who are being saved

 

And we keep the remembrance of Jesus always before us:

 

·        Jesus became the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world

·        Jesus rose from the dead and has promised us everlasting life

·        Jesus will return to rule and reign with the saints in his kingdom