Communion Sunday

March 3, 2024 FW

This morning we are going to partake in communion, if you haven’t gotten the elements yet, they are in the back.

And here at FW we practice open communion meaning that if you are believer in Christ.

He is Lord of your life then you should join us in taking communion today.

And also in the back we have a benevolence baskets on the table with the communion elements.

This is a separate basket then the other giving baskets— those baskets on the communion tables are for the benevolence fund.

For those who are hurting and in need— you can place a donation in there, however you feel led.

There is always something so special about holidays and events.

I recall many times growing up having large family gathers for Easter Lunch, Christmas day, thanksgiving lunch, dinner, and leftovers the next several days.

The holidays brought about so much excitement, But there are also other holidays that we celebrate by reflecting.

Memorial day, veterans day, president’s day, good Friday, and yes easter and Christmas as well.

And the more I think about all these holidays they are all days that bring about remembrance.

I am sure we all have times we reflect back on different holidays.

The good, the bad and ugly ones.

I’m sure there are holidays that mean more to you then other ones, ones that you were more insightful, and were more grateful.

As we turn our attention to communion this morning— I believe that this is where Jesus and the disciples were at.

I’m sure some of them were reflecting on past passovers.

The reason why they were celebrating this event.

They were remembering how God sent Moses to rescue the Israelites from Egypt.

How God sent 10 plagues onto Egypt.

How After each plague Pharoah would tell Moses: get out of here and take your people with— only to have his heart hardened by God and would then say NO you can’t leave.

This was to make it very clear to the people of Isreal that their freedom— their redemption came from the hand of God and not the grace of Pharaoh.

Then last plague where God would send the angle of death to kill the first borns.

Unless the household took a pure spotless lamb and sacrificed and took it’s blood and put it on the doorpost of their house.

If the family did this— then the angel of death would passover their home.

The sign on the doorpost, that sign marked by the blood of lamb meant that the Israelites would be rescued.

They would be saved by God and they would be saved from God’s wrath.

This was why Jesus and His disciples they were celebrating together.

One last time.

One last time.

This is what Jesus told them in Luke 22.

He sends in his disciples to prepare a place for him— and tell them to be on the lookout for a guy carrying a water jug— and to follow him and tell them— where can we prepare for Jesus and his disciples to partake in the passover.

And that night Jesus and the disciples got together one last time.

They partook in the passover.

And if I am being honest— there are holidays i forgot— not because I’m trying to but because nothing special happened— you ever get like that?

But the ones you remember— they were special.

On this night that Jesus ate for the last time with his disciples it was special.

No one was going to forget this night.

Because this night— changed everything.

The world was turned upside down.

Jesus gets before his disciples and says— I wanted desperately to eat this passover with you before I am to go and suffer.

Because this is the last time we will eat until God builds his kingdom here on earth.

If you know anything about the passover meal— it is very ritualistic— it has a script and singing and the proper food to eat and when to drink the wine.

Everyone in that room would have known all about it.

And Jesus goes of script.

He takes the bread and says this is my body broken for you— do this in remembrance of me.

Church join me as me take the bread in remembrance of him.

He then took the cup of wine.

And says look this is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out to you.

What Jesus is saying is that He is the passover, he is the perfect lamb.

It is his blood put on the doorpost of our souls for rescue and redemption.

This is my blood poured out— Jesus is the sacrifice—So we can be saved by God and saved from God’s wrath.

Take and drink as we remember the cost of sin and the work of Christ as our new covenant.

Church join me as we take the cup in remembrance of him.

Jesus went to the cross hours after this moment.

He knew what was ahead.

And He still chose to stand in gap.

He gave it all so that we could live with Him.

Pray with me this morning:

Father you are so good to us, Lord thank you for sending your son to be our passover lamb.

To be our perfect sacrifice.

Thank you Jesus for the work of the cross and the resurrection that followed— that Death in deed could not hold you.

You are so good— thank you Father

It is in His name

Amen.