Sacrawhat?

Sacrament— A Sacred Mystery where God is graciously active through tangible means for our good!

The Lord’s Supper

How did this celebration begin?

Luke 22 7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.”…..  13 And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.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. 

Matthew 26 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Jesus started the Lord’s Supper while celebrating the Passover the night before He would die!

What is the Passover?

Exodus 12 7 “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. 8 They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it…..

11 In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD's Passover. 12 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. 13 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.

14 “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.

In the original Passover event all who are covered with the blood of the Lamb would be saved from the judgment of death!

The Old Celebration

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. 

The New 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! 

 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.  We still get to celebrate the Jesus’ Presence in our lives and the forgiveness of our sins as we receive the bread and wine which He called His body and blood!

Jesus changes the ceremony with the words “This is my body” and “This is my “blood”.

 Now people celebrating this supper “connect” with the salvation event of the Cross and Empty tomb!

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? 

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READINGS

Monday:         Matthew 26:17-28
Tuesday:         Exodus 12:6-14
Wednesday:    Acts 2:42-47      
Thursday:        John 15:1-5
Friday:            1 Corinthians 10:14-17
Saturday:        Psalm 51