Until Then...

Until Then… Matthew 26:26-30 This is Jesus’ last, final and finishing supper. He had said about everything He could say, did about everything He could do, and had accomplished about everything He had come to achieve. All that was left was the cross and the resurrection. So, we are listening in on what Jesus had to say on this last evening meal as He identifies Himself as the Passover Lamb of God. During the Passover there are at least 12 courses: including four cups of wine that are shared, each with their own significance, each representing a promise from God to Israel. These guarantees are summarized in Exodus 6:6–7. They are: relief from the burdens of Egypt, rescue from slavery, redemption, and becoming the people of God. More specifically they are:  The Cup of Sanctification I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians; I will bless you.  The Cup of Deliverance I will set you free, I will rescue you.  The Cup of Redemption I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, sealing your election as God's chosen people. This is also the cup whereby Jesus says, “This is My blood given for you…”  The Cup of Praise I will take you for Myself, acquire you, embrace you as My people, My nation, even as My bride. I will be your God and you will be My people - the purpose and goal of the Exodus. Jesus introduced the third cup, the cup of redemption, as His blood of a new covenant between God and His people. This verse we have today would imply that Jesus abstained from the fourth cup in the Passover meal, promising not to drink wine again until the coming of the kingdom in fullness when He will be reunited with His people forever. The Lord's Supper, then, is a meal of anticipation because we celebrate this meal now; but we know there's coming a day when we will see Jesus' face, and we will drink this cup with Him in the Father's kingdom. The Lord’s Supper compels us to look back and remember what Jesus has done for us. It also causes us to look forward with great anticipation of the day when we will see Jesus face to face. This bread and this cup are symbols of His body and blood that were about to be sacrificed for our sins, and are now celebrated as a central part of our worship as the church. We take bread, we take a cup, and we 2 remember Jesus saying, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” When we partake, we remember that we have now entered into a covenant relationship with God that is based on His mercy, poured out for the many for the forgiveness of our sins. And then we get to verse 29, and Jesus says, “I tell you, I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” Here we are reminded that Communion anticipates the future. The Lord’s Supper is a meal of anticipation. This is why Paul, when he was giving instructions about the Lord’s Supper, in 1 Corinthians 11, says, “When we take this supper, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” The picture is, this is not the end. Jesus is going to the cross here in Matthew 26, but He knows there’s a wedding feast that’s coming. There’s a banquet we’re all invited to that’s coming in the future for all who’ve trusted in Him. He is coming back eventually, and we are going to feast with Him in His Father’s kingdom. So how does that change the way you live today? Well, I hope today, this verse causes you to look back and to look forward, to look back to what Jesus has done, paying the price to set us free from sin, and to look forward to the day when we will see His face. This verse is special to me on this particular day, as it is the last time we have Holy Communion where I may be the servant to the Host Jesus Christ our Lord. We can look back over the last seven years and for the most part be glad for all that has been done in the Lord’s name. I wish I could have brought more to the table as in my younger day. A good pastor in on his way, and we can pray for revival. Until then, many thanks to you all for your grace and generosity, your friendship, and for the fun. You have been a blessing, more than you’ll ever know. Prayer: Oh God, help us today to look back, to remember and be thankful. Let us also, dear Jesus, look forward; look forward to a new pastor, look forward to an even better tomorrow, look forward to seeing You face to face. We long to see You, so help us to live today and be ready for that day that we may be found faithful. Help us in our thoughts, in our desires, in our words, in our actions to make today count in ways that glorify You, in ways that honor You, in ways that spread Your love to people who are not ready for that day. O God, use us today to make Your Word known with urgency, realizing that today could be the day when You return. Help us to live looking back with gratitude and looking forward with grace, with our eyes fixed on You always and everywhere in ever time. In Your name, we pray. Amen.